Overview & Reviews

Jaguar cars have a long history of elegant styling and sporting performance. The brand was born in the United Kingdom, and for years its vehicles were synonymous with the old-world luxury of the British upper classes. More recently, Jaguar has been under the ownership of other automakers, but Jaguar cars will always bear the unmistakable gleam of traditional English refinement.

The company traces its roots to the Swallow Sidecar Company, founded in 1922 by Bill Lyons and William Walmsley. Based in Blackpool, England, the company produced a popular line of aluminum motorcycle sidecars. Swallow eventually switched its focus to automobile production, changing its name to SS Cars Ltd. in 1933. The first vehicle to carry the Jaguar name was the SS Jaguar 100, released in 1935.

After World War II, SS Cars switched its moniker to Jaguar so as not to be associated with the Nazi paramilitary organization that bore the same initials. Its first postwar offering was 1948's Mark V. The luxury sedan was joined that year by the XK 120, a sports car that was the fastest production automobile of its day — its name indicating its top speed. The XK 120 proved quite popular, and helped Jaguar establish a strong presence in the sports car market.

By the 1950s, Jaguar had begun exporting luxury vehicles to the United States. Created just for the American market, the Mark VII Saloon was introduced in 1951 and was a hit with stateside motorists. In 1956, the car took the prize at the Monte Carlo Rally. Later in the decade, Jaguar added the Mark VIII and Mark IX to its lineup. Meanwhile, the XK became the XK 140 as performance increased. Then came the XK 150 which was obviously even faster, though not quite as curvaceously alluring as the 120/140 models.

The 1960s saw the launch of one of Jaguar's most well-known models. The E-Type (or XK-E as it was known in the U.S.) debuted for 1961. The new sports car, available as either a coupe or convertible, provided performance and refinement wrapped up in an undeniably sexy package. The success of groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and icons like Twiggy the fashion model made British culture a hot commodity during the '60s — a fact that likely had positive implications for Jaguar's popularity in the U.S.

A decade later, Jaguar introduced the XJ6C and XJ12C coupes to join the sedans. At one point, the XJ12 was the fastest production sedan of its day. By the mid-'70s the lovely E-Type was replaced by the relatively bland XJ-S. The 1980s saw Jaguar continuing to raise the bar in performance with the launch of the XJ-S HE and a true world supercar, the XJ220.
By this time, however, Jaguar's cars had also built up a reputation for questionable reliability, electrical problems being the chief source of owners' angst. Increased competition from German automakers and adverse exchange rates didn't help matters either. Without much capital to work with to improve matters, the company decided to pursue a partnership with another company. This decision ultimately led to a full buyout of Jaguar by Ford in 1990.

Ford's influence (and financial support) was evident with the 1997 launch of Jaguar's XK8 and supercharged XKR sports cars. Powering both was Jaguar's new AJ-V8, a compact yet powerful engine that was also used in certain Land Rover vehicles. A few years later, Jaguar made an effort to broaden its product line with the introduction of a lower-priced, entry-luxury compact sedan known as the X-Type. Unfortunately, this model sold poorly, as its modest European Ford sedan underpinnings proved to be a liability. Around this time, Jaguar's old-school traditional styling grew stale as competitors moved into the new millennium with cutting-edge, modern designs inside and out.

Sales plummeted, and Jaguar's financial problems caused further headaches for parent company Ford, which was also experiencing financial turmoil. Ford cut its losses and sold Jaguar (and fellow British premium brand Land Rover) to Indian manufacturer Tata in 2008. Though reliability still remains a concern, new models like the XF and redesigned icons XK and XJ seem to indicate a bright Jaguar future, as they feature modern designs sprinkled with a fair share of classic Britannic charm.

User Reviews:

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  kiwi - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By hugh - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I like the combination manual and automatic shift and the tightness of the performance. The response from the engine entering freeways is reasssuring. The trunk space is great.

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  I love my XJag - 2003 Jaguar X-Type
  By Glenda - February 24 - 2:00 am

  Had the X 3.0almost a year. It is a great car. It reacts to my command. I average 50 miles a day to work on a interstate so you know I need comfort, ecomony and style. I go with the wind. Love my Baby X.

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  Love my Jag - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By moni - February 20 - 12:36 am

  I have had my car for a few years now. I bought it used in 06 and now it is 09. I have just done the 60k tune up and I still love it as much as the day I brought it home. It is older, has some scratches but I love the AWD (main reason I didnt buy a Mercedes) and it suits me and my personality. I have never had any problems at all with my car... and now if I had the money would probably buy the new one!! Jag baby... Jag.

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  Style and Class - 2005 Jaguar X-Type
  By ddaniels - February 19 - 6:53 pm

  I love my new X-Type. The car is absolutely beautiful to look at inside and out and a joy to drive. The build quality is excellent. Jaguar doesnt make extensive changes to their vehicles from year to year but simply improves the model, learning from the past. Its AWD system results in a vehicle that exhibites excellent handling on any road condition. The engine is deceptively powerfull. It is not the quickest from a dead stop (drag racing!), but has excellent pull from 30-100 mph, which is where most of my driving occurs. But if you want of pocket rocket you shouldnt be looking at a Jaguar and should consider a Dodge SRT-4 or maybe a BMW 330.

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  Fun Car with Stunning Looks - 2006 Jaguar X-Type
  By Joe - February 18 - 12:33 pm

  I hope they dont stop making this car. Overall, remains the best looking car on the road since brought to the market. Period. Will age slowly and gracefully.

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  Looks Great - 2003 Jaguar X-Type
  By JagForLife - February 18 - 2:00 am

  What else to say? The front-end looks are what sold me on this car. This stands out from the Mercedes, the Audi and the Beemer. Needed the alignment and a road force balance immediately.

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  Very Nice Used Purchase - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By Massachusetts Driver - February 13 - 1:10 pm

  I recently purchased a 2004 jaguar x type. It runs great and is incredibly roomy. The trunk is huge and the rear seats fold down for skis, and other large objects in the trunk. I paid $18,300 for a 2004 (3 years old) and am happy with my deal. The car is quiet, comfortable and fast. I also have been averaging close to 25 MPG on the highway. I have checked out the BMWs and find as new and used cars they are very expensive. The Jag offers a less harsh ride, and a far more economical used purchase. All amenities work well, and the car is really a value. It also offers a slightly more individualistic and eccentric statement than the BMW.

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  Nothing tops the Jaguar - 2003 Jaguar X-Type
  By Glo - February 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is just awesome and makes you feel like a million bucks! It is so woman friendly. Initially, I thought that Jaguar cars cater more to the male customer and I was proven wrong. I love the design of the car. Its performance and design wowed me over. People stare at the car whenever I am driving it. It is so easy to drive and the traction is very good. The engine is quiet, performance superb and the interior was a winner. I also like the safety features of the car, the anti-theft system etc. I love everything about this car. If I need another car someday, I definitely will buy another Jaguar. I feel that I am now hooked on to Jaguar cars.

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  Refined class with blow em away power - 2002 Jaguar XK-Series
  By ed orgon - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful, unbelievably fast and pwerful

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  X-Type, A Great Breed of New Cat - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By sagestrike - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Great little preformer. Handles like a sports car but is comfortable enough to compete as a luxury car. It is a large departure from other Jaguar models. This one should be considered if you are looking at competing models from Audi, BMW or Mercedes. You wont be disappointed.