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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  Classy and Fun - 2005 Jaguar S-Type
  By Tom B. - December 11 - 1:00 am

  This is my second Jag S-type. I first bought a pre-owned 200 model. This time, I bought a new one, with the VDP trim package on it. It has a ton of power and pick-up, not to mention the smooth ride you expect from a Jaguar and a rear-wheel drive automobile. The dealership is very attentive to my requests.

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  My XJR - 2001 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By jecorbin - December 10 - 2:00 am

  The problem XJ series is no more. Since Fords purchase the quality improvement is amazing. My XJR runs flawlessly and is an awesome four door sports car.

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  2000 XJ8 - 2000 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By Scot - December 8 - 12:10 am

  I purchased my Jag used with 38000 miles. The car has stunning lines and great styling. Its amazingly small inside for a big car and sits very low to the ground - tall or heavy people may not like the size. I have had a couple of maintenance items in the six months Ive owned that ended up costing quite a bit - I chalk these items to the cost of buying a used car. The car also has a tendency to rattle - especially from the dash area. The Pirelli tires also seem to be susceptible to flat spotting rather quickly. All in all, I am very pleased with the car - its got great style, stellar ride and performance, and as a used car, great value.

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  great car - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By Jim - December 7 - 7:20 pm

  We didnt find the color or equipment we wanted at the dealer so he found one for us and actually, gave us a better deal on the one we now have than the ones he had on the lot. We have every option except dynamic stability control. It has proven to be quite a vehicle. While I hear the BMWs and Acuras are better buys, the Jaguar has a "je ne sais quoi" that the others dont and, there is an exclusivity about owning one. We have had no problems after almost 12,000 miles and it still has that like new feeling. Fun to drive, a real head turner and overall we are quite happy with the car. The all wheel drive has proven itself both in the winter and on the windy mountain roads of SW PA.

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  A Great Feeling About Owning a Jag! - 2006 Jaguar X-Type
  By Donald Jaeger - December 7 - 5:23 am

  This is my 1st Jag and I must admit that this is a great driving auto and fun car to drive. I drove many other competetive autos prior to selecting the Jaguar, but this one really drove and handled the best. Ive owned many new cars, such as C230 Mercedes, Acura RL, numerous Honda Accords and a few Cadillacs, but this is, by far, the best car yet. I love to drive it and I also love the head turns I get from this vehicle. Keep up the good work Jaguar and you will have a customer for a long time.

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  Worth every penny. - 2002 Jaguar X-Type
  By Mainekayaker - December 5 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2.5 with the sport package. The car is great! It is simply a pleasure to drive. The interior is nicer than my brothers BMW 3 series. Trunk space is amazing for a car this size. It just is a great car in every detail.

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  04 X-type - 2004 Jaguar X-Type
  By Steve - December 3 - 4:00 am

  We love going on trips to the Maryland shore and find it very enjoyable in this car. My wife drives it about 300 miles every week with her job and finds it very reliable and fun to drive. The all wheel drive gives her a lot of confidence through the winter weather, she prefers driving it over the 4WD Ford Explorer in the snow and especially on wet roads.

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  Jaguar 2005 - 2005 Jaguar S-Type
  By George Knapp - December 1 - 10:23 pm

  Outstanding combination of handling and power, with good fuel economy for an 8 cylinder car. I am averaging just under 22 mpg combined.

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  Jaguar S-Type R - 2004 Jaguar S-Type
  By Ed Campbell - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Third week of ownership, Carnival red with sand interior. Replaced a 96 Impala SS, far more deluxe (to say the least), noticeably more powerful. Excellent commuter machine, fat torque curve gives effortless acceleration. Fine view down the bonnet with beautifully chromed cat on display. Opulent Brit interior makes competition look drab. Instrument cluster lets the side down a bit. Ride is supple, and despite the 18" wheels, tire noise is subdued. On smooth surfaces eerily quiet. A great pleasure to drive.

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  Lifelong Jaguar Owner - 2004 Jaguar XJ-Series
  By smayuga - November 20 - 10:27 pm

  Purchased 2004 Jaguar XJ8 Select Edition with 25K miles in 12/05. The car still looks and runs like new at 96K miles in 10/12. Car has been a dream, very reliable, repairs few and far between. Never been stuck due to breakdown. My 2004 is most reliable car ever. Quality of ride and handling, interior leather and paint are stunning; Comfort and Class personified. Not an all out sports car (I still have my E-Type for that) but for a sedan Ive never found it wanting for speed, handling, cornering or any other "normal" performance requirement. You can pick up used ones for around $10-12K an amazing bargain. Car should not have major repair issues till closer to 200K in miles.