The Jaguar brand-name is 80 years old in 2015 and over that time, the British luxury automaker has built some of the most beautiful and iconic machines in the history of the automobile. The single longest running nameplate from the Coventry-based company is the XJ sedan which is rapidly approaching its own 50th anniversary in 2018. The original XJ is still considered one of the most attractive sedans of all time. By the time the current-generation XJ debuted in 2009, just a year after Tata Motors bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, the old-school XJ was definitely looking long in the tooth. Fortunately, Jaguar was ready to begin its new era with something dramatically different and six years later I’ve finally had an opportunity to drive one.
Despite debuting under its new owners, the current-generation XJ was largely developed while Jaguar was still owned by Ford and it retains some of the best aspects of its predecessor combined with a much more contemporary style. That means it retained the aluminum intensive structure of older retro-styled variant but it features a new contemporary design that draws heavily on the first-generation XF that came out a couple of years earlier.
The rounded rectangle mesh grille that is sunk into the front fascia is drawn straight from the midsize model while the sweeping greenhouse profile is even more extreme. The one aspect of the XJ’s design that bothered me from day one in 2009 is the rear pillars that are covered in a glossy black plastic regardless of the paint color on the aluminum skin. On darker colors like the caviar (aka dark brown) on my test car, it more or less blends in but on white or silver XJ’s it looks totally out of place.
Much of the aluminum construction technology that Ford leveraged for massive weight savings in its new F-series pickup trucks was effectively prototyped on a smaller scale on the 2003-2009 XJ. Those same lessons were applied to the latest XJ making it the lightest full-size luxury sedan in the segment. At 4,151-pounds, the long-wheelbase XJL with all-wheel-drive is more than 300-pounds lighter than the Audi A8L which is also predominantly constructed from aluminum. Even the redesigned 2016 BMW 7 series will likely be at least 150-pounds heavier despite a structure that incorporates aluminum and carbon fiber.
Jaguars including the XJ have always had a nature that combines performance and comfort and while the F-type has a more hard-edged character, the XJ retains more of the traditional feel. At more than two tons, the XJ is never going to feel as nimble as a Miata, but on the other hand, if remains thoroughly composed when driven swiftly down a winding country road. The comparatively low mass certainly helps while the capable suspension system manages body motions while allowing the wheels to follow the road surface. It’s not as soft as traditional American sedans, but it doesn’t pound you either.
Click here to compare the 2015 Jaguar XJL to its main competitors
The XJ is an outstanding road trip machine which was helpful during my time with it. On Sunday September 20, the Detroit-area automotive media and PR community came together to honor a lost friend. Former Chrysler communications manager Patrick Hespen died of a rare form of cancer in December 2014 at the age of 37. Led by his wife Gina in Patrick’s Volkswagen Corrado, more than 30 cars including this Jag drove from Birmingham, Mich. to his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio to meet his family for lunch at his favorite restaurant. The HespenRally raised more than $4,000 for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. After more than six hours on the road in both directions, I climbed out feeling fresh and relaxed.
The XJ is a large machine on the outside and Ian Callum’s design team has done an impressive job of making the interior feel cozy and capacious at the same time. The cockpit sweeps around the driver and front passenger in a way that ties everything together without feeling claustrophobic. The cabin is swathed in supple two-tone brown and tan leather that Jaguar calls truffle and cashew truffle. Unlike earlier XJs, there is nothing old-school English club about this cabin. Like the XF and other contemporary Jags and Land Rovers, the shift lever is a knurled rotary knob that rises smoothly out of the console when the engine is started. The front seats are comfortable and supportive with many-way adjustments including the thigh-support length, lumbar and adjustable side bolsters. With its 124.3-inch wheelbase the XJL offers rear seat passengers 44.3-inches of leg room and despite the sloping roofline, there was plenty of headroom for my six-foot-one-inch son.
Most of the controls can be managed through buttons on the center console and steering wheel although some stuff like the heated and cooled seats requires navigating through the touchscreen. The screen is relatively responsive but the interface is a bit clunky. Fortunately as this is being written, Jaguar is bringing out the updated 2016 XJ which features an all-new infotainment system that should be much improved. I’ll leave my impressions of the infotainment until I’ve had a chance to try the new system.
All current XJs are propelled by supercharged engines, either a 3.0-liter V6 or one of two 5.0-liter V8 variants. The mid-range Portfolio model I drove uses the 340-hp V6 with 332 lb.-ft. of torque, sending that output through an eight-speed automatic transmission and driving all four wheels. The Intelligent Stop/Start system automatically switches the engine off when you come to a stop to save fuel and a twin-solenoid starter fires it up as soon as you release the brake pedal. Starts and stops were smooth and quick but for those that just can’t get used to having the engine off when sitting still, it can be disabled.
While fuel economy probably won’t matter much to most customers in this price range, the XJ was quite impressive. During a week of mixed driving it averaged more than 24 mpg and on the 350-mile round trip between Cleveland and Ann Arbor, it topped 30 mpg. For what it’s worth, the EPA rates this car at 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined so those real world numbers are particularly impressive.
The V6 doesn’t offer the ferocious acceleration of the larger blown V8 but it will still sprint to 60 mph in under six seconds. I didn’t really get an opportunity to exercise the all-wheel-drive but if you are going to drive this XJ year-round in northern climes you’ll want to swap the Dunlop Sport Maxx GT summer tires for some proper winter rubber.
At $91,495 including delivery charges, the XJL Portfolio AWD is not inexpensive but it is a very impressive machine despite already being on the market for more than five years. For 2016, Jaguar has recognized that its cars have been priced near the top of their respective segments so the brand is making pricing and equipment adjustments to be more competitive. While new models like the upcoming XF, XE and F-Pace will get lower pricing, the XJ and F-type will get significantly more equipment, to the tune of $7,000 worth in the big sedan. This big cat is more attractive and capable than ever as it approaches its fiftieth birthday and Sir William Lyons would be proud. If you’re in the market for a big luxury sedan with a sporting character the XJ is definitely worth test driving against the German competitors.
