Skip advert
Advertisement

Jaguar XJ review - Engines, performance and drive

Sharp steering and agile chassis makes XJ the best limo to drive, but that also means it's firmer on the road than rivals

Engines, performance and drive rating

4.6

How we review cars
Find your Jaguar XJ
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

There's no luxury car that handles quite like the Jaguar XJ. Aluminium construction - similar to that of the Audi A8 - helps here, so it feels nimble on the move, turns into corners swiftly and, thanks to adaptive dampers, stays taut and adjustable even when cornering hard. If you want a luxury car that you'll want to drive as much as be driven in, then nothing short of a Porsche Panamera can provide driving fun like an XJ.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It's still a heavy car, though, weighing in at around 2.4 tonnes. But that's a margin less than the A8 or S-Class, which come in at around 2.7 tonnes. The BMW 7 Series is a similar weight, thanks to carbon fibre in its construction.

Jaguar XJ R-Sport 2015 action

The steering on the Jaguar XJ is light and precise, and it helps to create a car that seems to shrink around you in a way its rivals can't. However, the pay-off can be a jittery ride over poor surfaces and the rear visibility is poor because of the steeply raked rear window.

Engines

For most Jaguar XJ buyers in the UK, the fact that you can now only get the 296bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel is no hardship, as it's the pick of the bunch for its mix of performance and economy. There's a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds for all models, both long and short wheelbase, and there's an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. However fast you're going, the engine is a smooth performer that hardly makes its presence felt unless you're accelerating hard. Together with hushed road noise, it means the XJ dispenses with long distances with ease.

Of the engines that have been available in the past, the 335bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol is from the F-Type, and it's rapid and makes a great noise, but fuel economy takes a hit.

The 567bhp supercharged V8 in the XJR 575 makes it the most powerful production XJ ever, helping it yield supercar performance and creating an opulent guilty pleasure. The XJR 575 also benefits from 30 per cent stiffer spring rates and optimised adaptive damping, while its SWB-only layout shows that it's more about driving than being driven in.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Hot Land Rover Defender Octa in high demand with close to 3,000 orders at £150,000 each
Land Rover Defender Octa - front action

Hot Land Rover Defender Octa in high demand with close to 3,000 orders at £150,000 each

Buyers aren’t being deterred by the hefty asking price for the most powerful Defender yet, with 2,900 already signing up worldwide
News
12 Nov 2024
Car Deal of the Day: 641bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a bargain at this price
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N - front action

Car Deal of the Day: 641bhp Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a bargain at this price

The 2024 Auto Express Performance Car of the Year is now our Deal of the Day for 7 November
News
7 Nov 2024
Car Deal of the Day: no-nonsense MG ZS EV for £226 per month
MG ZS EV - front tracking

Car Deal of the Day: no-nonsense MG ZS EV for £226 per month

Our Deal of the Day for 10 November comes from Carwow’s new leasing arm, Carwow Leasey
News
10 Nov 2024