2007 Jaguar XJ-Series Review

The Jaguar XJ sedan is for those who don't want a look-alike Japanese sports/luxury car -- and want a fast, elegant auto with a solid, colorful tradition and classic British wood-and-leather interior.

The XJ sedan has advanced aluminum-intensive construction that provides an exceptionally solid feel and styling cues from classic Jaguars that let you tell it's a "Jag" from quite a distance away.

Jaguar's sexy XK sports car narrowly outsold the XJ during the first four months this year, but that's largely because the XK is newer and splashier than the XJ. After all, an automaker's sports cars aren't supposed to outsell its flagship sedan.

Both the XK and XJ share Ford-owned Jaguar's aluminum alloy monocoque body shell construction. That feature is largely overlooked by many generally uninformed luxury car buyers in America. It's different in Europe, where most upscale car buyers understand basic auto engineering. They aren't bedazzled by arrays of electronic gadgets -- not that the XJ lacks technical sophistication.

The XJ comes as the entry XJ8, XJ8 L, Vanden Plas, hot rod XJR and top-line Super V-8. List prices range from $63,585 to $91,335.

The entry XJ8 and XJR have a 119.4-inch wheelbase, while the others ride on a 124.4-inch wheelbase. However, even the shorter wheelbase models are roomy, and the long wheelbase versions feature limousine-style rear seat space.

Among new XJ items for 2007 are soft-grain leather-trimmed seating with piping standard on the XJ8, XJ8 L and XJR, Bluetooth wireless mobile phone connectivity -- and heated front and rear seats for all models.

Even the entry XJ is loaded with typical luxury car comfort and convenience equipment, including dual-zone automatic climate controls, power front bucket seats and adjustable pedals, power tilt/slide sunroof, AM/FM/CD player and computer-controlled suspension.

The XJ8 L adds a power rear sunshade, and the Vanden Plas adds a navigation system, upscale sound system, heated steering wheel, rear-seat fold-down trays and lamb's wool floor mats.

The XJR has uprated brakes, adaptive cruise control, sport suspension and wider tires on larger (19-inch) wheels. It deletes the heated wheel, trays and wool floor mats.

I tested the Super V-8, which deletes the sport suspension but adds a heated wood/leather-wrapped wheel and DVD entertainment system with nifty twin rear display screens in the back of each front-seat headrest. There's also four-zone automatic climate control for individual rear passenger settings -- a $1,350 option for the Vanden Plas and XJR. The navigation system costs $2,300 for the XJ8 and XJ8 L.

Safety items for all include front side air bags, curtain side bags, traction control, anti-skid system and anti-lock brakes with a brake assist feature for surer sudden stops.

The XJ is powered by a sophisticated 4.2-liter V-8. The XJ8, XJ8 L and Vanden Plas have a 300 horsepower version of that engine, which lets the XJ do 0-60 mph in just 6.3 seconds. Those who want to move really fast can get the supercharged 400-horsepower XJR and Super V-8, which hit 60 mph in 5 seconds.

The XJ's top speed is academic in America, but it's always fun to know what a "car can do." The 300-horsepower V-8 can propel the fairly heavy XJ to an electronically limited 121 mph, and the higher-horsepower engine lets it do an electronically limited 155 mph.

Both engines work with an alert six-speed automatic transmission.

The 300-horsepower V-8 delivers an estimated 18 mpg in the city and 27 on highways, which helps make it a good long-distance cruiser. The supercharged V-8 provides 17 city and 24 highway.

Such fast cars from veteran automakers naturally have the steering, handling and braking to match their acceleration, and the XJ is no exception. After all, Jaguars cleaned up numerous times at the 24-hour Le Mans race in France way back in the 1950s, when they could hit 200 mph on straightaways.

I recently tested the Super V-8, which had precise, nicely weighted steering and strong stopping power, although the brake pedal was a bit touchy during light in-town braking. While the XJ has above-average handling, it doesn't provide the sharp moves of some harder-edged German sports/luxury sedans. However, there's a nice tradeoff between ride and handling.

The XJ long has been known for its made-in-heaven ride. Its suspension shrugs off rough pavement, and even the "short wheelbase" versions have wheelbases (distance between axles) that are long enough to help provide a supple ride.

The church-quiet interior has easily read gauges and supportive seats. However, there are an awful lot of control buttons, and the cover for the front cupholders can get in the way.

The trunk is long and deep enough to swallow a lot of cargo. Both occupants and luggage can travel in fine style.

2007 JAGUAR XJ 

PRICE: $63,585-$91,335. 

LIKES: Contemporary classic styling. Fast. Plush. Good ride and handling. 

DISLIKES: Large front console eats space. Brake pedal a bit touchy.