If you want a large luxury sedan that prioritizes driving pleasure over a smooth ride, the Jaguar XJ could be your car. It has a lot of high-end appointments and impressive features. Still, its all-aluminum construction, adaptive suspension, and powerful engine options make it clear that Jaguar wants to provide occupants with more than just comfortable driving.
Design
Compared to its predecessor, the new XJ has a shorter front overhang and a narrower hood line. This design makes it look sleek and sleeker.
The body is made from advanced aluminum – an alloy developed by Jaguar that is stronger, lighter, and stiffer than steel. It also enables panels to be cut and formed using aerospace methods, reducing overall weight by 10 percent.
It’s built at the company’s manufacturing plant in Castle Bromwich, a clean room environment critical to working in aluminum. Hushed robots deliver some 120 yards of adhesive and 3200 self-piercing rivets into each XJ’s body in a process that is quieter and more pleasant than it sounds.
The XJ’s interior has a bespoke dashboard and a three-spoke steering wheel. Its seats are made from hand-aged leather. It also features a quad-exit exhaust and British Racing Green paint.
Performance
Jaguar’s XJ is a full-size luxury sedan with one of the most engaging drives in its class. It’s not a top-of-the-line model, but it offers an experience that’s difficult to find in rivals like the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes CLS.
In testing, every XJ and XJR model we’ve driven can reach 60 mph in under six seconds. The XJR’s performance mode makes the car act like a sports car, with the throttle becoming more sensitive and the suspension tightening up.
The XJR’s standard powertrain produces 550 horsepower, but an optional 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 adds 575 horsepower. The XJR also gets a sport-tuned suspension, red brake calipers, lightweight 20-inch aluminum wheels, and a suede headliner.
Comfort
With supple leathers, real wood trim, and a pleasing general design, the Jaguar xj feels more comfortable than you might expect in this class. There are some ergonomic issues and a laggy infotainment system to contend with, but the XJ remains one of the most comfortable large sedans.
The XJ’s ride is silky-smooth, and the Meridian premium audio system fills the cabin with rich sound. The XJ’s adaptive damping and big ventilated disc brakes deliver confident, progressive stopping power that’s easy to control.
The XJ’s cabin has a sporty look, with jet-like air vents and an instrument panel low to the ground. It’s a refreshing departure from the bland interiors of other luxury cars. Its rotary gear shift knob looks cool, too, rising out of the center console when you turn the ignition.
Technology
The jaguar xj is a sophisticated luxury sedan with many high-tech features. From a fancy 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system to dual screens in the rear headrests and a Wi-Fi hotspot, the XJ provides the latest technology for its passengers.
Many driver assistance systems are available, including blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. Other features include lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and rear parking sensors.
Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics system continually monitors the car up to 500 times per second to deliver optimum damping forces in various conditions and driving styles. It also features a winter mode that improves traction on snowy or icy roads.
The XJ’s lightweight all-aluminum construction reinforces its precise lines and allows it to have fewer joints and welds than other vehicles of this class. It’s also crucial to the XJ’s dynamic performance and refinement.
