The XJ has always been the big Jag. It's the sensible one that independent-thinking 'Captains of Industry' crave and every 'East End' TV villain wants secondhand. Well, the latest XJ is here and wow, it's different!
Old fellas will hate the new car but in terms of helping lower the age profile for the big five-seater, the latest XJ certainly hits the nail on the head.
The radical, sleek exterior is an evolution of the stunning Jaguar XF, so with a bit of a tear in the eye we must say a sad farewell to the iconic, big, boxy old XJ shape that was much-loved.
Inside, the XJ is radically changed compared to the old car. It is a much more sporty place to be and the seating position and instrument layout are more sports coupé-like. Under the hood there is only one engine to pick from the two-engine range: the V6 3-litre diesel. It is torquey and economical yet can deliver some real punch when asked to. In fact, there have been no expressions of interest in the 5-litre V8, petrol-powered XJ in Ireland (no surprise there). My test car was the long wheel base version - ideal for the ambassador and his long legs. All that extra rear legroom (+125mm) costs another €5,435 on top of the standard car. XJ has real road presence and makes cars like the brilliant Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series look very ordinary on the outside.
The cabin is luxurious and, again, heavily reflective of the excellent Jaguar XF. A rotary dial acts as the automatic gearbox selector and there is an electronic handbrake. The three main dials in front of the driver are electronic, although they mimic analogue dials - why? They are quite small but there is one nice touch, where the speedo is extra bright within about 20km/h of the actual speed you're doing. The multifunction steering wheel works well and my test car's heated steering wheel proved a nice touch on cold mornings, as it features a lot of wood inlay.
One thing that will annoy existing XJ owners is the multimedia interface and big 8-inch touch screen. Yes, XJ has gone all touch screen and high tech but in day-to-day use using the system can be a pain! I much prefer Audi, BMW or any other big car maker's interface. The Jag is almost trying too hard to be modern in this area. Input an address into the Sat Nav and it takes an age. When you select a letter the system resets for a second before it allows you to type another letter!
On the road the big XJ shrinks around you. It feels planted and very capable of mile munching. Another slight niggle is the engine noise, which is a bit intrusive for a premium luxury car.
Big cars are a true luxury these days, but the latest Jaguar XJ is a lot of car. Prices start at under €90,000 and rise to €160,000 for the top spec V8.
The independent thinker/wide boy in me likes the new one a lot!
Michael Sheridan
