The New Jaguar XJ: A Night and Day Improvement Over Its Predecessor

As we sit inside the new Jaguar XJ, it's hard not to wonder who would have thought that this car would be in government right now. But, of course, there is one shining reason why it's governing the UK - it's British, it's just over 5 meters long, it has four doors, and we're sitting in it. This new XJ follows the more modern-looking XK and XF market, but it's Jaguar's most daring design yet.

The Coupe silhouette of the XJ brings a feline stance and deeply contoured panels that bring avant-garde design to the large executive saloon segment, which traditionally stays on the conservative side. While this car looks like it takes no prisoners, its vital statistics are equally impressive - it has a range of six and eight cylinder engines offering between 272 and 503 horsepower, air suspension, and lightweight aluminum construction.

So, are there three questions to answer? Is it big enough? Is it good enough quality? And does it feel special? Does it feel like a £60,000 saloon car should?

The answer to question one is absolutely. As we sit in the back of the XJ with our heads clear and loads of leg room, even as a 6'4" tall person, it's clear that this car is big enough. This is a long-wheel-base version of the car, but you have to say it's definitely big enough.

The answer to question two - how's the quality? Historically, Jaguar's XJS wasn't always known for its quality, but in this one, very good everything's very well screwed together. It's no sign of cheap switchgear or flimsy plastics anywhere. The cabin design of this car is second to none, with a fantastic veneer that wraps right the way throughout the cabin from the rear doors all the way to the front of the IP.

As far as toys go, this car really has got it all - there's a reversing camera, the latest hard drive BASS audio and satellite navigation system, and an incar TV. Everything you could ever want to make your journey as comfortable and special as possible. If you were to get into this car straight out of the last XJ, you might be in for a bit of a shock because Jaguar has actually fundamentally changed the dynamic character of this car.

This car doesn't float and glide over bumps like the last one did; it doesn't have that pillowy softness to the secondary ride. But it does have much better steering and much better body control - computer-controlled air suspension, adaptable Dynamic stability control, a very clever six-speed automatic gearbox, and continuously variable damping allow you to prepare this new XJ for the perfect cross-country thrash.

First select the chassis's dynamic mode, then select the Track DSC setting with one touch of the dynamic stability control button. Lastly, put the rotary gear selector into sport mode that'll give you complete manual control over your gear shifts using the car's gear shift paddles. This new XJ really is a night and day improvement over the last one - in the way it responds when you want to drive it.

That little bit faster, turning it into a corner, it carves a precise line; there are no reactions to bumps mid-corner. It doesn't throw you off-line or run out of answers like the last XJ did really. This car feels like a much smaller saloon car because of that - it feels light and agile, and interesting to drive.

So, how good is this new Jaguar? We thought we'd bring along a competitor in the shape of an £80,000 Mercedes S350 CDI long-wheel-base. Some people still call that the best car in the world and while the Jag may be good, is it really that good?

While the Mercedes S-Class certainly is more spacious in the back of the cabin than the new Jaguar XJ and is slightly more comfortable over certain sorts of roads, you have to say the Jaguar is actually a much stronger car all around. It's the better performer, it's the better handling car; steer better, it's more refined, and it's better value for money.

And when it comes down to it, you know it's just the nicer car to spend time in - that really matters at this end of the market. I hesitate to say that it's a class-leading car we can't say that until we've tested it against the new Audi A8. But Jaguar's really raised its game and not only its game but the whole class standard with the new XJ.

It's a real achievement and a real fantastic car. The new XJ is definitely one of the best cars in the market, and if you're looking for an executive saloon that combines style, quality, and performance, look no further than this car.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enit says here the UK national debt currently stands at 900 billion and with the disgruntled and deeply suspicious elector you've got to wonder who the hell would be in government right now well there is of course One Shining reason to govern the UK at the moment it's British it's just over 5 m long it's got four doors and we're sitting in it it is of course the new Jaguar XJ driver carry on although the new XJ follows the more modern looking XK and xfa Market this is Jaguar's Most Daring design yet it's Coupe silhouette feline stance and deeply contoured panels bring Avant guard design to a large executive Saloon segment that traditionally airs on the conservative side and while this car looks like it takes no prisoners its Vital Statistics are equally impressive it's got a range of six and 8 cylinder engines offering between 272 and 503 horsepower air suspension and lightweight aluminium construction too right the driving seats of the new Big Jag three questions to answer is it big enough is it good enough quality and does it feel special does it feel like a big expensive Saloon should now I've just been sitting in the back and the answer to question one is absolutely I'm 6'4 in tall I can sit back there my head's clear with the roof lining I've got loads of leg room admittedly this is a long wheel-based version of the car but you have to say it's definitely big enough question two how's the quality again not always a strong suit for Jaguar xjs historically but in this one very good everything's very well screwed together it's no sign of any cheap switch gear or flimsy Plastics anywhere it's all really rather impressive and finally does it feel like a £60,000 saloon carut should well I think so the cabin design of this car first of all is second to none there this fantastic Sue of veneer that wraps right the way throughout the cabin from the rear doors right the way to the front of the IP and it makes everybody feel really involved in the driving experience and as far as toys go this car really has got it all there's there's a reversing camera there's the latest hard drive BAS audio and satellite navigation system there's an incar TV everything you could ever want really to make your journey as comfortable and as special as possible if you were to get into this car straight out of the last XJ you might be in for a bit of a shock because jackier has actually fundamentally changed the dynamic character of this car this car doesn't float and glide over bumps like the last one did it it doesn't have that pillowy softness to the secondary ride but it does have much better steering and much better body control computer controlled air suspension adaptable Dynamic stability control a very clever six-speed automatic gearbox and continuously variable damping allow you to prepare this new XJ for the perfect cross country thrash first select the chassis's dynamic mode and then select the track DSC setting with one touch of the dynamic stability control button lastly put the rotary gear selector into sport mode that'll give you complete manual control control of your gear shifts using the car's gear shift paddles where this new XJ really is a night and day improvement over the last one is in the way it responds when you want to drive it that little bit faster you turn it into a corner and it carves a precise line there's no reactions to to bumps mid corner it doesn't throw you offline it doesn't just run out of answers like the last XJ did really this car feels like a much smaller saloon car because of that it feels light and agile and interesting to drive right so we're beginning to understand just how good this new Jaguar really is but in order to be sure how good it is we thought we'd bring along a competitor in the shape of an 80,000 Mercedes S350 CDI long wheel base now some people still call that the best car in the world and while the Jag may be good is it really that good so while the Mercedes S glass certainly is more spacious in the back the cabin than the new Jaguar XJ and it's slightly more comfortable over certain sorts of Roads you have to say the Jaguar is actually a much stronger car all around it's the better performer it's the better handling car steer better it's more refined and it's better value for money and when it comes down to it you know it's just the nicer car to spend time in and that really matters at this end of the market I hesitate to say that it's a class leading car we can't say that until we've tested it against the new Audi A8 but it's certainly got the makings of a class leading car Jaguar's really raised its game and not only its game but the whole class standard with the new XJ it's a real achievement and a real fantastic car and we thought the XF was goodit says here the UK national debt currently stands at 900 billion and with the disgruntled and deeply suspicious elector you've got to wonder who the hell would be in government right now well there is of course One Shining reason to govern the UK at the moment it's British it's just over 5 m long it's got four doors and we're sitting in it it is of course the new Jaguar XJ driver carry on although the new XJ follows the more modern looking XK and xfa Market this is Jaguar's Most Daring design yet it's Coupe silhouette feline stance and deeply contoured panels bring Avant guard design to a large executive Saloon segment that traditionally airs on the conservative side and while this car looks like it takes no prisoners its Vital Statistics are equally impressive it's got a range of six and 8 cylinder engines offering between 272 and 503 horsepower air suspension and lightweight aluminium construction too right the driving seats of the new Big Jag three questions to answer is it big enough is it good enough quality and does it feel special does it feel like a big expensive Saloon should now I've just been sitting in the back and the answer to question one is absolutely I'm 6'4 in tall I can sit back there my head's clear with the roof lining I've got loads of leg room admittedly this is a long wheel-based version of the car but you have to say it's definitely big enough question two how's the quality again not always a strong suit for Jaguar xjs historically but in this one very good everything's very well screwed together it's no sign of any cheap switch gear or flimsy Plastics anywhere it's all really rather impressive and finally does it feel like a £60,000 saloon carut should well I think so the cabin design of this car first of all is second to none there this fantastic Sue of veneer that wraps right the way throughout the cabin from the rear doors right the way to the front of the IP and it makes everybody feel really involved in the driving experience and as far as toys go this car really has got it all there's there's a reversing camera there's the latest hard drive BAS audio and satellite navigation system there's an incar TV everything you could ever want really to make your journey as comfortable and as special as possible if you were to get into this car straight out of the last XJ you might be in for a bit of a shock because jackier has actually fundamentally changed the dynamic character of this car this car doesn't float and glide over bumps like the last one did it it doesn't have that pillowy softness to the secondary ride but it does have much better steering and much better body control computer controlled air suspension adaptable Dynamic stability control a very clever six-speed automatic gearbox and continuously variable damping allow you to prepare this new XJ for the perfect cross country thrash first select the chassis's dynamic mode and then select the track DSC setting with one touch of the dynamic stability control button lastly put the rotary gear selector into sport mode that'll give you complete manual control control of your gear shifts using the car's gear shift paddles where this new XJ really is a night and day improvement over the last one is in the way it responds when you want to drive it that little bit faster you turn it into a corner and it carves a precise line there's no reactions to to bumps mid corner it doesn't throw you offline it doesn't just run out of answers like the last XJ did really this car feels like a much smaller saloon car because of that it feels light and agile and interesting to drive right so we're beginning to understand just how good this new Jaguar really is but in order to be sure how good it is we thought we'd bring along a competitor in the shape of an 80,000 Mercedes S350 CDI long wheel base now some people still call that the best car in the world and while the Jag may be good is it really that good so while the Mercedes S glass certainly is more spacious in the back the cabin than the new Jaguar XJ and it's slightly more comfortable over certain sorts of Roads you have to say the Jaguar is actually a much stronger car all around it's the better performer it's the better handling car steer better it's more refined and it's better value for money and when it comes down to it you know it's just the nicer car to spend time in and that really matters at this end of the market I hesitate to say that it's a class leading car we can't say that until we've tested it against the new Audi A8 but it's certainly got the makings of a class leading car Jaguar's really raised its game and not only its game but the whole class standard with the new XJ it's a real achievement and a real fantastic car and we thought the XF was good\n"