- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.5i, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
190kW, 335Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 10.7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Jaguar XJ8 3.5
For: Elegant styling, smooth and responsive engine, clever technology, classic interior, excellent ride and handling.
Against: Smaller engine needs a rev, rear leg room nothing special, difficult to pick from the old model.
Score: 4 stars (out of 5).
You know the story about Grandpa's axe? The head flew off and landed in the dam, so he had to get a new one. Then the handle broke, and even though that was replaced, it was still the same axe.
The Jaguar XJ sedan is a bit like that. Incredibly, this is a car that has been around since 1986, when it was launched as the XJ40. Even though the platform remains unchanged, over the years there have been new panels, engines, gearboxes and interiors so you would be hard-pressed to tell it was the same basic car.
Gradually, the Jaguar-ness of the XJ was refined and honed -- essentially, it was made to look like older versions, and the comfort of the club-like interior was enhanced.
After all those years, there's a new version of Jaguar's largest model. In the meantime the company has concentrated on producing the smaller S- and X-Type. It might look similar to the model it succeeds but don't be fooled. There's plenty of clever technology hiding under that familiar skin, including a revolutionary bonded and riveted aluminium structure.
The aluminium body is significant because Jaguar found that, like most rivals, building a large luxury car loaded with all the comfort features demanded by customers meant it was going to be very heavy if made from steel sheets. The lightweight aluminium path meant revised versions of the V8 engines could be carried over from the old model and, because they had less weight to carry, would deliver better performance and fuel consumption. A V6 could also be introduced but not in Australia for the moment.
There are three basic XJ models, starting with the $169,000 3.5-litre XJ8 tested here, and rising through the $189,000 4.2-litre and $219,000 supercharged XJR. Those prices are a little lower than equivalent models from Mercedes-Benz or BMW, although the new Audi A8 just around the corner (like the Jag, it is made from aluminium) will offer another choice in the field of full-size luxury sedans that also includes the Lexus LS430.
Although roughly similar in length and width to the outgoing XJ - -and at more than five metres long, this is not a compact car -- the new body also addresses the big drawback of its lower, sleeker predecessor, namely a lack of head room. It may look taller and bulkier than before but the interior is now much more comfortable even if rear leg room isn't huge. A long-wheelbase version is coming, and although more expensive, will suit those with a real need for space in the back seat.
There's certainly little missing in the way of creature comforts, with the 3.5 getting the full leather, walnut and chrome treatment plus the nicety of electronically adjustable seats, steering column and pedals. There is a touch-screen display covering trip, climate, stereo, telephone and sat-nav functions, and also heated seats.
The cabin has similarities to the XJ's smaller siblings but, with more space, it gives supreme comfort for the front-seat occupants, who have a low seating position, slabs of polished timber facing them and plenty of support from soft and slightly narrow seats plus deep elbow rests on either side.
The XJ8 3.5 weighs 1615kg, or a remarkable 335kg less than the similarly-sized BMW 735i. Despite the relatively small engine, its 3.5-litre V8 still outputs a peak 196kW of power and drives through a six-speed automatic gearbox to make the most of performance.
There are few complaints in that department. The engine is eerily quiet and very smooth, and from the first touch of the throttle leaps ahead with an eagerness that belies its meagre capacity. The gearbox pops through each shift swiftly but in an almost undetectable fashion and will kick down to the right gear if asked by the driver.
Instead of a sequential manual shift, the auto sticks with Jaguar's J-gate shift that puts a line-up of extra ratios on another shift-plane. It probably won't get used by many owners, not just because they are unlikely to be hustling along and keeping the engine spinning on a race track but also because the J-gate is slow to pick up a gear and it is difficult to tell which one it will hit without the driver glancing down.
The V8 is perhaps happier at higher revs, where it is producing more power and torque but most of the time it delivers enough acceleration on demand to keep most drivers happy. Average fuel consumption of about 13.0L/100km can be better in highway driving where the 85-litre fuel tank gives plenty of range.
The XJ's long bonnet and wide body can make manoeuvring in city traffic a little daunting but that's not to say it isn't agile away from closer confines. All XJs are fitted with air-sprung suspension that helps deliver extremely impressive ride comfort while keeping the body flat in corners. Light but communicative steering, and plenty of roadholding from the 18-inch alloy wheel-and-tyre combination, together with the agility of low body mass, make it a far more sporty drive than the XJ8's size and comfort might suggest.
And while the blend of luxury and fine road manners are enticing, all is not perfect. When pushed hard over lumpy and twisting roads, the air suspension can get a little confused and produces some nasty thumping noises. The boot may be bigger than previous large Jaguars but is still rather too shallow for a full complement of suitcases, and the multi-media display and scattered switchgear on the centre console take more than a little learning.
But as an alternative to the almost purely Germanic field of large and pricey luxury cars, the Jaguar XJ is no longer a second choice to be dallied with by those looking for something different. It has the comfort, the looks, the performance and a serenely sporting demeanour that make it a serious contender.
Nuts 'n' bolts
Jaguar XJ8 3.5
How much: $169,000 (auto) plus on-road costs.
Insurance: Premium $1200 (RACV, 40-year-old rating one male driver, medium-risk suburb, excess on application).
Warranty: Three years/100,000km.
Engine: 3.5-litre, DOHC, 32-valve V8, 196kW at 6250rpm and 345Nm at 4200rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed auto. Rear-wheel-drive.
Steering: Rack-and-pinion, 2.7 turns lock to lock. Turning circle 11.7m.
Brakes: Ventilated discs front and rear. ABS standard.
Suspension: Front -- Independent by double wishbones with coil springs and stabiliser bar. Rear -- Independent by double wishbones with coil springs and stabiliser bar.
Wheels/tyres: 18 x 8.0-inch alloy wheels, tyres 235/50.
How heavy: 1615kg (auto).
How thirsty: 12.8L/100km average. Premium unleaded, 85-litre tank.
Equipment: Driver airbag, side airbags, CD player, alloy wheels, ABS brakes, cruise control, remote locking, power windows, air-conditioning, leather trim.
Inerior notes:
. Controls for stereo and ventilation a bit scattered and difficult to work out.
. Plenty of dinkum burled walnut veneer gives an olde worlde atmosphere.
. Steering column has electronic adjustment, as do pedals.
. New six-speed transmission stays with not-wholly-satisfactory J-gate shift.
Competitors:
BMW 735i -- $174,100, 3 stars (out of 5)
Big and heavy, strangely styled, not exactly fast or nimble but solid, well specified and beautifully engineered. The iDrive controls are difficult to understand and operate.
Mercedes-Benz S350 -- $175,900, 4 stars (out of 5)
Engine capacity greater than rivals but it's a V6, not a V8. Still, the big Benz rides beautifully, goes hard enough, is roomy and has classic presence on the road.
Prices and details correct at publication date.