"There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about." This famous quote by Oscar Wilde seems particularly apt when applied to the Jaguar XJ.
Despite being both a fine luxury saloon and the conspicuously charismatic choice in the flagship luxury sedan market, the big British cat never gained much traction against its obvious rivals. With the competition swarming, Jaguar has decided to treat its flagship model to a makeover to keep it fresh.
Up close and Personal
Jaguar has created some very good-looking cars such as the XE, the XF, the F-TYPE as well as the new F-PACE, and the XJ continues that tradition with an updated sheet metal. The new look isn't a revolution from the previous model, but rather modifies a few details to render a crisp appearance.
These subtle design tweaks comprise of new chrome trimmed air intake vents in the front bumper, twin 'J-blade' LED daytime running lights with the optional full-LED head lights. At the rear, the light clusters have a similar LED graphic that flows down to a new bumper with twin oval exhaust pipes.
It's on the inside where the changes garner the most impact. The XJ becomes the first Jag to get the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, which is a massive step up from the previous, clunky system and is now much more powerful and responsive.
In addition, the XJ's crisp 12.3-inch digital dials can now display a full-width navigation screen, which is a pretty nice touch to freshen the cabin. We also like the way it moves the rev counter to the centre in Dynamic mode.
There are also large chrome air-conditioning vents that are a joy to operate and look at, while Jaguar's cylindrical-shaped gear selector that rises up when you press the start button further adds to the sense of occasion.
If you aim to spend most of your time in the back or carry passengers who value a limousine experience, the long wheelbase version with 44mm more legroom such as this car is a must. And if you intend to carry a lot of luggage, the XJ will impress with its 520-litre boot that also has a large opening as an added bonus.
The Drive
Our test car features a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 that makes 335bhp and 450Nm of torque sent to the rear wheels via Jaguar's eight-speed automatic gearbox. The excellent combination remains unflustered under virtually all conditions, pushing the Jaguar forward with commendable alacrity.
There is also the option for a lesser 2.0-litre turbocharged variant, a 5.0-litre V8 as well as an uprated 3.0-litre V6 diesel (available on indent basis). The latter two will push you back in your seat more, but the 3.0-litre is already capable of irresponsible behaviour around town if you decide to be naughty.
The progress from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and onwards is consistently fast in a stable way, so much so that it's easy to accidentally bypass legal speeds if the limiter is not set.
Otherwise, the car allows for relaxed kilometre munching, whether you're driving or, quite likely in this long wheelbase version - sitting in the rear having your back massaged.
The hydraulic steering in the old car has also been replaced with an electric system and while it lacks a little feedback, the good news is that the XJ's steering is fast and precise just like the XE's and XF's. Sure, it's no F-TYPE, but the XJ is a joy from behind the wheel, given how huge and long it is.
Our test car features a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 that makes 335bhp and 450Nm of torque sent to the rear wheels via Jaguar's eight-speed automatic gearbox. The excellent combination remains unflustered under virtually all conditions, pushing the Jaguar forward with commendable alacrity.
There is also the option for a lesser 2.0-litre turbocharged variant, a 5.0-litre V8 as well as an uprated 3.0-litre V6 diesel (available on indent basis). The latter two will push you back in your seat more, but the 3.0-litre is already capable of irresponsible behaviour around town if you decide to be naughty.
The progress from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and onwards is consistently fast in a stable way, so much so that it's easy to accidentally bypass legal speeds if the limiter is not set.
Otherwise, the car allows for relaxed kilometre munching, whether you're driving or, quite likely in this long wheelbase version - sitting in the rear having your back massaged.
The hydraulic steering in the old car has also been replaced with an electric system and while it lacks a little feedback, the good news is that the XJ's steering is fast and precise just like the XE's and XF's. Sure, it's no F-TYPE, but the XJ is a joy from behind the wheel, given how huge and long it is.
The car feels lean and light, which makes sense since it weighs lesser than some of its luxury flagship rivals, thanks to its all-aluminium structure. Even in this long wheelbase guise, it feels remarkably agile and changes direction effortlessly, with just a tad of body roll.
Under normal commuting conditions, the XJ has a slightly tauter ride than some in its class but that said, it still does a solid job of filtering out harsh impacts, giving occupants a smooth and pliant ride.
Conclusion
Jaguar has succeeded in one incredibly important area - building a car that taps into your emotions. If you are looking for a full-sized luxury sedan, you are foolish not to at least consider the XJ.
It is a car that deserves to be talked about a little bit more.
Under normal commuting conditions, the XJ has a slightly tauter ride than some in its class but that said, it still does a solid job of filtering out harsh impacts, giving occupants a smooth and pliant ride.
Conclusion
Jaguar has succeeded in one incredibly important area - building a car that taps into your emotions. If you are looking for a full-sized luxury sedan, you are foolish not to at least consider the XJ.
It is a car that deserves to be talked about a little bit more.
