Pros: Sexy styling inside and out; regular- and extended-length versions available; relatively affordable pricing compared to class competitors; posh, luxurious cabin
Cons: Available upsized wheels and sporty suspension mean that ride can be clunky, especially for the class; rakish roofline and low seating position compromise rear visibility, some complicated, slow-to-respond touchscreen controls
CG Says: Jaguar’s flagship large sedan loses its normally aspirated V8 engine and gains a high-performance, 550-horsepower XJR model for 2014. All XJs are stately large cars with a charm all their own, but their fiddly touchscreen control layout lags behind most premium-large-car competitors. Luxury buyers may also blanch at the idea of a V6 engine in a car of the XJ’s stature, and since it’s the only way to get AWD, some might look elsewhere on those grounds alone. That’s not really warranted, in our view, as the supercharged V6 provides perfectly adequate power with better fuel economy. Compared to competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the XJs are almost bargain-priced–while certainly not looking like it–and that’s one of the strongest points in their favor.
