2017 Jaguar XJ

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

CG Says: The 2017 Jaguar XJ is essentially unchanged following last year’s styling update. The Jaguar XJ is a premium large car with seating for five. The base engine is a 340-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6. Supercharged models have a 470-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V8. (Note that the base V6 is also supercharged.) The V8 develops 550 hp in XJR models. All engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive is available with the V6 engine. Available features include LED headlights, Wi-Fi, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, parallel-parking assist, quad-zone automatic climate controls, rear sunshades, DVD player, and rear picnic tables. All XJs are stately large cars with a charm all their own. Luxury buyers may 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.

ROAD TESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFO

Test Drive: 2016 Jaguar XJL Supercharged

Quick Spin: 2015 Jaguar XJL Portfolio

2018 Jaguar XJ Review

2016 Jaguar XJ Review