Yesterday we delivered news of a plan to transform the range-topping Jaguar XJ sedan into an electric five-door model — which, in Jaguar Land Rover’s mind, is a way of preserving the model and its historic lineage in an era of falling passenger car sales.
The jury’s out on whether a hypothetical group of EV buyers with bulging coin purses will actually materialize once Jaguar (pronounced “jah-gyou-ahhh“) and other brands bring their latest electrical creations to market, but the writing’s on the wall for traditional sedans. Maybe going EV will earn these vehicles a stay of execution. Who knows?
As for the Jaguar brand itself, the company’s sales have never been stronger in the U.S., with new models of the utility bent positioned to take on premium rivals from Germany and Japan. Could you see one of these burly Brits taking up space in your driveway? Or has Jaguar left too much of its charm in the past?
If you pose that first question to an Anglophile friend of mine, you’ll be met with a “Hell, no.” Owner of seven Jags, some of them parts cars, this friend regularly laments the brand’s styling direction since the middle of the Ford era.
“They don’t look like Jags,” he said, as I flipped through images of the current XJ, XF, and XE on my phone the other day. Don’t get him started on the F-Pace or smaller E-Pace SUV. No, his 1997 XJ6 Vanden Plas is his prized possession, as the model hadn’t yet been bastardized by modern sensibilities. Under the hood lies a 4.0-liter inline-six. The body? British Steel. The hoodline? Low enough to ensure knee destruction for any unlucky pedestrian.
His 2003 (or ’04) XJ, the last of the old-school line, is proportionally less pleasing with its blunt face and taller hood. And never mind the non-traditional V8 engine — the rear seat doesn’t include folding breakfast trays. How are passengers supposed to enjoy their morning bangers? (Hmm… maybe that’s the point. I blame the European Union.)
While my friend’s collection also includes a brace of S-Types, as the throwback Mark 2 styling cues tickle his Westminster fancy, there’s no X-Type to be found anywhere in that barn. He knew full well, as did everyone else at the time, that the X-Type was an imposter plunked into the nest by a dastardly Ford Motor Company.
Yet despite some car lovers’ aversion to modern Jags, it’s models like the XE and F-Pace that currently make up the bulk of the brand’s sales. By all accounts, the F-Pace makes the two-row utility vehicle life quite a bit more stimulating than, say, sitting behind the wheel of a Dodge Journey or Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Also, Jag ownership is still seen as a badge of individuality — a roguish Brit among a sea of Audis, Bimmers, Lexuses and Infinitis.
Where does your attraction to the brand, if indeed you have one, lie? Is it the products themselves? Does the styling tempt you, or is it the continued quirkiness of a British motorcar that would make you consider one? (Who amongst us wouldn’t shell out a few bucks for an XF Sportbrake after winning the lottery?)
Or, like my friend, are you done with the brand — at least until it comes out with a model so sexy, so quintessentially Jaguar, that resistance proves futile?
[Images: Jaguar Land Rover, Steph Willems/TTAC]
I’m lucky I can afford to see myself in my Dodge.
I’m done with the brand. I hate the styling (interior and exterior) of the new products.
If the new ones sell, whatever, good for them I guess. They still aren’t getting my money.
Out of interest, what was the last Jaguar you owned?
Oh Jeebus. The want for a mid 07′ XJ8R Portfolio is off the charts.
In the spirit of honesty and full disclosure I am most likely too intimidated of the prospect though. A 10 year old English car. I have been down this road with the Morgan, which was a mess. I can only imagine the heartburn a vastly more complicated version of a Morgan, the Jag, would bring.
I love this car though. Probably the best looking full size sedan of the modern ear. It oozes class.
Absobloodylutely! Love the XE 3.5t and the F Type. I’ve driven both and they are very, very good.
The brand has lost all the charm for me and I don’t have the time or skill set to keep something like a mid-1980s XJ6 in proper condition. So to be in a Jaguar, it would be a current model judged on the same merit as any other competing car. By that criteria I’d take a serious look at leasing an XE–it’s supposedly a very good driver even if bland and anodyne inside and out. But then there’s the Giulia to consider.
F-Type looks like it has some merit as well.
If I decided it was time to roll the dice on a sport sedan from a brand with a less-than-stellar quality rep, I’d take the Giulia over the XE in a heartbeat.
Cars that are a pain in the a** should at least be sexy. The XE isn’t. Take the Jaguar badges off of it, and it’s an Anycar.
Heck, I’d do the ATS over the XE.
I’d REALLY do one that’s a year old, CPO.
Man, are those cheap.
Yes, very much so. I’ve had my S-Type R for 9 years now, and there are only two vehicles I see replacing it: an XKR-S or a F-Type R. At 13 years old and 120k miles she is in need of some loving, which as my toy car I am happy to provide.
When I was between vehicles with my Infiniti FX50 and now QX70S, I was extremely close to getting an F-Pace. But the allure of a V8 was just too strong, so I went with the QX70. The F-Pace ticked all the right boxes except torque and sound.
I love the F Type and would look hard at one if I had $75k to spend on a two seater, but I don’t.
Other than that, probably not. Also the XE is absolutely tiny inside.
Currently run a top spec 2013 CRV as our family car, and would like to replace it with something more luxurious. Honda are testing my loyalty by delaying the launch of the fifth-gen CRV in the UK (we still get the old fourth gen car), and the Acura RDX is not sold here either.
Would definitely consider the F-Pace in a year or so when we replace the CRV.
Hello from the owner of an ’09 XF Super. It has been an awesome car in every way.
Show up at a Jaguar owners event (like the one from the E type photo above): you might be surprised to see newer models alongside the old, and the preponderance of crossover buyers. Your Brit friend is in a minority.
Easy to understand why: today’s Jags capture that old “grace space and pace” feeling, with a sharp modern twist. Nostalgists can always buy vintage cars. Jag owners like ’em fast and loaded with clever unique gadgets. Mark II pioneered disc brakes; my XF was the first with B&W speakers, rotating ac vents, a rising dial shifter and 20″ factory wheels.
My next car (alongside the now >116 mi XF, not a replacement) will be the XJL Portfolio AWD. It comes with Meridian stereo, artful wood inlays, contrast piping on seats, and yes, those rear breakfast tables.
Nah! My last Jaguar bankrupted me. But I could see myself in this Ford Escape Hybrid for the low, low price of $5500. http://www.dashboard-light.com/better-than-new-2010-ford-escape-hybrid/
Funny you should ask – I was just behind a XE in traffic a few minutes ago. Honestly, if it hadn’t had a Jaguar badge, I’d have taken it for a Kia – it’s that generic-looking.
The interiors are also dull and cheap-looking these days.
I’m not sold.
If you look at the brand’s big jump in sales volume, it’s largely traceable back to – what else – a CUV (the F-pace).
The styling of the F-Type is that started attracting me to the brand. I fell in love with it. However price and the lack of seats kept me from buying in. When the F-Pace was released, I found the perfect balance of performance in a family vehicle that fit my budget. Today I have a 2017 F-Pace 35t with the 340HP supercharged V6. It only weighs 310lbs more than a Mustang GT so it’s a fairly capable vehicle. I love driving around the Rocky Mountains in it.
My biggest gripes fall mostly around the way Jag packages accessories. For instance, You have to really move up the product packages to get Xenon or LED lighting. The base Jag comes with Halogen headlamps. For the $52K sticker on mine, I think at least Xenons should be standard. I ended up buying aftermarket LED bulps (cheap and they work well) You can’t get foglamps on any model except the S, which is very pricey. Foglamps are kind of a must for driving around Colorado. There are also multiple cost cutting measures that make the interior look rather cheap unless you get an S. I’d rather see Jag make the panoramic sunroof an option and give us a better interior as standard equipment.
Other gripes are the lack of Android Auto or Apple Car play support on an infotainment system that is otherwise fantastic. The basic InTouch Control system is pretty good and the InTouch Control Pro is absolutely fantastic. My dealer told me that Jag would upgrade these systems with a flash update in the future but I’m betting that never happens. Even the new E-Pace comes without that support.
But all can be forgiven when driving in the mountains. Oh hell yes I can forget about all those things. The F-Pace is a damn joy to drive.
Absolutely, Jaguar is making some of the best looking and designed vehicles in the market.
A jag is on my short list of cars I may need in a few years, maybe a XF, I like the fact you can get a oil burner rather than gas or If i could find a Jag wagon in a few years I may go for that, I like unique cars and the Jag wagon would nicely slide next to my 2011 Saab 9-5.
Sure, a 1957 D type.
Early 80s XJ with an LT1 swap…
Or a 2009 XJ with a fat stack of dealer receipts and a purchase price that would be low enough to become an urban legend.
I like the F-Pace. Everything else is too cramped + heavy for its size (F-Type, XE) or too big for my preferences (XF, XJ)
I had a Jaguar once, an XJ6. Must have been at least 15 or 20 years ago. It was a beautiful car and got lots of admiring looks but even back then was terribly dated. When I got my current car a few months ago I seriously considered an XF but ended up with a German car. The styling, performance and price on the XF were very competitive but, again, when you looked at the electronic bits the Jag was just not up to stuff. But they are catching up and when this lease is up I’ll take another, serious, look.
The F-type is the essence of Jaguar like the 911 is the essence of Porsche.
The F-type certainly is my bag baby.
Never owned one, but have driven several…one in particular, an XKE, for 90 miles, much of it in traffic, with the clutch flat on the floor. I drove the car for a friend to have the clutch repaired at the only shop within 200 miles that would work on it, as opposed to having it towed that distance. It was easy actually. Shove it to neutral when slowing to stop for a signal light, shut it off, use starter to start it, and match rev to shift. This was summer of 68 as I recall.
That said, the deals on the 2.0 D SUV as pictured above, are indeed affordable if one were interested in leasing in North Texas. They are being offered for south of 500 dollars per month for a 36 month lease, with 3600 up front. Sticker price is 52 K, but not sure what the residual would be. I like the looks, but have no idea what their track record is, so leasing for the entire warranty period would not bother me much. My wife’s Titanium Escape still has low miles, but getting a bit long in the tooth for her taste. My guess is we could sell it, and since it is paid for, use a bit of the 15 K she should be able to get out of it, and and lease one of these. It’s tempting, but need to research them a bit more…
I could see myself in a Jag because of the new XF Sportbrake. I know they don’t have the classic design of the older Jags, but to me, this is one of the prettiest wagons made today.
Never in any way, shape or form could I ever see myself owning a Jag. I’ll stick with my good ol’ Impala for now!
You can get an early F-Type under $40k now, which is a lot of car for the money. I’m interested in what the i-Pace or e-Pace lease for; our driving/commuting situation is perfect for an electric car. Very interested in the Model 3, but not enough to get on a waiting list, and who knows what better stuff will be available by the time that’s cleared out?
I’ve been looking at a 2012 XF Portfolio. Supercharged 5.0L V8? Hell yes! Depreciation is mad – this car is being sold for $17k.
And since I only put 5-6k miles a year on car, I might be able to pull it off.
And the sound of that V8? ::sigh::
I am now daydreaming and picturing myself in a used, heavily depreciated but pristine supercharged XJ from about 2011-13 or so.
I have fond memories of my 95 short wheelbase XJ6…useless as a family car because the back seat was too small, and a terrible washed-out metallic beige called Topaz, but beautiful car that drove very nicely.
The new ones leave me cold, but to be fair new MB and BMW products turn me off too. I must be turning into an old curmudgeon, but I just don’t see any new cars that really excite me…more interested in what my 401(k) and IRA are doing. Cold A/C and a seat that doesn’t make my back hurt and legs go numb are all I care about.
My wife really liked the F-Pace and we almost bought one. But she decided on a Porsche Macan instead. I wouldn’t buy a Jag for myself. I don’t think the interiors are up to par with the other luxury brands.
English: (pronounced “jah-gyou-ahhh“) ROW: pronounced “jagwahr”
similar to
English: Byron’s Poem pronounced “Don Jewahn” ROW: pronounced “Don Wan”
oh, those Brits and their pronounciations….always slipping in extra syllababbles
Don’t know where Willems or you hang out, but the Brits say Jag-you-er. That last er with a soft r, like in New England.
And it’s spelled and pronounced “pro-nun-ciation”, not “pro-noun-ciatuon”, so you’ll excuse me if I find your tin-ear explanation unconvincing. Americans are about as good at accents as English speakers everywhere – useless.
If there is ever a plug-in hybrid or BEV E-Pace, I could possibly see my wife in it. Nothing else; she hates sedans and the F-Pace is too big for her taste.
Me, no. I don’t really find the recent products compelling enough to deal with JLR unreliability.
Yes, I like the current high-level F-Pace. I don’t see myself paying for one, but they appeal to me.
I do not think of current Jaguar in the same vein as previous Jaguar. Essentially it is a completely different company and style. I appreciated the old ones, but they were too luxurious and not sporty enough for my tastes. I enjoyed riding around in them but didn’t like driving them.
The new ones look great inside and out and seem to drive pretty well too, though I would like some larger NA engines.
Test drove an XE over the weekend. The dealer had a 20d Prestige in the showroom and I was very pleasantly surprised by the interior: I liked the styling a lot, material quality seemed good for the segment. Then took a tester out for a spin and was thoroughly unimpressed, by the engine (turns out it was a 2017, and I know the engine has been replaced since then, so maybe the new ones wouldn’t be quite so disappointing), the chassis (had just test driven the Giulia, so maybe it was an unfair test) and the interior (if you _don’t_ spring for a sport model, it’s a vinyl-clad English take on a Merc CLA).
I was hoping it would be a marginally less unreliable alternative to the Giulia, but even assuming that the 30t engine is more compelling (it’s not available yet), to spec one out to be comparable to a low-trim Alfa you have to spend over $50k. It’s pretty, but after driving it the only people I can see buying an XE are people who haven’t driven anything else.
I’d take my chances on a X-Type wagon. They have the 3.0 with awd and are fairly rare. Priced roughly what a used Outback would cost. A bit different than your usual suburban cruiser.
I always liked the X-Type myself; so what if it shares some hidden parts with a well-regarded Ford that was never sold (in that generation) in the US anyway. The interior looks like a proper Jag interior, it has AWD, a decent 3L V6, and if you’re lucky a stick shift and three pedals. And practicality. And low prices because the Jag faithful hate them and everyone else has never heard of them. My local dealer still had a new one for sale two years after they stopped making them.
The Mondeo (and Contour) were called a “poor man’s BMW” back then. Stands to reason that with a much nicer interior and classic Jag styling that it would be a hit. And for a while, it was, it actually sold very well in its day (in Europe).
I should’ve said it sold “fairly” well, not very well. It was the best selling Jag during its run.
Jaguar never offered the three pedal X-Type wagon here in the states. The X-type sedan with the sport trim was always the more attractive model.
The S-type offered a manual with the 3.0. The S-type R with the supercharged 4.2 is also one to consider.
They’re beautiful cars, but the problem is the comparable Big 3 German enrties in each class are just better. It basically comes down to “Name me a Jaguar and I’ll name you a better German.”
Yes but the Germans are about the same reliability wise now and used Jaguars depreciate more than the Germans do. So 3 – 8 years out, dollar for dollar the Jaguars are a better buy than the Germans.
I purchased a 2004 XJ8 with 64,000 miles fully dealer serviced two owner car in April 2017 for $7,400. One coolant bottle and two oil changes later I’m at 74,000 miles. Going to Atlanta from NYC I averaged 31 mph over a 596 mile non-stop tankful of premium averaging 78 mph. Only disappointment is no manual transmission. But those are hard to find in similar vintage 5 series which is what I was cross shopping when I bought the Jaguar.
Buying a used Jag won’t save the company unfortunately.
Why should I care about saving a company. I care about value for money let someone who has more money worry about buying new.
If I did not put a floor under their meager used values the new lease deals would be even worse than they currently are.
The Germans are about the same reliability-wise now? LOL, hardly. Audi, in particular, is heads and shoulders above Jag and most other Germans as well.
That was exactly the case when I was looking at the midsizers from ’08-’12. While I could see myself in a Jaguar, the cars have tough competition and additional obstacles with the ownership experience, and I think that’s true for both the used cars I was considering and the new ones.
The XF had a lot going for it, but the ’08-’10 550i and ’10-’12 E550 were just better cars in many ways, particularly packaging. The XF had a bigger footprint than both (and drove like it too) to go along with tight rear headroom and a tiny trunk opening. The XF had great materials in areas you don’t touch, yet had cheap switch gear. I am nearly certain the paddle shifters are the same part used in the Ford Fusion, the few buttons that were available for HVAC and music felt cheaper in operation than almost anything I can think of, and iDrive/Command is much easier to use than a touchscreen (especially the ’09-’11 units in the XF).
The final nails in the XF’s coffin were not nearly as many specialists to work on the car, less online support for DIY, and inexplicably high insurance.
My God the V8 engine sounded great though – especially the supercharged versions. It also had the best implementation of an automatic transmission that I’ve used.
I really wanted a manual though. I finally found an ’08 550i with a manual that wasn’t asking M5 money, so that’s what I’m in now.
The only one moderately tempting is the F-Type, but I doubt I’d buy one assuming I had the means. So, no.
I was exceedingly close to an F-Pace but finally ended up with an A4 Allroad: to me, both are pleasant enough drives
It wasn’t any single thing but a combination of interior, electronics, price, service, and cost that drove the decision that way.
The Jag interior to me is OK, not stellar so not a deal breaker for me as for some. The infotainment is still a work in progress (go to fpaceforum.com), but at least continues to improve, too.
What put it over the edge was the projected cost of repair when somebody inevitably bumps the tailgate in Boston: the aluminum content of the SUV is pretty high and there are still a limited number of Jag-sanctioned body shops with reports of long waits for damage repair.
Just replaced my beloved Saab. A new F-Pace was #4 on the list, but the top 3 of a 2015 CPO XJ, 2015 CPO Caddy CTS, and 2015 CPO BMW 328 GT were the ones that I showed the wife. So half of the cars that I considered in October were of the Jaaag persuasion.
The DrWife who hates BMW’s and loves American steel, and watches Brit TV on PBS…. And she loved the BMW. So did I. I loved the XJ, but I kept thinking that it was like the hot girl in college who needs Lithium to function. The Caddy was simply too small (my head pressed against the sunroof), but the BMW GT was Goldilocks-just-right.
Style counts for a lot to me, so I could definitely see myself in an F Type. But as to whether it would be worth 50% more than an Audi, that’s a different story.
The Grand Tour, season 2 episode 6, super funny for Jag lovers!
Can’t be funnier than Top Gear, “Right, news from India…”
I’m in a 2017 XF r-sport diesel AWD and I really like the car. The oil burner in it has some good poke and if I behave, the mileage is spectacular. On a 400 km road trip last summer, I saw an indicated 4.5 L/100km. It’s been almost a year and I’ve had no issues with it. I think that ever since Tata started shoveling money into JLR that their reliability is at least as good as the other three. The infotainment is not cutting edge but who cares? I’m driving the thing, not watching TV. And it does drive well indeed.
“The hoodline? Low enough to ensure knee destruction for any unlucky pedestrian.”
As it should be.
Since the XK is my dream car, I absolutely can.
I bought a Jaguar F-Pace two summers ago. The other half had to have a crossover and the Jaguar was the only one I could accept being in the driveway. Its been a joy so far.
Of course an F-Type would be better.
Used? Yes. The F-Type is a great looking car and good value after 2 or 3 years of depreciation.
New? Nope. Either too prone to depreciation (F Type) or has cheaped out interior (XE and F-Pace)
I could definitely see myself in an old school XJ12. Jaguars used to have distinctive character that was noticeable from a mile away. They had bespoke interiors made of premium materials and real wood inlays. Exterior design was smooth and flowing with distinctive, tasteful elements.
Nowadays, the F Sport looks like every other crossover at a distance, and one really doesn’t know it is a Shaguar until they are up close. The interiors have been cheapened a bit while competitors are enhancing interior aesthetics. I just dont see a real fit for the modern iteration of Jaguar with the exception of those who specifically demand the least expensive British luxury marque.
I could and still can see myself in a Jag. Was considering leasing an XE or XF this time. But then I drove an Alfa Guilia, a base model but with lots of options and RWD. If I’m going to go wacky and buy/lease something “outside the box” it will probably be that. I was going to consider a 3 series lease, but after driving the Guilia, the BMW would have been boring. Not that my ’17 Golf is anything special, but it is a stick and it was bought, not leased. If I wasn’t pursuing the degree I should have finished a long time ago, I’d be in the Alfa right now.
The only issue I had with the Guilia on the test drive is that the transmission was clunky at low speeds. But it was also the demo with 600 “who knows who’s driven it” miles. The interior was OK, not as nice as the Jag, but I could live with it. Everything else was fine and the drive is amazing. I really liked that car!
I could see myself in an older Jaguar for fun. There’s just something about the “British Gentlemens Club” interiors that are so inviting ( goes for Land Rovers too).