Used 2014 Jaguar XJ

Jaguar cars have always stood apart from other luxury brands. Not as commonplace as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 or Lexus LS, the owner of a 2014 Jaguar XJ is endowed with a sense of exclusivity, a trait highly sought after by those who shell out big bucks for their wheels.

Legendary craftsmanship is married to improving quality and reliability scores, although the big XJ still lags behind most rivals in this area. Still, with high-end luxury as only the Brits can do it and a new high-performance XJR model in the lineup, 2014 promises to be a very good year for the XJ, something the competition might want to keep an eye on.

A large luxury sedan should pamper its passengers without boring its driver. In the 2014 Jaguar XJ, the perfect balance between a compliant ride and adept handling has been struck. An active dampening suspension soaks ups road imperfections, yet still manages to keep this big cat calm in the corners. Step up the new XJR, and the ride gets noticeably stiffer, but the tradeoff is well worth it once you experience the car’s 550 horsepower unleashed.

In the standard XJ, the steering feel is a bit on the light side, which is nice for around-town driving but less appreciated on twisting country roads.

Acceleration, even with the V6, is a thoroughly satisfying event, and the ZF 8-speed transmission makes the journey all that much more enjoyable. However, if you want to be immersed in the total Jaguar experience, having one of the V8 engines beneath the bonnet is still the best choice.

Thanks in part to the minimal number of center-stack controls, the 2014 Jaguar XJ’s cabin features a clean, elegant design that separates itself from its rivals with superior materials and remarkable fit and finish. Soft leather trim covers not only the seating surfaces, but the upper dash, door panels and even the headliner on XJR models. The XJ’s navigation system employs a touch screen rather than the button- and wheel-operated setups found on German-built luxury sedans. Recent interface enhancements have tried to address the fact that a touch-screen’s functional requirements can be distracting for the driver.

The Jaguar XJ’s distinctive design is dominated by a sloping rear roofline that shrouds its substantial mass while creating a stylish 4-door-coupe appearance. The 2014 XJ is available in standard and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter providing an additional five inches of rear legroom. Considering its size, trunk space is rather limited. Also the low roofline makes it tricky for taller folks to get in and out, especially entering the back seat. The almost-full-length panoramic glass moonroof is a strong styling element from both inside and out.

MERIDIAN AUDIO SYSTEMS
There are three Meridian audio systems from which to choose – each better than the next, but all superb in their own right. The standard 380-watt 14-speaker system is nice, but it’s the 1,300-watt 26-speaker monster in the LWB model that simply astounds all who hear it.

DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
High-tech visuals meet old world luxury in the XJ’s digital instrument cluster. Analog gauges are jettisoned in favor of a high-res 12.3-inch LCD screen displaying the tachometer, speedometer and a configurable information data screen.

The 2014 Jaguar XJ features a full complement of the features you expect on a flagship luxury sedan plus a few more, including a leather-wrapped dash, a digital LCD gauge cluster, dynamic suspension damping, blind-spot monitoring and an extra-long panoramic moonroof. The “base” audio system is a 14-speaker, 380-watt setup with hard-disk music storage. The standard safety setup reads like a bowl of alphabet soup – ABS, DSC, CBC, EBD, ETC – and includes a full complement of airbags.

In addition to longer-wheelbase bodies, wide choice of engines and all-wheel drive (AWD), the 2014 Jaguar XJ’s list of upgrades includes adaptive cruise control, heated windshield, retractable rear-window shades and several seating options that range from massaging front seats to heated and cooled rear seats. Supercharged V8 models feature an active differential control to better put the increased power to the ground, while XJR models add leather sport seats in a variety of color choices, lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels, and a standard 825-watt Meridian audio system.

The standard engine for the Jaguar XJ is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that saves a little fuel compared to the V8s. It delivers a more-than-sufficient 340 horsepower along with decent low-speed torque. The two 5.0-liter V8s continue, making 470 horsepower or 550, both with the aid of supercharging. All XJ engines employ an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and the V6 can also be teamed with a new AWD system that favors the rear wheels in its torque split so the car retains its rear-drive feel.

3.0-liter supercharged V6 (XJ, XJ AWD, XJL, Portfolio)
340 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 mpg (standard-wheelbase models), 17/27 (long-wheelbase models) 16/24 mpg (AWD)

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (XJ Supercharged)
470 horsepower @ 6,000-6,500 rpm
424 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/23 mpg

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (XJR)
550 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
502 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/23 mpg