When Jaguar introduced the X-Type in 2002, we were unimpressed by its high price, mediocre performance and subpar interior materials. As Jaguars have historically been known for their potent engines, supple rides and opulent interiors, we expected the X-Type to be more of a leader among entry-level luxury sedans. Instead, it fell far short of the standards set by nameplates like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. Reports of mechanical problems were fairly common, and the car's spotty reliability was confirmed by sources such as J.D. Power. But word of steady improvement, recent positive feedback from our Town Hall community and an encouraging experience at the 2004 X-Type's press introduction persuaded us to give this latest edition a second chance.
Jaguar claims, "Nobody offers you more luxury sport sedan for your money than Jaguar." Well, let's discuss that, shall we?
For model year 2004, Jaguar reduced the base MSRP of the 3.0 version by almost $3,000. The addition of some popular optional equipment as standard (power moonroof, split-folding rear seats) effectively lowers the price of a fully equipped 3.0 by approximately $5,000.
Our test vehicle was equipped with the Sport package, metallic paint and a five-speed manual transmission bringing the MSRP to $37,740. The Sport package adds a 320-watt Alpine premium sound system, 18-inch "Aruba" forged alloy wheels with Pirelli PZero "Nero" performance tires, a sport-tuned suspension, stability control, leather sport seats, leather steering wheel, xenon headlamps and a rear deck spoiler.
Many of our editors feel the X-Type is not worth driving without the 3.0-liter engine and Sport package, but this gets a little pricey. Of course, you're not likely to have to pay full sticker to get into this car. Using the Edmunds' TMV® pricing system, you should be able to get a similarly equipped X-Type for a little over $35K as of August 2004. But does that give you more luxury sport sedan for your money than any other manufacturer?
Well, the X-Type 3.0 does have some standard features that you'd have to buy as options in competitors, among these leather seats, split-folding rear seats and a moonroof. And it is the only compact luxury sedan in its class to offer all-wheel drive as standard. Its major competitors, the Audi A4 3.0, BMW 330i, Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz C320, offer these niceties as pricey options.
But let's get down to the real business of driving the car. A sport sedan should combine the grace of agile handling with a powerful engine. And in this price range it should also offer ample provisions for comfort and entertainment for those times when you are (all too often) stuck in traffic.
The X-Type 3.0's V6 produces 227 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, enough power to accelerate this Jag from zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds (7.1 for the automatic), says the company. You can get the five-speed manual at no extra charge with the Sport package. We found our test vehicle very easy to drive. The pedals felt a little small, but the manual transmission shifted easily, the clutch engaged smoothly and it was easy to find the right gear.
The suspension was a little stiff over bumps but handled curves with confidence. Steering was admirably light and effortless, as opposed to some other all-wheel-drive cars where it can feel sluggish. The leather-wrapped steering wheel was comfortable and had audio and cruise controls conveniently placed within a fingertip's reach. The four-wheel antilock disc brakes (with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) provided secure stops in everyday traffic situations. We liked the race-inspired look of the 18-inch wheels, and the Pirelli performance tires proved adequately sticky when the X-Type was pushed on a winding road.
Visibility out the front and down the sides was excellent. The over-the-shoulder view was not quite as good, though at only 5 feet 4 in height, I am at a slight disadvantage to my fellow editors who did not complain at all about rear visibility. Our test vehicle's front sport seats came furnished with uncomfortable side bolsters that were a bit more than the car needed, they tended to get in the way when getting in and out of the car, and made the seat too narrow for a majority of our staff. This isn't a rally car after all. Front and rear headroom were average and in line with other compact entry-luxury sedans.
As we inspected the backseat, it was obvious Jaguar considered that X-Type owners might have occasion to carry adults in the back and thus designed the rear-seat cushions to sit slightly higher than the front to give rear passengers a better view. This compromised rear headroom somewhat but not enough for any of our passengers to whine about.
While driving on the freeway, we noticed some minor wind and engine noise, which we promptly blocked out with the 320-watt Alpine stereo system. There were no noticeable rattles and squeaks, which reassured us that no parts were going to fall off this car. (See our 2002 Full Test for more on that.)
Our X-Type delivered a compliant ride on the highway, yet we were not totally comfortable — perhaps the culprit was the aggressive sport seats, which we just could not get used to. Running everyday errands or commuting in stop-and-go traffic was not a luxurious experience for those of us who thought the sport seats a bit much. We also felt that the addition of white-faced gauges would have added more of a sporty flavor to the cabin.
The climate control system was easy to operate and cooled the car quickly. The fan was a little loud but not too intrusive on our music listening. The Alpine audio system really rocked at high levels. However, the single CD slot was placed lower than expected, inconveniently located behind the shifter. When my passenger tried to change discs while I reached for the shifter, our hands collided. Most of the interior controls are clearly labeled and easy to use and reach. But there is nothing special or elegant about the way they are presented.
Perhaps it was the dull gray color, but our X-Type's interior struck us as somewhat bland; it just didn't complement the sleek lines of the exterior. The best attribute of the car is its elegant body with elliptical quad headlamps, XJ-inspired grille design and the jumping jag on the hood. Like a dancer, this Jaguar's figure is graceful yet powerful. On paper, this car has all the interior features you'd expect in an entry-level luxury vehicle. But when you are actually sitting in the vehicle, it does not feel special. Even some non-luxury brand models, such as the Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat have stepped up their interior details in recent years.
While the X-Type may not be best in show, its overall build quality has significantly improved since inception. We noticed some minor lapses in our test vehicle: the left tailpipe hung lower than the right, the moonroof shade slid open about an inch whenever we made sudden stops and some of the interior panel seams were uneven. But our experience with this vehicle confirmed what our Town Hall users have been excited about — that this 2004 edition deserved a second look.
The competition in the entry-level luxury sedan arena is fierce. Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz offer strong contenders. In a segment where performance and luxury are expected, we can't wholeheartedly agree that "nobody offers you more luxury sport sedan for your money than Jaguar." Were Jaguar willing to increase its budget for interior design and put the X-Type through a round of chassis and drivetrain upgrades, this car would have a much better shot at challenging the class leaders. As it is, the X-Type is still lost in the pack.
Jaguar claims, "Nobody offers you more luxury sport sedan for your money than Jaguar." Well, let's discuss that, shall we?
For model year 2004, Jaguar reduced the base MSRP of the 3.0 version by almost $3,000. The addition of some popular optional equipment as standard (power moonroof, split-folding rear seats) effectively lowers the price of a fully equipped 3.0 by approximately $5,000.
Our test vehicle was equipped with the Sport package, metallic paint and a five-speed manual transmission bringing the MSRP to $37,740. The Sport package adds a 320-watt Alpine premium sound system, 18-inch "Aruba" forged alloy wheels with Pirelli PZero "Nero" performance tires, a sport-tuned suspension, stability control, leather sport seats, leather steering wheel, xenon headlamps and a rear deck spoiler.
Many of our editors feel the X-Type is not worth driving without the 3.0-liter engine and Sport package, but this gets a little pricey. Of course, you're not likely to have to pay full sticker to get into this car. Using the Edmunds' TMV® pricing system, you should be able to get a similarly equipped X-Type for a little over $35K as of August 2004. But does that give you more luxury sport sedan for your money than any other manufacturer?
Well, the X-Type 3.0 does have some standard features that you'd have to buy as options in competitors, among these leather seats, split-folding rear seats and a moonroof. And it is the only compact luxury sedan in its class to offer all-wheel drive as standard. Its major competitors, the Audi A4 3.0, BMW 330i, Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz C320, offer these niceties as pricey options.
But let's get down to the real business of driving the car. A sport sedan should combine the grace of agile handling with a powerful engine. And in this price range it should also offer ample provisions for comfort and entertainment for those times when you are (all too often) stuck in traffic.
The X-Type 3.0's V6 produces 227 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, enough power to accelerate this Jag from zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds (7.1 for the automatic), says the company. You can get the five-speed manual at no extra charge with the Sport package. We found our test vehicle very easy to drive. The pedals felt a little small, but the manual transmission shifted easily, the clutch engaged smoothly and it was easy to find the right gear.
The suspension was a little stiff over bumps but handled curves with confidence. Steering was admirably light and effortless, as opposed to some other all-wheel-drive cars where it can feel sluggish. The leather-wrapped steering wheel was comfortable and had audio and cruise controls conveniently placed within a fingertip's reach. The four-wheel antilock disc brakes (with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) provided secure stops in everyday traffic situations. We liked the race-inspired look of the 18-inch wheels, and the Pirelli performance tires proved adequately sticky when the X-Type was pushed on a winding road.
Visibility out the front and down the sides was excellent. The over-the-shoulder view was not quite as good, though at only 5 feet 4 in height, I am at a slight disadvantage to my fellow editors who did not complain at all about rear visibility. Our test vehicle's front sport seats came furnished with uncomfortable side bolsters that were a bit more than the car needed, they tended to get in the way when getting in and out of the car, and made the seat too narrow for a majority of our staff. This isn't a rally car after all. Front and rear headroom were average and in line with other compact entry-luxury sedans.
As we inspected the backseat, it was obvious Jaguar considered that X-Type owners might have occasion to carry adults in the back and thus designed the rear-seat cushions to sit slightly higher than the front to give rear passengers a better view. This compromised rear headroom somewhat but not enough for any of our passengers to whine about.
While driving on the freeway, we noticed some minor wind and engine noise, which we promptly blocked out with the 320-watt Alpine stereo system. There were no noticeable rattles and squeaks, which reassured us that no parts were going to fall off this car. (See our 2002 Full Test for more on that.)
Our X-Type delivered a compliant ride on the highway, yet we were not totally comfortable — perhaps the culprit was the aggressive sport seats, which we just could not get used to. Running everyday errands or commuting in stop-and-go traffic was not a luxurious experience for those of us who thought the sport seats a bit much. We also felt that the addition of white-faced gauges would have added more of a sporty flavor to the cabin.
The climate control system was easy to operate and cooled the car quickly. The fan was a little loud but not too intrusive on our music listening. The Alpine audio system really rocked at high levels. However, the single CD slot was placed lower than expected, inconveniently located behind the shifter. When my passenger tried to change discs while I reached for the shifter, our hands collided. Most of the interior controls are clearly labeled and easy to use and reach. But there is nothing special or elegant about the way they are presented.
Perhaps it was the dull gray color, but our X-Type's interior struck us as somewhat bland; it just didn't complement the sleek lines of the exterior. The best attribute of the car is its elegant body with elliptical quad headlamps, XJ-inspired grille design and the jumping jag on the hood. Like a dancer, this Jaguar's figure is graceful yet powerful. On paper, this car has all the interior features you'd expect in an entry-level luxury vehicle. But when you are actually sitting in the vehicle, it does not feel special. Even some non-luxury brand models, such as the Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen Passat have stepped up their interior details in recent years.
While the X-Type may not be best in show, its overall build quality has significantly improved since inception. We noticed some minor lapses in our test vehicle: the left tailpipe hung lower than the right, the moonroof shade slid open about an inch whenever we made sudden stops and some of the interior panel seams were uneven. But our experience with this vehicle confirmed what our Town Hall users have been excited about — that this 2004 edition deserved a second look.
The competition in the entry-level luxury sedan arena is fierce. Acura, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz offer strong contenders. In a segment where performance and luxury are expected, we can't wholeheartedly agree that "nobody offers you more luxury sport sedan for your money than Jaguar." Were Jaguar willing to increase its budget for interior design and put the X-Type through a round of chassis and drivetrain upgrades, this car would have a much better shot at challenging the class leaders. As it is, the X-Type is still lost in the pack.
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