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Imagine an Amtrak commuter car versus a Pullman; one says cheap and efficient, the other sings a melody of elegant opulence and splendor. So it is with the Jaguar XJ, a breed of automobile that quietly exudes an aura of distinction that would make founder Sir William Lyons proud. Grace, space, and pace defined Jaguars of yore, and for 2018 the XJ continues to embody that time-proven ethos.
What's New for 2018
The new, high-performance XJR575 trim takes a position at the top of the XJ line, boasting a 5.0-liter, supercharged V-8 with 575 horsepower.
Choosing Your Jaguar XJ
As the top-shelf sedan in the Jaguar portfolio, choice is abundant with the XJ. The three available engines, two different wheelbases, and five distinct trim levels allow buyers to tailor their British saloon to be anything from the proverbial "velvet hammer" to a richly appointed, chauffeured chariot.
The first engine on the pecking order is a 340-horsepower 3.0-liter supercharged V6. It can sprint to 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds in rear-drive guise, or 6.1 seconds if equipped with all-wheel drive. It is also the most parsimonious XJ, with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon city, 23 highway and 21 combined. It is available with the XJ R-Sport and XJL Portfolio.
For those looking for a little more oomph, there are two V8s available. The milder of the two is Jaguar Land Rover's charming supercharged 5.0-liter, putting out 470 horsepower. Compared to the V6, fuel economy falls to 15/23/18. This engine delivers 0-60 in under five seconds, and is standard fare for the XJ Supercharged and XJL Supercharged.
The engine with the most chutzpah is the 575-horse 5.0-supercharged V8, the same engine Jaguar has attached to its past several SVR models. It is only available in the long-wheelbase XJR575, and lets the big cat run up to 186 mph and hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds – an impressive feat for a beast that weighs well over two tons.
When barreling along in any XJ, it's comforting to know that there's safety features at the ready should anything go awry. Jaguar equips all flavors of XJ with a multitude of airbags, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, a driver condition monitor and Jaguar Protect, which lets the car make an emergency SOS call in the case of an accident.
XJ R-Sport
The entry-level XJ is the V6-powered $76,395 (including destination) XJ R-Sport. Although it is the "base" model, there is little about a $75,000 car that is base. Ergo, the comprehensive list of standard features include heated and auto-dimming exterior mirrors, LED headlights with automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers, an infrared windshield, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, a CD and DVD player, Bluetooth, and a 20-speaker Meridian sound system. Other standard features include dual-zone climate control, analog clock, a panoramic glass roof, approach illumination, heated leather steering wheel, multiple drive modes, and heated and cooled power front seats upholstered in perforated leather.
Available packages include the $510 Illumination Package, which gives buyers illuminated air vents and LED reading lamps, and the $2,040 Comfort Package - 18-way power front seats with 4-way lumbar and 5-setting massage adjustments, four-zone climate control and a passenger memory seat. A 26-speaker, 1,300-watt Meridan Reference sound system is available for a hefty $4,285, as is a 360-degree surround-view camera and active parking assist, both $815, and finally, a $1,625 adaptive cruise control system.
XJL Portfolio
The next-cheapest XJ is the XJL Portfolio, which has a sticker price of $85,495. It is also powered by the V6, and boasts an extra 4.9 inches between the axles compared to the standard wheelbase models. Standard features include 14-way power seats that are heated, cooled, ventilated and feature massage and lumbar adjustment, an electric rear sunshade, illuminated rear vanity mirrors, four-zone climate control, a 20-speaker Meridian sound system, navigation and blind-spot monitor.
Everything optional on the R-Sport is available here, with the exception of the Comfort Pack (the contents of which have been made standard). A $4,080 Premium Rear Seat Package can be equipped to turn the the standard rear bench seat into two chairs that offer three massage functions, memory settings, a folding armrest with switch panels, business tables that fold into the front seats, and an entertainment unit that features two 10.2-inch screens and wireless headphones.
XJ Supercharged
The standard-wheelbase Supercharged is the cheapest way to get V8 power under the hood of the XJ. Jaguar is sneaky here; it advertises a base price of $93,000, but neglect to say that a mandatory upgrade is the 18-way power seats, which add a cool $2,040 to the final price. What this means is that a base XJ Supercharged with no options costs, after delivery, $96,035 - a good bit more than the advertised $93,000.
Pricing tactics aside, the XJ Supercharged mostly matches the XJ R-Sport in both standard and optional equipment. Notable differences are the standard 20-inch wheels, 18-way power front seats with massage and memory, four-zone climate control, heated and cooled rear seats and the requisite 5.0 badges.
XJL Supercharged
The long-wheelbase XJL Supercharged costs $97,295, and is powered by the 470-hp V8. Both standard and optional features closely mirror the XJL Portfolio. Differences include a quilted seat pattern, 20-inch wheels, actively ventilated heated and cooled rear seats, 18-way front seats with massage function and power rear side-window sunshades.
XJR575
The granddaddy of XJs, the long-wheelbase XJR575 ups the price to $123,395. The heart of this package is the 575-horsepower, 5.0-supercharged V8. Features unique to the most athletic XJ include a sport exhaust, red brake calipers, hood louvres, and aluminium paddle shifters. Options include a bird's eye camera, heated windshield, adaptive cruise control, and a front ashtray and lighter.
While the XJR575 is enticing, the high performance and lack of luxury features doesn't align with the full-size, long-wheelbase grandeur that is a full-size luxury liner's calling card. That said, more power on a car of this sort is always better than less, so if the budget allows, spring for the XJ Supercharged. If Jacques is doing the driving, get the XJL Supercharged with the Premium Rear Seat Package and feel like a head of state as you're whisked to your next rendezvous.
