Jaguar X Type - The First Production Of Jaguar To Be Fitted With Four-wheel Drive

The Jaguar X-Type is a compact executive car designed to take on the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. In a segment long dominated by the Germans, the X-Type has faced tough competition, despite offering better value and a more comfortable ride than any of the German cars. This is partly down to an old-fashioned image as well as questionable reliability from the earlier cars. Since a facelift in 2008, the X-type is more highly equipped than ever before , but heavy depreciation is as much of a problem as ever.

The Jaguar X-Type offers something unique in its class. It looks and feels like a luxury car, and is a superb, effortless cruiser. And all with an affordable price tag.

The Jaguar X-Type is the only luxury saloon in its class, according to its makers. And while owners of bona fide luxury cars may scoff, the X-Type has all the right ingredients: heritage, comfort and sartorial elegance.
But with the very best luxury cars also being deft of foot, can the Jaguar X-Type ' which was first built in 2004 and facelifted in 2008 ' mix it with the best?

The traditional Jaguar looks divide opinion, especially since the Jaguar XF saloon pointed the future for the Big Cat in the styling department. But in the years after the car originally launched it still cuts a dash with those of a more retro persuasion.

Jaguar offers the X-Type saloon with a choice of two diesels; a 2-litre and the 2.2 we tested. The sole petrol option is limited to the estate model, and is a lusty 3-litre V6. The Ford-sourced diesels are smooth and offer a respectable turn of speed. The 2-litre and 2.2 will reach 62mph from rest in 9.5 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. The 2.2 is also available with a new automatic gearbox, which is exceptionally smooth but drops the 0-62mph to 9.5 seconds. Top speeds are all in all in excess of 125mph.

Four models are available in the Jaguar X-Type range: S, SE, Sport Premium and Sovereign, and all are superbly equipped. The base S model features 17 inch alloy wheels, half-leather electrically-adjustable seats, automatic climate control with pollen filter and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, Bluetooth and automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers. The SE adds heated leather seats, power folding wing mirrors, park sensors, headlamp washers, a heated windscreen and a touch-screen DVD navigation system. The Sport Premium model we tested also features tinted windows, larger 18 inch alloys, 10-way adjustable front seats with memory function and real carbon fibre veneer trim.