Special Offer detail

X SPOTS THE MARQUE

Models Covered: (4 dr saloon/Estate 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, V6 petrol 2.0, 2.2 diesel [base, Classic, S, Sport, SE, Sport Premium, Sovereign])

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

The Jaguar X-TYPE marked a series of firsts for Jaguar. It was their first all-wheel drive production car and subsequently their first front wheel drive. It was the first to challenge the hegemony built up by the BMW 3 Series and the first to be built around a mainstream Ford Mondeo platform. Old school Jaguar purists wrung their hands in abject horror whilst the rest of us recognised the machinations of Ford’s Premier Auto Group at work behind the scenes and recognised the X-TYPE for what it was – pragmatism and clever engineering writ large beneath some pretty clothes. Shooting yourself in the foot with a used example would take some doing as the X-TYPE has thus far proved to be a sound proposition.

Perhaps feeling that the compact executive class was becoming a tad predictable, Jaguar’s attempt to muscle in on the BMW/Mercedes/Audi party was launched in February 2001. The X-TYPE range was built on a modified Ford Mondeo chassis and featured all-wheel drive ostensibly as an engineering ‘fix’ to get around the front wheel-drive Mondeo layout and also as a handy marketing tool to scotch Audi’s quattro USP. Two engines were made available, either a 194bhp 2.5-litre V6 or the punchy 227bhp 3.0-litre V6, each available in either base, SE or Sport trim levels. This remained the case until early 2002 when the X-TYPE 2.0-litre models were introduced. Apart from the 157bhp 2.0-litre V6 engine (which was strictly speaking a 2.1-litre lump), this model differentiated itself by junking the X-TYPE’s hitherto much-lauded all-wheel drive in favour of standard issue front-wheel drive. So good was it that few noticed the loss. Estates were later introduced. Later a 2.0-litre diesel engine was added and in the autumn of 2004 the Sport Premium and Sovereign trim levels materialised. A 2.2-litre diesel was added to the range in late 2005. All models received a chrome mesh grille in spring 2007. The X-TYPE was tweaked again for the 2008 model year and although the visual changes were difficult for the layman to spot, over 500 new components were introduced. Revisions to the grille, bumpers and side mouldings altered the front end while enhanced trim materials upgraded the interior. Otherwise, there was a new 6-speed automatic gearbox for the 2.2-litre diesel.

For some customers, the X-TYPE’s success will be virtually guaranteed by its neat styling. The lines are reminiscent of the S-TYPE, though Jaguar’s design studio has managed to pull off a clever trick. In shrinking a design, the usual effect is to make a car look squatter and stubbier, but with the X-TYPE the reverse is true. It appears even more elegantly proportioned than the S-TYPE: indeed, its frontal treatment is more like the imperious XJ8 Series. Apart from the base model, two trim levels are on offer, a clubby SE model with burr walnut cappings and chrome body addenda and a more youthful Sport edition, with sports seats, smoke-grey interior veneers and big 18-inch wheels. The 2.0-litre X-TYPE is priced close to the plusher Ford Mondeos and that near parity hides a key consideration because the X-TYPE actually rides on a modified Mondeo chassis, with around 20% of its parts shared with Ford’s middleweight. Anybody who’s driven the current Mondeo will welcome this as a very good foundation to build from. "Customers for the X-TYPE typically will be younger than traditional Jaguar buyers with notably different needs," says Jaguar’s Managing Director. "As the smallest and most affordable model in the range, the X-TYPE challenges existing perceptions about Jaguar. The X-TYPE is also a car for the driving enthusiast." Indeed, the importance of the car to Jaguar’s global aspirations cannot be understated. Worldwide, the company has sold around 85,000 cars in the last calendar year, but Ford won’t be happy with anything less than 170,000 sales per annum – a doubling of world sales. With near perfect weight distribution, class-leading power outputs and the input of some of the best chassis engineers in the business, few industry observers doubt the X-TYPE’s ability to meet and possibly exceed these projections. Compared to Jaguars of the past, even the most cursory inspection of the X-TYPE reveals levels of quality and engineering that the Coventry firm could never have dreamed about fifteen years ago. Despite the backup from Ford, the X-TYPE is a largely British undertaking. The interior of the X-TYPE sets new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar, redressing many of the grumbles that were heard at the S-TYPE launch. The fascia retains the ‘plank’ – a long swathe of wood running the width of the dashboard – but the major dials are housed in a modern binnacle rather than in individual recesses as in the XK8. What’s particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar have managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That’s a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. The cabin certainly feels more special than any of its rivals, and has premium product design cues all over it.

Whereas once the values of used Jaguars fell quicker than Michael Owen in the opposition box, these days Jag residuals are reasonably perky. Great news if you’re the one with your details on the V5, not such good news if you’re sniffing about looking for a bargain. The X-TYPE starts at around £4,800 for an X-TYPE 2.5 with the Sport and SE versions worth an additional £400. Should you hanker after the 3.0-litre, you’ll need to dredge up at least £5,300. The 2.0-litre models are a good intro for those on a tighter budget, starting at around £5,375 for 2001 51 plated examples. The 2.0-litre diesels are available from £7,950 on 2003 plates. Insurance is pretty easy to work out. The 2.0-litre models are Group 14, the 2.5s Group 15 and the 3.0s fall into Group 16.

If your last experience with a Jaguar was one of the unlovely XJ40 models from the eighties, then it may be time to reacquaint yourself with the brand. Some of the first cars were a little looser in terms of internal fit and finish than Jaguar would have cared to admit but the production experience curve soon saw to any minor niggles. In most respects there’s no appreciable quality difference between an X-TYPE and a Mercedes C-Class. No significant mechanical issues have been raised, reflected by Jaguar’s enviable results in recent J D Power surveys.

(approx based on 2001 X-TYPE 3.0) Spares for the X-TYPE hover around the compact executive average although you won’t have quite so many ‘parallel’ imports of pattern parts if you want to cut corners. Given the fact that pub bores may denigrate it as a Mondeo, nipping down to your local Ford dealer to pick up spares is often likely to result in a wasted journey. Front brake pads are around £45, whilst rears are £30. Expect to have to fork out around £175 for a new clutch assembly and around £485 for a new exhaust system. A replacement headlamp unit costs around £220.

If you’re after the full-on X-TYPE experience you need that 3.0-litre. Fire it up and you’ll be greeted with a muted growl before it settles to a distant rumble. You’ll initially feel that this is going to be a sporting drive, tilting at a 3-Series rather than a C class. Indeed, although the suspension is admirably supple in its absorption of ridges and ruts, there’s not a great deal of body roll, the X-TYPE feeling taut and eager. When coupled with the automatic box it’s easy to forget that 40% of the drive is directed to the front wheels. The steering takes a little getting used to. Gone is the usual Jaguar steering feel, that remote, oily slickness that distanced drivers from the road. In its place is a ZF Servotronic variabe-ratio system which seamlessly reduces the amount of assistance as speed builds. It’s a great system for motorway cruising, with just the right amount of feel around the straight ahead point, but get a bit enthusiastic into the corners and the tardy turn-in and odd feeling that you need to turn the wheel far more than is at first expected will take some getting used to. Likewise, the automatic gearbox, even when switched into sport mode, can’t really keep up with the demands of being pitched through a series of twisty bits. Still, that’s what Jaguar makes the X-TYPE Sport for. The chubby windscreen pillars restrict visibility through tighter bends, but otherwise the Jaguar is a genuinely impressive packaging job. For a British car it adopts a groundbreaking competence in ergonomics, with all switches, minor controls and access points being intuitive to operate. Rear legroom isn’t the best, especially if there are long-legged drivers up front, but that’s par for the course in this class. What isn’t is the enormous boot, 452 litres being a Jaguar record. Get a bit brutal with the right hand pedal and, with a 3.0-litre underneath you, you’ll despatch 60mph in 6.9 seconds, the X-TYPE launching off the line without drama whilst making a strident high-pitched yelp as the gearbox hangs onto each gear, peak power arriving at a stratospheric 6800rpm. The 231bhp engine will punch the car up to 143mph, although this sort of driving won’t get you near Jaguar’s combined fuel consumption figure of 27mpg. Despite it’s stiff, no-nonsense chassis feel and tight suspension, the luxury accoutrements and unwilling steering and transmission of the SE version don’t encourage press-on driving, all of which make the Sport variant a far more satisfying model. The 2.5-litre is less satisfying for the keen driver, with the 2.0-litre being surprisingly zippy, able to hit 60mph in 8.9 seconds and keep going until 130mph.

Buyers of used Jaguars have traditionally needed some sort of homespun, emotional response when questioned about their purchase. The heritage, the looks, the badge – all reasons as valid as any other but reasons which the X-TYPE keeps in its toolbox rather than acting as the tools of its trade. This is a car that has layers, textures and subtleties to its talents, a Jaguar that needs no preamble. It’s up there with the best in the class. Just don’t expect a bargain.

INCONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION
Jaguar’s First Production Diesel, The 2.0-Litre 130PS Unit As Fitted To Their X-TYPE Diesel, Is Now On Offer In Environmentally-Friendly ‘Euro IV’ Guise. Jonathan Crouch Reports.

The 2.0-litre diesel-engined X-TYPE has been arguably the most significant Jaguar of recent years. It was the marque’s first oil-burning engine and it’s been continually evolving to keep pace with new technological developments. The latest facelifted X-TYPE retains the services of the 2.0D but does the engine still have something to offer in this cutthroat market sector.

Peak power and torque of the X-TYPE 2.0D have remained at 130PS and 330Nm since its introduction, but a number of modifications to the under-bonnet mechanicals have been introduced to keep it relevant. A revised engine management calibration was introduced in order to provide a better throttle response and an electronic vane control device was added to the turbocharger, bringing better driveability due to the improved reaction time of the electronic system versus the previous vacuum system. These changes meant that the engine and vehicle react faster to driver demand for more throttle, apparently giving a feeling of eagerness and increased responsiveness. EU4 emissions have been achieved on X-TYPE without the need for a particulate filter. Fuel consumption and CO2 figures were changed slightly as a direct result of achieving the improved emissions status figures; the combined fuel consumption for the Saloon is 49.1mpg and for the Estate it’s 48.5mpg. The CO2 figure for X-TYPE diesel saloon is 152g/km while the estate offers 154g/km.

"Day in, day out, the X-TYPE 2.0D offers a very compelling ownership proposition"

The 2.0 litre common-rail diesel engine harks – unsurprisingly – from the Ford stable and is also found beneath the bonnet of the Mondeo, the Focus and a number of other Ford Motor Company products. A sprint to 60mph in 9.5 seconds isn’t what you’d describe as reticent and the top speed of 125mph is well up with the class best. Or so you’d think. In practice, we found that the Jaguar’s 2.0-litre engine couldn’t touch either BMW or Audi’s equivalents for torque and the big-boned X-TYPE body takes a little of the edge from the subjective feeling of muscle. The engine is a creditable all-round performer but the X-TYPE 2.0D still isn’t a car that the performance driver will take an instant shine to. Day in, day out, however, the car offers a very compelling ownership proposition. The engine is pleasantly refined and, as long as you keep the needle between 2,500 and 4,500rpm, it’ll be brisk enough for most. The five-speed Getrag gearbox has a light throw and a reassuring knobbliness as it catches the next cog, but six forward ratios would certainly help keep it in the meat of the power band. Four trim levels are available with the 2.0D in saloon and estate bodystyles - S, SE, Sport Premium and Sovereign. The estate version has proved very popular, attracting a younger set of buyers to the Jaguar marque. Here, the split fold rear seats allow for one, two or all three rear passengers to be accommodated comfortably and when folded flat, there’s a whopping 1,415 litres of cubic capacity to clog with lifestyle accoutrements. Though the X-TYPE looks ostensibly similar to the way it was when originally launched, it has in fact changed quite a lot in recent years. When this car was first launched, its interior set new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar. What’s particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar have managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That’s a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. The cabin certainly feels more special than many of its rivals, and has premium product design cues all over it. Owners familiar with earlier X-TYPEs will notice revised frontal styling that includes a redesigned ‘3D’ bright mesh grille, complete with Jaguar ‘growler’ emblem. There are restyled front bumper covers, a bright ‘splitter’ in the lower air intakes and a neat roof-mounted Antenna Pod to replace the previous aerial. What Jaguar hopes is a ‘lower, sportier profile’ is also underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. There are revised door mirrors too, which now incorporate the indicators (probably making them fearsomely expensive to replace). Revised alloy wheels and a wider range of colour options complete the improvements. With this model, Jaguar turned an important corner and those that see this as a sad dilution of the marque’s brand values should consider the car’s importance. Without diesel Jaguars, we will never get to see premium sportscars like the XK, concept cars or exciting racing variants. As a bedrock upon which these flights of fancy are built, we should welcome the X-TYPE 2.0D with open arms.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Jaguar X-TYPE 2.0-litre D PRICES: £21,500 - £28,400 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13 CO2 EMISSIONS: 152g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.5s / Max Speed 125mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 37.9 / (extra urban) 62.1 / (combined) 49.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, side curtain airbags (front/rear), ABS with EBD, traction control WILL IT FIT IN MY GARAGE?: [saloon] Length/width/height 4670/1790/1390mm

THE RING OF CONFIDENCE
The Sovereign Caters To Those X-TYPE Buyers Who Want Their Jaguar Comfortably Stuffed With Standard Equipment. Andy Enright Reports…

Consider for a moment the qualities that differentiate the Jaguar X-TYPE from the rest of the pack. Tough isn’t it? Virtually every attribute of the X-TYPE is replicated in one form or another by its premium rivals – save for one area. None of its rivals can quite match the Jaguar’s intimate, clubby feel and it’s at its best when absolutely rammed with standard equipment. The top of the range 3.0-litre Sovereign offers the sort of aristocratic feel good factor that eludes Jaguar’s German rivals.

Although the Sovereign model designation may bring to mind Arthur Daley and nightclub doormen, it’s a far more refined proposition. Priced at £30,995 in 3.0 petrol estate form as tested here (though there are also a cheaper diesel versions), the car is based on the SE specification but with quite a few added extras. The interior features that classic British blend of walnut and leather. The veneers for the fascia and door trims are finished in a way that makes sense in a home grown product but which just appears a little contrived in a German car. Don’t ask me why, that’s just the way it is. The seats are trimmed in piped leather and feature a memory function for the driver’s chair. Elsewhere there are numerous features designed to make life easy. An advanced touch screen DVD navigation system is fitted as standard and it’s incredibly simple to use. Unlike many systems, this one is quick to recalculate routes on the fly and conceals a lot of advanced functions behind its apparently straightforward user interface. The Sovereign’s stereo system is also a real piece of work, featuring no fewer than ten speakers dotted about the cabin linked to an Alpine head unit. Most functions can be marshalled without your hands leaving the walnut and leather steering wheel thanks to the Sovereign’s JaguarVoice system. Simply tell the system what you want it to do and after it learns your voice patterns it complies. It’s like Knight Rider but without the black plastic disaster interior. Building a luxurious compact executive car is fraught with pitfalls. Firstly, it has to be spot-on perfect first time in terms of styling and prestige, the most important aspects of new car appeal. That prestige will in turn stem from a favourable press reaction, after all nobody wants to be seen in a car universally derided as a dynamic duffer. Fortunately, the X-TYPE seems to have covered its bases in an unexpectedly comprehensive manner.

"It’s without doubt a classier act for those that aren’t particularly interested in cornering at ten-tenths."

Fire up that 3.0-litre engine and you’ll be greeted with a muted growl before it settles to a distant rumble. Drop the shifter into drive and you’ll initially feel that this is going to be a sporting drive, tilting at a 3-Series. Indeed, although the suspension is admirably supple in its absorption of ridges and ruts, there’s not a great deal of body roll, the X-TYPE feeling taut and eager. When coupled with the automatic box it’s easy to forget that 40% of the drive is directed to the front wheels. The steering takes a little getting used to. Gone is the usual Jaguar steering feel, that remote, oily slickness that distanced drivers from the road. In its place is a ZF Servotronic variabe-ratio system that seamlessly reduces the amount of assistance as speed builds. It’s a great system for motorway cruising, with just the right amount of feel around the straight ahead point, but get a bit enthusiastic into the corners and the tardy turn-in and odd feeling that you need to turn the wheel far more than is at first expected will take some getting used to. Likewise, the gearbox, even when switched into sport mode, can’t really keep up with the demands of being pitched through a series of twisty bits. Still, that’s what Jaguar makes the X-TYPE Sport Premium for. The chubby windscreen pillars restrict visibility through tighter bends, but otherwise the Jaguar is a genuinely impressive packaging job. For a British car it adopts a groundbreaking competence in ergonomics, with all switches, minor controls and access points being intuitive to operate. Rear legroom isn’t the best, especially if there are long-legged drivers up front, but that’s par for the course in this class. Get a bit brutal with the right hand pedal and you’ll despatch 60mph in 6.6 seconds, the X-TYPE launching off the line without drama whilst making a strident high-pitched yelp as the gearbox hangs onto each gear, peak power arriving at a stratospheric 6800rpm. The 231bhp engine will punch the car up to 146mph, although this sort of driving won’t get you near Jaguar’s combined fuel consumption figure of 27mpg. Despite it’s stiff, no-nonsense chassis feel and tight suspension, the luxury accoutrements and unwilling steering and transmission of the Sovereign don’t encourage press-on driving, all of which makes the Sport Premium variants far more satisfying. Nevertheless, if you appreciate the more refined appeal of the Sovereign, it’s without doubt a classier act for those that aren’t particularly interested in cornering at ten-tenths. The Jaguar X-TYPE 3.0 Sovereign estate might seem a bit of a stretch for £31,000 but judged in context it’s good value for money. Equipping a less powerful Mercedes C320 to this sort of specification would cost far more and you wouldn’t get the all-weather security of four-wheel drive or the sense of occasion every time you dropped behind the wheel. It’ll never be as technically sexy as the leading German offerings, but if you appreciate a compact executive car that really does come rammed with features, the Sovereign is massively appealing. Try one before you go German. You might just surprise yourself.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Jaguar X-TYPE 3.0 Sovereign Estate PRICE: £30,995 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 244g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 6.6s / Max Speed 146mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 18.7mpg / (extra urban) 36.4mpg / (combined) 27.0mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side & curtain airbags, ABS WILL IT FIT IN MY GARAGE?: Length/width/height 4670/1790/1390mm

FIRST MEETS FOURTH ESTATE
The X-TYPE’s Estate bodystyle chalked up yet another first for Jaguar’s baby. Andy Enright reports…

We’re getting used to the X-TYPE rewriting the Jaguar history books. The first all-wheel drive Jaguar, the first front-wheel drive, the first diesel-engined and the first estate Jaguar production car – the X-TYPE has to be one of the most significant cars to ever wear the growler emblem. But hang on a minute – aren’t estate cars meant to be going the way of the dinosaur? That might have been the case a few years ago but now the sector is booming and the latest face-lifted X-TYPE wants a piece of the action.

It wasn’t long ago that industry commentators were writing off the estate car sector as mini-MPV people carriers eroded sales at the bottom end and big MPVs and ever more sophisticated 4x4s stole sales from bigger estates. One niche, however, escaped the attentions of these vehicles fairly successfully – that for premium compact estates. Cars like the Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon, the Lexus IS Sportcross and the Audi A4 Avant offered sleek looks but little extra in the way of additional carrying capacity and the established leaders in the sector, the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Mercedes C-Class estate continued to make hay. During this time, Jaguar had to stand back and watch these rivals carve up the market between them, armed only with a development programme and a whole heap of market research that indicated that estate buyers were now typically younger than saloon buyers and that they were looking for something that reflected their active lifestyle requirements. Just as the image of the cloth-capped granddad behind the wheel of an estate car is now old hat (if you’ll excuse the pun), so is the stereotype of an estate car being a dull, boxy alternative. Increasingly, these younger buyers were opting for the estate versions because many felt the styling was better than that of the saloon.

"For a ‘first time effort’ the X-TYPE Estate is little short of remarkable"

Although it takes a little adjusting to, you can see the appeal in the sleek shape of the X-TYPE Estate, priced from £22,900 and offered with 2.0 and 2.2-litre diesels or a 3.0-litre petrol V6. Of course, it’s based on the saloon car’s floorpan, but from the door pillars back, all the body panels are different and with an entire new roof and a revised rear subframe, the Estate is so much more than a saloon with a glazed box on the back. A large part of the challenge in making a good estate is to retain a modicum of torsional rigidity in the chassis and Jaguar have succeeded in this regard, the X-TYPE Estate being impressively stiff in the body. What’s more, overall weight has only increased by 65kg as a result, model for model. Even if Jaguar had a long history of producing estate cars, you’d have to say the X-TYPE Estate is an impressive achievement. For a ‘first time effort’ it’s little short of remarkable. Of course, the company has benefited form all of the technical expertise of the Ford empire, an outfit known to have built one or two estate cars down the years, but nevertheless you have to tip your titfer to the designers. The split fold rear seats allow for one, two or all three rear passengers to be accommodated comfortably and when folded flat, there’s a whopping 1415 litres of cubic capacity to clog with lifestyle accoutrements. The luggage bay is covered by a retractable tonneau and optional cargo nets prevent smaller objects from being battered during spirited cornering. Chromed spring-loaded D-rings and tie-down straps will take car of larger objects. The best bit about the rear luggage bay is the underfloor secure area which yields two deep storage sections with a 12v power supply system so that you can discreetly charge a mobile phone or a laptop computer. The rear window can be opened separately to the hatchback so that smaller items can be popped inside without lifting the tailgate and it’s even possible to program the key fob so that you can open the rear window remotely. Though the X-TYPE looks ostensibly similar to the way it was when originally launched, it has in fact changed quite a lot in recent years. When this car was first launched, its interior set new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar. What’s particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar have managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That’s a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. The cabin certainly feels more special than many of its rivals, and has premium product design cues all over it. Owners familiar with earlier X-TYPEs will notice revised frontal styling that includes a redesigned ‘3D’ bright mesh grille, complete with Jaguar ‘growler’ emblem. There are restyled front bumper covers, a bright ‘splitter’ in the lower air intakes and a neat roof-mounted Antenna Pod to replace the previous aerial. What Jaguar hopes is a ‘lower, sportier profile’ is also underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. There are revised door mirrors too, which now incorporate the indicators (probably making them fearsomely expensive to replace). Revised alloy wheels and a wider range of colour options complete the improvements. The overall package gels together very well and the idea of a rather rakish Jaguar ‘shooting brake’ will appeal to the sort of badge conscious upwardly mobile thirtysomethings this car is aimed directly at. A Jaguar estate may take many a little getting used to but the X-TYPE makes the acclimatisation process very agreeable indeed.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Jaguar X-TYPE Estate range PRICES: £22,900-£30,995 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 149-244g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0D] 0-60mph 9.8s / Max Speed 123mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0D] (urban) 37.9 / (extra urban) 62.1 / (combined) 49.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, side curtain airbags (front/rear), ABS WILL IT FIT IN MY GARAGE?: Length/width/height 4730/1790/1390mm [est]

THE NEW ECONOMY
Jaguar’s X-TYPE Estate is at its most convincing in diesel form. Andy Enright reports.

After sampling all of the engines available to Jaguar X-TYPE Estate buyers, it’s virtually impossible to come away with any conclusion but that the humble 2.0-litre diesel engine is the best of the bunch. It shouldn’t really scan like this. Jaguar’s big claim for the X-TYPE was initially that the car was all-wheel drive, yet this diesel X-TYPE is only offered in relatively heretic front wheel drive form. Is there something worrying in the fact that the best car in the X-TYPE line up ditches so many Jaguar traditions?

An average fuel consumption figure of 48.7mpg makes the 2.0D X-TYPE estate diesel a great long range car and the 244lb/ft of torque on offer is well in excess of what even the 3.0-litre petrol model can generate. It’s just a shame that this engine isn’t offered with an all wheel drive chassis as it would make a fantastically practical all weather car. It would be hard to think of many better value choices for the annual ski drive vacation! Value is a theme that crops up frequently when discussing the X-TYPE Estate’s market positioning and the diesel version offers a compelling argument when compared to the German premium brands. With prices starting at £22,900, the X-TYPE 2.0D Estate is competitively priced against it’s major rivals and some would say that it needs to be when the sector’s Teutonic contingent are considerably newer than the Jag.

"Value is a theme that crops up frequently when discussing this car’s market positioning"

Ian Callum, the man responsible for drawing the Aston Martin DB9, did a very good job with the X-TYPE Estate’s lines. Although it’s based on the saloon car’s floorpan, from the door pillars back, all the body panels are different and with an entire new roof and a revised rear subframe, the Estate is so much more than a saloon with a glazed box on the back. The big challenge was to integrate the top line of the front door with the more elevated profile required for an estate as the natural line sweeps downwards. Look closely at the Estate and you can see where this piece of visual artifice has been wrought, the window line at the top of the front door sloping infinitesimally downhill and that of the leading edge of the rear door canting upwards. It’s a very deft piece of workmanship and one that utterly disappears when you step back a few feet from the car. Even if Jaguar had a long history of producing estate cars, you’d have to say the X-TYPE Estate is an impressive achievement. For a ‘first time effort’ it’s little short of remarkable. Of course, the company has benefited form all of the technical expertise of the Ford empire, an outfit known to have built on or two estate cars down the years, but nevertheless you have to tip your titfer to the Browns Lane crew. The split fold rear seats allow for one, two or all three rear passengers to be accommodated comfortably and when folded flat, there’s a whopping 1415 litres of cubic capacity to clog with lifestyle accoutrements. The luggage bay is covered by a retractable tonneau and optional cargo nets prevent smaller objects from being battered during spirited cornering. Chromed spring-loaded D-rings and tie-down straps will take car of larger objects. The best bit about the rear luggage bay is the underfloor secure area which yields two deep storage sections with a 12v power supply system so that you can discreetly charge a mobile phone or a laptop computer. The rear window can be opened separately to the hatchback so that smaller items can be popped inside without lifting the tailgate and it’s even possible to program the key fob so that you can open the rear window remotely. Though the X-TYPE looks ostensibly similar to the way it was when originally launched, it has in fact changed quite a lot in recent years. When this car was first launched, its interior set new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar. What’s particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar have managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That’s a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. The cabin certainly feels more special than many of its rivals, and has premium product design cues all over it. Owners familiar with earlier X-TYPEs will notice revised frontal styling that includes a redesigned ‘3D’ bright mesh grille, complete with Jaguar ‘growler’ emblem. There are restyled front bumper covers, a bright ‘splitter’ in the lower air intakes and a neat roof-mounted Antenna Pod to replace the previous aerial. What Jaguar hopes is a ‘lower, sportier profile’ is also underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. There are revised door mirrors too, which now incorporate the indicators (probably making them fearsomely expensive to replace). Revised alloy wheels and a wider range of colour options complete the improvements. The overall package gels together very well and the idea of a rather rakish Jaguar ‘shooting brake’ will appeal to the sort of badge conscious upwardly mobile thirtysomethings this car is aimed directly at. A Jaguar estate may take many a little getting used to but the X-TYPE makes the acclimatisation process very agreeable indeed.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Jaguar X-TYPE 2.0D Estate range PRICES: £22,900-£31,800 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13 CO2 EMISSIONS: 154g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.8s / Max Speed 123mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 48.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, side curtain airbags (front/rear), ABS WILL IT FIT IN MY GARAGE?: Length/width/height 4730/1790/1390mm [est]

JAGUAR’S X-FACTOR
Jaguar’s evergreen X-TYPE is now better equipped to compete against newer compact executive rivals. Jonathan Crouch reports

Jaguar has properly refreshed the X-TYPE in its latest guise, refreshing the styling inside and out and bringing some of its equipment options up to date. Crucially, there’s now a six-speed automatic with a sequential shift function on the 2.2-litre diesel model which should transform its sales prospects.

X-TYPE sales certainly need fresh emphasis. Tough competition from newer German rivals has made this car a rather forgotten alternative in a sector where most customers buy Audi A4s, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class models. It wasn’t always so. Back in 2001 when this car was first launched as the company’s first entry into the premium C/D segment, Jaguar had plans to out-sell its rivals. This all-wheel drive, V6 sports saloon aimed to bring XJ values to the mainstream buyer. It didn’t happen, despite attempts to broaden the range, first with a 2.0-litre front-driven diesel, then with an estate bodystyle and finally with the 2.2-litre diesel that’s received the bulk of the attention within the latest changes. These improvements are almost certainly too little, too late to make the X-TYPE the strong seller that the Coventry company’s management always wanted but they should be enough to sustain the car in its twilight years while Jaguar figures out exactly what to do next in this sector. Let’s get this into perspective. No, the X-TYPE may not be the newest thing on the block but if you want V6 power and four-wheel drive from Audi or BMW, you’ll pay between £3,000-£5,000 more for it and have to stump up more to match the Jaguar’s equipment levels. Still inclined to write the X-TYPE off? The engine line-up offers petrol buyers a 231bhp 3.0-litre V6 with all-wheel drive. Go for one of the diesels, however, (a 128bhp 2.0-litre or a 152bhp 2.2) and you’ll have to accept front wheel drive. Handling is assured, the four-wheel drive system where fitted allowing great traction out of corners and giving beautifully neutral cornering at high speeds. In the wet, little can touch a well-driven X-TYPE, although keen drivers will prefer the manual gearbox to the sybaritic automatic. Even the front wheel drive car rarely betrays its underpinnings, such is the excellence of the chassis and suspension setups.

"If you thought of this car as out-dated in the face of newer rivals, then it might be time to give the Jaguar another look…"

The big news with this refreshed X-TYPE is the introduction of a new six-speed automatic gearbox, which has the added attraction of 'one-touch control' Jaguar Sequential Shift for manual gearchanges. The six gear ratios are chosen to deliver refined cruising while maintaining sporty performance. Where the 2.2 litre diesel with manual transmission can achieve maximum torque from second gear, the combination with the auto ‘box can achieve maximum torque in all six gears, utilising optimum gear change points to ensure best use of the available torque. When this car was first launched, its interior set new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar. What’s particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar have managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That’s a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. The cabin certainly feels more special than many of its rivals, and has premium product design cues all over it. Owners familiar with earlier X-TYPEs will notice revised frontal styling that includes a redesigned ‘3D’ bright mesh grille, complete with Jaguar ‘growler’ emblem. There are restyled front bumper covers, a bright ‘splitter’ in the lower air intakes and a neat roof-mounted Antenna Pod to replace the previous aerial. What Jaguar hopes is a ‘lower, sportier profile’ is also underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. There are revised door mirrors too, which now incorporate the indicators (probably making them fearsomely expensive to replace). Revised alloy wheels and a wider range of colour options complete the improvements. Do buyers in this sector go for high technology or tight pricing and high equipment levels? If the latter, the X-TYPE should be well placed. Prices continue to start at around the £21,500 mark and there’s the choice of S, SE, Sport Premium or Sovereign trim levels if you want something plusher. Basically, you can expect a saving of between £1,500 and £4,000 over comparable rivals from Audi, BMW and Mercedes, depending on the model you’re looking at. More if you cost in equipment differences. Estate variants are offered across the line-up at a price premium of around £1,400, model for model. Here, the split fold rear seats allow for one, two or all three rear passengers to be accommodated comfortably and when folded flat, there’s a whopping 1,415 litres of cubic capacity to clog with lifestyle accoutrements. Talking of seats, there are four styles from which to choose, each with its own matching door trim. The premium feel of this latest X-TYPE is enhanced by neat detailing. There’s a Tungsten metallic finish here: chrome edging there. The instrument cluster has a sportier look these days too - similar to that of the new XF - with smart silver metallic overlays, plus a combination of green dial illumination and white pointer illumination, just as in the XK. Though Jaguar can’t offer the wide range of diesels available from its rivals (there are no V6s for example), the two it has are at least pretty frugal. The 2.0-litre manages 48.5mpg on the Combined cycle, while the 2.2 is only just behind on 45.6mpg. The story’s not quite so rosy with the petrol units of course, the 3.0-litre range-topper struggling to record more than 25mpg. Insurance groupings sit in the expected 14-16 bracket. You wouldn’t expect X-Type residuals to be in the same bracket as those of newer rivals. Nevertheless, they’re not as far off as you might think. Factor in the lower purchase price and the higher discounts that Jaguar dealers are likely to offer and you could find that this Jag is a more cost-efficient option than its German equivalent. It all remains a strong package – rakish good looks, an impressive level of fit and finish, powerful engines and that Jaguar badge on the bonnet. The detail improvements are effective in masking the age of this design, lending it a clubby, welcoming feel. And technically? It seems astonishing that Jaguar didn’t offer a modern six-speed automatic on the 2.2-litre diesel in the past but now that they’ve belatedly got round to it, sales of this variant should pick up. If you thought of this car as out-dated in the face of newer rivals like Audi’s latest A4 or Mercedes third generation C-Class, then it might be time to give the Jaguar another look. It may be Ford Mondeo-based, but that still means it handles with aplomb. Moreover, the X-TYPE’s value proposition is good enough to make German rivals look expensive.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Jaguar X-TYPE range PRICES: £21,500-£30,995 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 14-16 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 149-244g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.5] 0-60mph 7.9s / Max Speed 140mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.5] (urban) 20.7mpg / (extra urban) 39.0mpg / (combined) 29.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, side curtain airbags (front/rear), ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/width/height 4670/1790/1390mm

X-TREME SPORT OR SOGGY MOGGY?
For The First Time In Years, A Jaguar That Those Under Forty Can Covet Has Rolled Out Of Browns Lane. Andy Enright Runs The Rule Over The X-TYPE Sport Premium.

To say the Jaguar X-TYPE has been burdened with expectation is a bit like saying the Lusitania had a problem with damp. Still, work your way up the range to the 3.0-litre Sport Premium model and you shouldn’t be disappointed. Having said that, whilst Coventry would love to get the jump on the Germans, the competition is white hot. The small matter of the Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class and perennial favourite, the BMW 3 Series, all stand between the X-TYPE Sport Premium and the top place on the sports executive podium.

The fact that this ‘X’ is tilting at the top spot at all is quite something, given the quality of the opposition and the fact that Jaguar had no real experience competing in this sector of the market pre-X-TYPE. What Jaguar does bring to bear is a rapidly growing reputation for quality, elegant styling and one of the most evocative and prestigious badges of them all. The success of the S-TYPE gave Jaguar’s designers and engineers the confidence and backup from parent company Ford to put a cohesive, fresh package together that will appeal to the thirty-somethings who look set to constitute the X-TYPE Sport Premium’s target audience. For some customers, the X-TYPE’s success will be virtually guaranteed by its stunning styling. The Sport Premium opts for a chrome finnish on its revised mesh grille and rubbing strips, along with a subtle rear spoiler and seventeen-inch alloy wheels. There are three engine choices including 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre diesels but it’s the 3.0-litre V6 Sport Premium we’re looking at here, available only in estate form.

"Whichever way you look at it, market and finance favour the Jaguar…"

Distinctive, yet undoubtedly a Jaguar, the X-TYPE 3.0-litre Sport Premium estate is priced at £29,995, a level which nuzzles up comfortably against the Audi A4 quattro 3.0 Avantt and the BMW 325i Sport touring. Take any of these cars in isolation and you’d be right on congratulating yourself on an informed choice. Truth is there’s not a duffer amongst them, the differences in dynamic ability being thin to say the least. On paper the X-TYPE looks strong. The 3.0-litre 231bhp engine that lurks beneath the bonnet is impressively powerful. Underneath that svelte body lies something of an engineering revolution for Jaguar. Unlike lowlier models, this X-TYPE is fitted with four-wheel drive as standard, so Audi’s Unique Selling Proposition in this sector now firmly booted into touch. This adventurous move is prompted by the desire to attract a more youthful clientele looking for a dynamically capable car. With that four wheel drive system, perfect weight distribution, class-leading power outputs and the input of some of the best chassis engineers in the business, few industry observers doubt the X-TYPE 3.0 Sport Premium’s ability to meet and possibly exceed these projections. Compared to Jaguars of the past, even the most cursory inspection of the X-TYPE reveals levels of quality and engineering that the Coventry firm could never have dreamed about fifteen years ago. Despite the backup from Ford, the X-TYPE is a largely British undertaking, although you’d never guess looking at the ergonomic prowess of the interior. Though the X-TYPE looks ostensibly similar to the way it was when originally launched, it has in fact changed quite a lot in recent years. When this car was first launched, its interior set new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar. What’s particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar have managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That’s a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. The cabin certainly feels more special than many of its rivals, and has premium product design cues all over it. Owners familiar with earlier X-TYPEs will notice revised frontal styling that includes a redesigned ‘3D’ bright mesh grille, complete with Jaguar ‘growler’ emblem. There are restyled front bumper covers, a bright ‘splitter’ in the lower air intakes and a neat roof-mounted Antenna Pod to replace the previous aerial. What Jaguar hopes is a ‘lower, sportier profile’ is also underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. There are revised door mirrors too, which now incorporate the indicators (probably making them fearsomely expensive to replace). Revised alloy wheels and a wider range of colour options complete the improvements. As the range-topping standard bearer for the X-TYPE sports brand, the 3.0 Sport Premium Estate couldn’t have hand picked a tougher market sector for its baptism. It can’t expect to win every battle, but nevertheless, most will feel that it’s got what it takes to meet Jaguar’s lofty expectations. In attracting a new profile of buyer into the Jaguar ‘family’, the company should be congratulated. In producing a car which speaks volumes for British manufacturing, we should all be proud.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Jaguar X-TYPE Sport Premium PRICES: £27,000 - £29,995 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 16 CO2 EMISSIONS: 244g/km PERFORMANCE: [3.0] 0-60mph 6.6s / Max Speed 146mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [3.0] (urban) 19.1mpg / (extra urban) 36.8mpg / (combined) 27.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, side curtain airbags (front/rear), ABS WILL IT FIT IN MY GARAGE?: Length/width/height 4670/1790/1390mm

MORE POWER TO YOU
Jaguar’s X-Type soldiers on but can it still compete with the compact executive elite? In 2.2-litre diesel form, it has a fighting chance. Steve Walker reports

Jaguar’s X-TYPE has always been up against it to a greater or lesser extent. Many capable vehicles have tried and failed to break the German monopoly in the compact executive sector and the X-TYPE has been ramming its bumper against that particular brick wall since 2001. It’s made little headway and as the passing years have taken their toll on the junior Jag, any breakthrough has looked less and less likely. Don’t write it off yet though. Facelifted and endowed with its best 2.2-litre diesel engine, the X-TYPE might still have something to offer.

It wasn’t so long ago that Britain resounded with the gentle thud of flat caps and string-backed driving gloves being hurled to the floor in disgust as traditional Jaguar buyers learned of the marque’s intention to offer diesel engines in its products. Now the X-TYPE models sold are almost entirely oil-burning, reflecting the shift in the compact executive market as a whole. Thankfully its diesels are decent ones, particularly the 2.2-litre unit featured here. The engine is a 2,198cc 152bhp effort that is slightly off the pace being set by the likes of BMW but remains an agreeable companion. The maximum torque output of 366Nm is available at just 1,800rpm making the X-TYPE perfect for wafting around in that tried and tested Jaguar fashion. Outright pace isn’t a particular strength of the engine but it’s no slowcoach with its 8.7s 0-60mph time and 134mph top speed. The standard six-speed manual gearbox marshals all that mid-range muscle effectively and refinement is good once the engine is into its stride.

"Despite its advancing years, the Jaguar X-TYPE remains a relevant product"

Handling has always been an X-TYPE forte thanks to its to its previous generation Ford Mondeo underpinnings. The car’s body control and supple suspension make it a pleasure to hurry along and there’s plentiful grip even in these front-wheel-drive diesels. The more recent X-TYPE facelift saw the introduction of a six-speed automatic gearbox, which has the added attraction of 'one-touch control' Jaguar Sequential Shift for manual gear changes. The six gear ratios are chosen to deliver refined cruising while maintaining sporty performance. Where the 2.2 litre diesel with manual transmission can achieve maximum torque from second gear, the combination with the auto ‘box can achieve maximum torque in all six gears by utilising optimum gear change points to ensure best use of the muscle that’s available. One downside is that 0-60mph acceleration slows to 9.5s with the auto ‘box installed. When this car was first launched, its interior set new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar. What’s particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar has managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That’s a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. Dated it may be in places but the X-TYPE has more sense of occasion than many of its rivals. Owners familiar with earlier X-TYPEs will notice revised frontal styling on the latest cars that includes a redesigned ‘3D’ bright mesh grille, complete with Jaguar ‘growler’ emblem. There are restyled front bumper covers, a bright ‘splitter’ in the lower air intakes and a neat roof-mounted Antenna Pod to replace the previous aerial. What Jaguar hopes is a ‘lower, sportier profile’ is also underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. There are revised door mirrors too, which now incorporate the indicators (probably making them fearsomely expensive to replace). Revised alloy wheels and a wider range of colour options complete the improvements. Pricing is crucial to the X-TYPE. To order one, you’ve got to prefer its low pricing and high equipment levels to the modern engineering of its German rivals. You can get into an X-TYPE 2.2D saloon for £22,500. That’s the entry-level S model but the SE is a massive £4,000 more. The Sport Premium commands an additional £1,500 and the range-topping Soverign comes in at a nice round £29,000. At the top of the range, the 2.2-litre X-TYPE nudges very close to the desirables like BMW’s 194bhp 325d and even Audi’s 237bhp A4 3.0-litre TDI Quattro and against that kind of competition, the X-TYPE’s no holds barred equipment lists won’t do it much good. At the entry-level, however, the 2.2-litre looks far better value against the likes of BMW’s 318d.and Audi’s 1.9-litre TDI A4. Estate variants are offered across the line up at a price premium of around £1,400, model for model. Here, the split fold rear seats allow for one, two or all three rear passengers to be accommodated comfortably and when folded flat, there’s a whopping 1415 litres of cubic capacity to clog with lifestyle accoutrements. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is reassuringly economical to run with a 47mpg combined economy figure. On the extra urban cycle that’s supposed to be indicative of motorway driving, it even tips over the 60mpg barrier. The automatic gearbox suits the character of the X-TYPE and the 2.2-litre diesel engine well but be warned, fit it instead of the manual and combined economy drops to 41mpg while CO2 emissions increase dramatically from 159g/km to 184g/km. You wouldn’t expect X-Type residuals to be in the same bracket as those of newer rivals. Nevertheless, they’re not as far off as you might think. Factor in the lower purchase price and the higher discounts that Jaguar dealers are likely to offer and you could find that this Jag is a more cost-efficient option than its German equivalent. The Jaguar X-TYPE 2.2D has much to recommend it. It’s acceptably quick, impressively smooth and enjoyable to drive but it struggles to excel against some tough competition. The 2.2-litre engine probably won’t sway your decision, but if you were already looking at an X-TYPE, this is the engine of choice. The latest car retains the classic Jaguar qualities and its biggest asset might be that it doesn’t slavishly ape the German class leaders. It’s an intelligent choice in a sector where there’s a strong temptation to follow the herd. Despite its advancing years, the Jaguar X-TYPE remains a relevant product in the compact executive sector and the 2.2-litre diesel is its best engine. The X-TYPE has long cried out for a V6 diesel to battle the top German oil-burning saloons but the 2.7-litre twin-turbo unit from the S-TYPE wouldn’t fit. This has seen the 2.2-litre spread a bit thinly. It’s a good engine but with 152bhp, it isn’t a convincing proposition in a £29,000 executive saloon, even one with the most opulent specification. This capable powerplant makes most sense priced competitively in the lower-spec X-TYPEs where its qualities can shine through.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Jaguar X-TYPE 2.2D PRICES: £22,500-£30,400– on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 15 CO2 EMISSIONS: 159g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.7s / Max Speed 134mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 34mpg / (extra urban) 60.1mpg / (combined) 41.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags, side curtain airbags (front/rear), ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/width/height 4670/1790/1390mm