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Road test Review: 2015 Jaguar XJR
Car Reviews

Road test Review: 2015 Jaguar XJR

·
May 12,2015
·
5 min read

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I have always fancied sports-saloons. They provide the best of both worlds – performance and practicality. Imagine dropping your kids to their school in a mini-van – how uninteresting. Now imagine dropping your kids to their school in a mini-van with 550 BHP and sports suspension. Yes, that is something which can bring a smile to your face and your kids can have a blast as well. However, there is a balance which needs to be maintained while designing a sports saloon. It shouldn’t have the stiff suspension like a sports car nor should it have an unresponsive steering like any saloon. The balance has to be just right. Well, to test that out, I took Jaguar’s flagship for a spin.

Styling

This shape of XJ was unveiled way back in 2009 and it still looks handsome and appealing to the eye (Prices and specs of XJ). However, it is time for Jag to go for a facelift atleast like the one XF is getting (Prices and specs of XF)– inspired from the all-new XE (Prices and specs of XE). The front looks monstrous yet elegant but I have complains with the rear end. It just doesn’t look classy to me. Overall though, the whole black mafia look is sexy – especially with the matte rims.

Interior Materials & Finishing

If you thought the exterior was black, wait till you check out the interior. It is by the ‘blackest’ car I have seen. Apart from the seats – which are partly black as well – the whole interior is black with carbon fibre inserts. The leather steering and seats are comfortable and the whole car feels solid. However the black glossy gearbox console is a turnoff as it is a fingerprint-magnet (add to that the chrome covers). The wind noise is aplenty as well – something which can be reduced. Overall, it is a nice place to be especially in the dark thanks to the blue ambient lighting.

Interior Space & Visibility

The XJL is limo with long wheelbase so expect legroom – a lot of it. In my opinion, it has more legroom than the Flying Spur – minus the massage seats. The boot space is also among the big ones and I was thoroughly impressed by the roomy interior. Visibility on the other hand is average and the car needs time to getting used to. The front end is almost impossible to judge due to the lifted hood and due to the given width of the car, it is hard to squeeze into parking spaces.

Interior Features

The car has all the things possible except massage seats, seat settings other than lumbar and front/back adjustments, more ambient light colors like in the Range Rover, rear entertainment, extendable footrest for the rear passengers, air fresher; basically the features common in an S-Class as that is the benchmark of in-car tech. Also, for a 600K price, one would expect more from Jag. However, if you’re satisfied with the given tech then do have a look at the XJR.

Power & Transmission

It is the same engine as all the R versions of Jag. The 5.0 liter supercharged V8 produces 550 BHP and 680 Nm of torque to propel the limo from 0-100 in 4.6 seconds – and that is exactly what I got in my test run. However, the fuel economy is more than the F-Type R by margin. During the test, the car managed to consume 14.7 liters in every 100 km. The same can’t be said for the transmission though as the downshifts do lag a bit. However, since this is a limo, I mostly drove in automatic mode as that suit the character.

For me, the overall drive experience was better than the F-Type as the power here is seamless and at any given RPM range. We told you about our road test with the F-Type and R a few days ago. Back to today’s car, floor it once and the digital speedometer needle just goes higher and higher while the car remains smooth and planted. 

Handling, Brakes and Suspension

The supreme power is matched perfectly by the suspension. First the bad news, it is not the most comfortable car to sit in when the sports mode is turned off. If you want that comfort, go for the S-Class. The experience takes a 180 degree turn when you switch to sports mode. It is not as rough as the F-Type yet it is as sporty. The XJR has a better grip and control than the coupe and I felt more confident in taking it into turns – even though it is still a RWD. The brakes add icing on the cake as the car comes to a standstill from 100 in less than 3 seconds – something JLR can be proud of. Overall, the XJR is meant to be driven and it drives beautifully.

Verdict

In the end, it all comes to the price. The XJR is cheaper than the S63/65 AMG but it does come with lesser features. Also, it isn’t German – a factor which is highly important in this part of the world. That’s the precise reason why we see less of Jags and more of its German rivals. The closest competitor will be the S8 and Audi is famous for its AWD traction and firm steering. I still have to test the S8 for myself but from what I have briefly witnessed, the S8 is not a limo whereas the XJR is. So, people do have a look at this offering from JLR as it is nice alternative to the bland Germans. You won’t be disappointed.

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