Jaguar XJ 2.0 petrol review, test drive

A small petrol engine in a big limousine doesn’t sound like an ideal formula, but can the charismatic XJ pull it off?

Published on May 14, 2015 01:06:00 PM

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Make : Jaguar

Model : XJ

What is it?

Petrol cars may be making a comeback in the Indian market, but the luxury car segments are still heavily skewed towards diesel. For the most discerning of luxury car buyers though, there’s just no substitute for the refinement and smoothness of a petrol motor, and that’s why in this rung of big limousines, every contender comes with at least one petrol engine option. However, while BMW, Audi and Mercedes offer up flagship petrol cars with motors larger than their diesel counterparts (the 7-series comes with six, eight and 12-cylinder petrol engines, for example), Jaguar has decided to go to the other extreme and offer a four-cylinder petrol motor to sit at the base of its range. You might have baulked at this idea in the past, but the numbers reveal that you won’t be so badly off. The 1,999cc, direct-injection, turbocharged motor (also used in the XF and the upcoming XE) produces a decent 237bhp and 35kgm, and at 2,265kg, it weighs a full 185kg less than the V6 diesel version. What’s more, Jaguar only offers it in the fully loaded Portfolio spec with all the bells and whistles, so you won’t feel shortchanged on that front either. The idea, then, is to offer a proper luxury experience, with the refinement of a petrol engine and lower running costs than you’d get with a V6, V8 or V12 – doesn’t sound too bad, right?

This being an XJ Portfolio, it comes with all the luxury trappings you’d ever need. All four seats are heated, cooled, massaging and recline electrically (you can accommodate a fifth passenger by flipping up the rear armrest), there’s a superb Meridian hi-fi audio system, a pair of screens and sturdy fold-out tables at the rear, a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen at the front, four-zone climate control, a TV tuner and dual sunroofs. The seats are some of the best in the segment, with thick, soft, sofa-like cushioning and a wide range of adjustment. And of course, this is still one of the most striking looking cars on sale full stop, let alone compared to its peers. There’s a lot to like here.