Jaguar XJ 3.0D facelift review, test drive

    More equipment, new tech, sharpened looks and more power make the most charismatic luxury limousine even more desirable.

    Published on Mar 07, 2016 11:00:00 AM

    1,88,997 Views

    What’s it like to drive?

    For a big limousine, it’s brilliant. There are a few key mechanical changes, the first of course being the more powerful diesel engine (the 237bhp, 2.0-litre petrol remains the same as before). The 3.0-litre V6 diesel now produces a mighty and class-leading 296bhp and 71.4kgm! You notice this as soon as you near the 1,500rpm mark, at which point the power just wallops in really strong; in fact, modulating the throttle to set off smoothly needs some getting used to, and initially, you will find yourself leaping off the line a little too jerkily. It’s a similar story with Jag’s version of the eight-speed ZF automatic – you have to be smooth with your inputs for it to shift smoothly, because it can hesitate when you kick down at low revs. It’s still not the most refined engine in the segment, and it actually seems a tad noisier this time around.

    The flipside, however, is the performance. We managed a 6.4-second 0-100kph time from what is essentially a two-tonne-plus diesel limo. Once you get past the initial hesitation, the XJ will just rocket forward. It loves to rev and will go all the way to almost 5,000rpm in Sport mode. And the slight grumble you get at low revs soon turns into a soulful, six-cylinder growl, and that really goads you on to push it harder. Forget the big V8 petrols, this is all the motor you need in a car like this.

    The second mechanical change is the steering, which has moved from a hydraulic to an electric power assisted setup. Interestingly, it feels a touch heavier than before, although it’s nowhere near being uncomfortable for it. And as we found with the XE, Jaguar’s first crack at electric power steering has been phenomenal – the weight, accuracy and feedback feel like an old-school hydraulic setup, and that’s actually a compliment. Sure, it’s no F-type, but the XJ is a massive joy from behind the wheel, given how huge it is. Yes, there’s a little float and roll from the air suspension, but it’s an acceptable amount, and the best part is you don’t have to be going flat out to enjoy this car. It’s fun even at city speeds. The final change is the wheel size, which is down from 19 inches to 18 inches, with a correspondingly higher tyre profile – 50 at the front, 45 at the rear. The big Jag already had impressive ride quality on its old wheels (a sporty, five-spoke design we will miss), but now it’s just a little bit better at smoothening out sharp-edged bumps than before.

    Should I buy one?

    When we last brought all the cars in this class together, even we were a bit surprised with how well the Jaguar XJ fared. It lost out to the S-class because it lacked those last few degrees of refinement, quality and technology the segment demands, but still managed to come second because of its incredible charm and uniquely British version of luxury motoring. With the update, some of these issues – namely comfort and technology – have been addressed, but refinement and quality still have a little way to go. It continues to be the more emotional choice in the segment, especially if you occasionally drive yourself, and if you want that little extra X-factor from your luxury limousine, this is still definitely the one we’d recommend.

    Jaguar Cars

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