Introduced to the UK in March 2003, the all aluminium Jaguar XJ was eagerly awaited by Jaguar dealers and customers. After a mixed reaction to the Ford Mondeo-based X-type and the dubious styling of the S-type, the XJ had the challenge of reinstating Jaguar’s reputation as a builder of beautiful luxury cars. Without doubt it achieved that.

Bigger, faster and better equipped than the previous model XJ it was true to Jaguar’s heritage and enjoyed a price advantage over its main German competitors. And it proved reliable too.

With second-hand examples now starting to appear on dealer forecourts for about £22,000 it’s become a serious alternative to new cars such as the BMW 3-series or Audi A4.

The range starts with the XJ6, featuring a 3 litre V6 petrol engine and capable of 145mph and a 0-60 time of 7.8sec. Spend £3,000 more on the second-hand market and you can get the 3.5 litre V8, which boasts an extra 22bhp. Top of the range are the 4.2 litre V8s. With 300bhp on tap the XJ8 is genuinely quick and mated to the superb six-speed auto gearbox the acceleration is silky smooth. Its 0-60mph time of just over 6sec is impressive but if you fancy even more punch then there is a supercharged XJR version that has an extra 100bhp, giving it a 0-60mph time of just 5sec.

But of course luxury cars spend most of their time being comfortable and serene. How does the XJ fare in this respect? Frankly, pretty close to brilliant. Air suspension on all models and the benefit of the light aluminium body enabled the Jaguar engineers to strike a near perfect balance between handling and comfort.

Space, an Achilles heel for the previous generation XJ series, was also addressed; the longer wheelbase on the new car translates into a usefully large 470 litre boot and precious extra inches for rear-seat passengers.

So faced with choosing a used Jaguar XJ, which should you buy? All the engines are up to the job and all the models are well equipped, although it is worth paying a little extra for the excellent touch-screen sat nav that came as standard on high spec models and was an option on others. It comes down to how much power you want, although I would recommend the supercharged XJR as the perfect combination of speed and refinement.

Whichever version you choose it is important to get the colour right. This is subjective, but classic silver and grey are proving the most desirable, with green a strong contender and black looking classy but slightly harder to keep clean.

The one non-negotiable item on an XJ is service history. If it’s been kept up to date then the majority of cars will still be covered by the three-year unlimited mileage warranty.

As with all luxury cars you have to be realistic about ownership costs. Prices may look reasonable but depreciation will continue. You can expect servicing to be expensive, and tyres, insurance and spare parts come at a premium. Only fuel consumption may bring a pleasant surprise: the light body and sleek lines mean that a gently driven XJ6 will return better than 25mpg; a hooligan driven XJR will struggle to achieve better than 18mpg.

The XJ is the kind of car many people dream of owning but few do. Talk to owners and they will say it’s a car that they will never forget driving.


Sat nav DVD system with touch screen and voice activation is among the best on the market

Safety Dynamic stability control, traction control and a minimum of six airbags as standard

Diesel The 2.7 litre V6 introduced in 2005 returns about 35mpg and is silky smooth, but as yet used examples are rare and relatively expensive Suspension Air suspension standard on all models; high performance XJR also gets Cats (adaptive damping) suspension and Brembo brakes

Boot Although 470 litre capacity is large, load area is relatively shallow Sport models Black window surrounds identify Sport models which also boast larger 18in alloys and bi-xenon headlights Brakes Front discs and pads need replacing regularly, particularly on the high performance 4.2 litre V8s

Gearbox Six-speed auto gearbox is a gem, and the J-gate system allows drivers the freedom of manual changes if needed

Servicing Due every 10,000 miles on petrol engines and 15,000 miles on diesel models

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Jaguar XJR supercharged
Engine 4196cc, eight cylinders
Power 400bhp
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Fuel 23mpg
Acceleration 0-60mph: 5sec
Top speed 155mph (limited)

THE ONE TO BUY

Jaguar XJR supercharged 2003 03 with 40,000 miles. Pay £31,500 from a dealer or £29,000 privately

OR FOR THE SAME MONEY...

1997 R Bentley Turbo R
2003 53 Mercedes S 500
2004 53 Lexus LS 430
2004 04 Audi A8 4.2 quattro
2004 04 BMW 745Li

VALUES



Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer