As recently as a few years ago, not a lot of people talked about Jaguar->ke39 as a worthy contender in the full-size luxury->ke505 sedan segment. But times sure have changed and not only has Jaguar completely reinvented itself, but the likes of BMW->ke178 and Mercedes->ke187 are starting to understand why messing with this cat with evil intentions may not be such a good idea anymore.

The 2014 Jaguar XJ->ke1206 is far from the unquestioned best in its segment, but it sure has some pretty sharp claws. A new distinctive design has turned the XJ into a head-turner and when you combine that with a plush and luxurious cabin and a hefty engine under its hood, it's become apparent that when you're looking for a loaded luxury sedan, you're window shopping won't be complete without taking a long and hard look at the Jaguar XJ.

That's how far Jaguar has come and there's no telling the heights it can reach once people start noticing the brand even more.

Updated 08/01/2014: Jaguar announced prices on the 2015 XJ and as expected they are the same as for the 2014 model year: $74,200 for the base V-6 version and up to $119,000 for the XJR Long Wheelbase. No changes were made to both the exterior and the interior.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Jaguar XJ

2014 Jaguar XJ

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Jaguar XJ
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 340 @ 6500
  • Torque: 332 @ 3500
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The 2014 Jaguar XJ isn't your dad's old Jaguar. Nope, those boxy sedans are long gone and in their place, the British automaker has a luxury sedan that boasts of an aggressive stance, a sleek and aerodynamic body shape, and sweeping coupe-like roofline that its predecessors would definitely be proud of.

But the best thing Jaguar probably did with the XJ is to keep its designed relatively restrained. Sure, it could have gone the way of trying too hard and making it more distinctive, but it didn't, opting for that modern classic look swept back look befitting a car of its stature.

Modest integration was also a key factor in the XJ's design, particularly the plethora of exterior upgrades that you can do the XJ without the car losing its aesthetic appeal.

2014-2015 Jaguar XJ - Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (In.)

119.4 (SWB), 124.3 (LWB)

Length (In.)

201.9 (SWB), 206.8 (LWB)

Width (In.)

74.6 (mirrors folded), 82.9 (incl. mirrors)

Height (In.)

57.3 (incl. antenna)

Track (front/rear) (In.)

64/63.1


2014 Jaguar XJ - Standard Exterior Features

- LED rear lights

- Twin tailpipes with chrome finishers

- Chrome side power vents

- Xenon headlights

- Heated rear window with timer

- Solar attenuating, hydrophobic and acoustically laminated glass

- Power-opening and closing trunk lid

- Rain sensing windscreen wipers

- Heated electric exterior mirrors

- Blind Spot Monitor

- Rear parking aid

- Front parking aid

- Rear parking camera

Interior

Once you go inside the cabin of the XJ, you'll immediately smell the upscale luxury from all that fancy leather covers and trim. But here's the thing, even with the cabin boasting of some materials you didn't think could be put inside a car, it's still ergonomically efficient, specifically the spacious front seats and the impressive legroom on both ends of the car.

If there's a caveat to the XJ's cabin, and really, it's a necessary sickness for all luxury sedans with sweeping roofs, headroom at the back could be a problem for taller people, but not to the extent where it becomes increasingly uncomfortable.

At the front, the polished dashboard makes plenty of room for a neatly designed instrument panel with the standard infotainment display sliding integrated into all the cursory buttons in a one-piece, sliding design that properly divides both front seats..

2014-2015 Jaguar XJ - Interior Dimensions

Headroom, front (In.)

39.5

Headroom, rear (In.)

37.2

Legroom, front (In.)

41.5

Legroom, rear (In.)

39.0 (SWB), 44.1 (LWB)

Shoulder room, front (In.)

57.6

Shoulder room (In.)

56.6

Trunk volume

15.2 cu. ft.


2014 Jaguar XJ - Standard Interior Features

- Softgrain leather heated and cooled rear bench

- Four-zone automatic climate control

- Manual rear side sunblinds

- 5 extra inches of rear seat leg room

- Jaguar premium analog clock

- Panoramic glass roof

- Three-flash lane change indicators

- Front and rear footwell lights

- Phosphor blue lighting

- Automatic internal lights

- JaguarSense — glovebox and overhead console light operation

- Five trunk runners

- Driver’s foot rest

Drivetrain

For a car of its stature, the XJ has a pretty modest 3.0-liter, V-6 engine as its base powertrain. That produces 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, good enough to hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds to go with a top speed of 121 mph. It's alright, but really it gets a lot better.

Customers can opt to go fully loaded and get the performance-oriented XJ-R, which comes with a 5.0-liter V-8 that packs an impressive 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. It can hit 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and the 174-mph top speed is well within the vicinity if you decide to stretch the cat's legs.

2014-2015 Jaguar XJ - Drivetrain/Specifications

Trim

XJ

XJ Supercharged

XJR

Type

3.0L DOHC V6, aluminum-alloy cylinder block and heads, supercharged

5.0L V8 DOHC V8, aluminum-alloy cylinder block and heads, supercharged

5.0L V8 DOHC V8, aluminum-alloy cylinder block and heads, supercharged

Displacement

3.0-Liter

5.0-Liter

5.0-Liter

Bore x Stroke

84.5 x 89.0 mm

92.5 x 93.0 mm

92.5 x 93.0 mm

Compression ratio

10.5:1

9.5:1

9.5:1

Fuel/Induction

Direct fuel injection; Eaton twin vortex supercharger and dual intercoolers

Direct fuel injection; Eaton twin vortex supercharger and dual intercoolers

Output (HP @ RPM)

340 @ 6,500

470 @ 6,000-6,500

550 @ 6,500

Torque (LB.-FT @ RPM)

332 @ 3,500-5,000

424 @ 2,500-5,500

502 @ 2,500-5,500

Drivetrain

Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive

Rear-wheel drive

0-60 mph

5.7 sec.

4.9 sec.

4.7 sec.

Max. track speed (electronically limited)

121 mph

155 mph

174 mph


Prices

Understandably, the 2014-2015 Jaguar XJ doesn't come cheap. A starting price of $74,200 for the supercharged V-6 is the lowest amount you can buy the car for. But if money isn't a problem, the XJR can be yours for a tidy $116,000.

2014-2015 Jaguar XJ - Prices

Model

Price

Description

XJ

$74,200

3-liter supercharged V6, 340hp

XJ AWD

$77,700

3-liter supercharged V6, 340hp

XJL Portfolio

$81,200

3-liter supercharged V6, 340hp

XJL Portfolio AWD

$84,700

3-liter supercharged V6, 340hp

XJ Supercharged

$90,600

5-liter supercharged V8, 470hp

XJL Supercharged

$93,600

5-liter supercharged V8, 470hp

XJR

$116,000

5-liter supercharged V8, 550hp

XJR Long Wheelbase

$119,000

5-liter supercharged V8, 550hp


Competitors

2013 BMW 7 Series

The full-size luxury sedan market is where the big boys really come out and play and there's no better player in that segment thatn BMW's current-generation 7 Series.

The current 7 Series is offered in three versions: 740i, 750i and 760i. The 740i makes use of a 3.0-liter, TwinPower Turbo I-6 engine with 315 horsepower; the 750i features a 4.4-liter V-8 with 445 horsepower; and the 760i comes with a 6.0-liter V-12 with a monstrous 535 horsepower.

The current BMW 7 Series is priced from $74,000 for the 740i and peaks at $141,200 for the 760 Li version.

2014 Mercedes S-Class

The current Mercedes S-Class was unveiled back in May 2013 when the model was updated with a new exterior and interior look, plus a new series of engines under the hood and since then, it has emptied more than a few bank accounts from drooling buyers the world over.

The S-Class offers a choice of two models — the S550 and S550 4MATIC — and both powered by a twin-turbocharged, 4.7-liter, V-8 powerplant that produces 455 horsepower between 5,250 and 5,500, and 516 pound-feet of torque between 1,800 and 3,500 rpm.

On the U.S. market the model is priced from $92,900.

Conclusion

It's easy to see why a lot of people have gravitated towards Jaguars in recent years. The company has done a remarkable job in reinventing itself and no more is that evident than with the 2014 Jaguar XJ. It's got a unique design, a tricked out and classy interior, plus a choice of engines that includes a massively impressive 550-horsepower V-8.

It still belongs in a market that has well-established contenders, but for the most part the XJ has done a good job in making itself a contender amongs all those elite luxury sedans.