Road Test: Jaguar XJ

 

The newly upgraded Jaguar XJ 3.0L V6 Supercharged comes packed with silky smooth transmission, boom boom sound (yes, very articulate) and softer suspension (if it wasn't soft enough already!). 

 

On the Road

On first impressions, the 2013 Jaguar XJ V6 Supercharged is certainly an attractive vehicle. It has all the hallmarks of a premium luxury car, with a very smooth drive. The car interior is luxurious and spacious, with five adult passengers easily accommodated. In addition, the boot appears ample and spacious, on par with a large Toyota Aurion, making this car both stylish and practical. The technology in use is more than just flash - it's truly functional and useful. The navigation map was incredibly accurate, and the blind spot warnings on the side mirrors were very useful and a real indicator of the amount of design thought that has gone into the 2013 Jaguar XJ V6 Supercharged.

 

Performance

Its engine features a 2995CC capacity and displays a peak power of 340PS at 6500rpm, with a peak torque of 450Nm at 3500-5000 rpm. Acceleration, while not quite reaching the 4.9 seconds to 100km/hr of its big brother, is still pretty impressive at 5.9 seconds to 100km/hr - when driving its hard to tell the difference. The top speed is limited to 250km/hr. For the environmentally conscious it's certainly more economical than other Jaguar options in the range, at 9.4 litres/100km.

 

The six-cylinder engine is similar to the 5.0 litre V8, with a compensatory supercharger under electronic management allowing for a reported 20% increase in operating efficiency. Further additions include spray-guided direct injection, balancer weights at the front and rear and dual independent variable cam timing. 

 

The function of the engine and its performance are enhanced by the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Giving increased fuel efficiency and adding to the performance. The XJ also features a Dynamic mode, that allows drivers to shift with paddles mounted on the steering wheel, for a pretty good attempt to marry automatic efficiency with manual control.

 

This model features a reoptimization of the electronic damper and spring, to counter problems with a bumpy ride at lower speeds, which we found to give a very smooth performance.

 

Technology and Entertainment

The audio system is now by Meridian, replacing the previous Bowers and Wilkins technology. with 825 watts and 20 speakers it has excellent sound quality. The navigation system now offers an Arabic language option and more features, including a route optimizing system that plans routes to keep emissions and fuel consumption to a minimum. Dynamic Zoom and Visual Lane Guidance are also handy sat-nav enhancements.

Further infotainment upgrades include upgrades to the iPod interface browser and the ability for the TV tuner (optional) to receive both Mpeg2 and Mpeg4 transmissions.

 

 

Verdict

What's not to like about Jaguar XJ? Fuel economy is improved, technology is better, competitive price. All in all the 2013 Jaguar XJ V6 Supercharged is a classic beauty on wheels that provides tough competition to the likes of 2013 Cadillac XTS. Luxurious and high-performing, it's easy to recommend.