Jaguar X-Type
Ratings
3 stars
Summary
Average. Jag's supposed rival to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class is fading fast. It's still a good car, but doubts as to whether it deserves the badge are growing.
Review
The X Type was far from an unalloyed critical success when it first emerged in 2001, and the subsequent years have not been kind to it. Now looking very dated, it has been increasingly left behind by the premium competition, and although a fine car still lurks within it's now hard to justify the X Type's premium pricing.
The excessively retro design has long been the X's Achilles' Heel, and time has been less than kind to the pastiche of 'sixties Jaguar styling themes. On the plus side the estate looks far better than the dowdy saloon, although both share the same awkward front end proportions which come as a result of the transversely mounted V6 engines.
The cabin is also feeling past its best, with a similarly backward looking design and some distinctly sub-premium materials. Space in the front is reasonable, but room in the back is tight, although both saloon and estate have decently proportioned boots.
The X Type is still good to drive thanks to a taut, agile chassis and excellent cornering responses. It's refined at motorway speeds, too - although the four-wheel drive versions suffer from abrupt clutches and a lurch-prone drivetrain with manual gearboxes. The 2.5 litre and 3.0 litre petrol V6 engines both give decent performance at the cost of poor fuel economy - the two powerful and reasonably refined diesels are far better, although only the petrol engines come with four-wheel drive.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
2 star
The X Type's poor proportions and excessively retro design have aged very badly - it's nothing like as desirable as its premium German rivals.
Handling
4 star
Good to drive thanks to a tight, agile chassis and good cornering responses. Two wheel drive versions lack the traction of the four-wheel drive range toppers.
Comfort
3 star
Smooth and civilised at cruising speeds, but the tight-fitting driving position starts to pinch on longer journeys.
Quality & Reliability
3 star
Well constructed, but lots of the interior trim materials feel a way off the standard set by premium rivals.
Performance
4 star
All versions give decent urge now the base 2.0 litre V6 petrol has been dropped. Diesels are the most sensible choices in the range, although they come without the option of four-wheel drive.
Roominess
3 star
Tight fitting cabin can't match rivals on interior space, although boot capacity is good for both saloon and estate.
Running Costs
3 star
Petrol versions are thirsty and insurance is, as you'd expect for something wearing the Jaguar badge, costly. Depreciation is starting to really bite, too.
Value for money
3 star
Decent standard equipment, although entry level versions still come with rotary heater controls. Priced too close to rivals like the 3 Series and C Class to make sense without a sizeable discount.
