Jaguar X Type Reviews

The launch of the midsize Jaguar XE last year has resulted in added interest being taken in the Jaguar X-Type. The X-Type is slightly smaller than the XE but can be used as a family car with kids in the preteen stage. The lowish-cost Jaguar X-Type wasn't as successful in its day (2001 to 2010) as had been

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 2002-2010 Jaguar X-Type.

Remarkably the Jaguar name has maintained its traditional position as a leading prestige brand in the automotive business despite the ownership changes that have taken place in recent years.Indian interests now own the grand old British brand, but for a time it was part of the Ford empire, and it was during this period that it produced the compact X-Type.The X-Type was conceived to compete with the prestige models from other makers that ruled the luxury mid-sized market segment, cars like the 'Benz C-Class, BMW's 3-Series and the Audi A4.Traditionalists moaned that the X-Type wasn't a real Jaguar, that it was simply a dressed-up Ford Mondeo and owed little to the proud heritage of the brand.While that was true, Ford's stylists did quite a good job in making it look like a Jaguar with styling cues that clearly recalled the big cats that ruled the road in the 1960s and '70s.It had a low and heavily sculpted look that was reminiscent of the old XJ sedans, and plastic woodgrain highlights and leather trim in the cabin passed for the real thing. The cabin itself, however, was a little on the cramped side and the boot was rather small.The X-Type lobbed in local showrooms late in 2001 with 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre all-wheel drive V6 versions, to which a 2.1-litre model, this one a front-wheel driver, was added in 2002, followed by a turbo-diesel in 2008.There was a five-speed manual gearbox available, but most of the petrol models left the showrooms with the five-speed auto that was also offered. The turbo-diesel was equipped with a six-speed manual.When let loose on the road the small-engined cat was a comfy cruiser; it wasn't over-endowed with performance and you needed to work it hard to extract what zip it did have. The larger engine models offered more of the get up and go you'd expect of a Jaguar.For anyone lacking the funds to buy a new prestige model the lure of buying a second-hand one can be irresistible, but buying a used model can be a road to financial ruin. Just because a car costs more when it's sitting in a glitzy showroom doesn't mean it's any more reliable than the cheap-and-cheerful model at the budget car dealer down the road. Prestige models, like the Jaguar X-Type, can be a joy to drive, but they can also become a nightmare.For starters servicing can be expensive if you take it to the factory dealer to have the oil changed, and if it breaks down expect to pay plenty for the replacement parts needed to get it going again. Do your homework on whom you might get to service your car; an independent service mechanic with knowledge of Jaguars is highly recommended.As we've reported in this column before the prices charged by the factory dealers for prestige car parts can be outrageous, but savvy buyers and smart machines can source them for a lot less from overseas on the internet.The X-Type is a generally sound car, but it's still vitally important that you have your chosen cars checked by an expert before handing over your cash. As with any second-hand car check the service record to make sure your chosen car hasn't been neglected. Missed servicing will likely cause you considerable pain later on.There was one recall that affected the X-Type here in Australia. It was in 2012 and related to the cruise control in the diesel version. The problem could occur of there was an error in the electronics controlling the cruise, in which case the cruise would be disabled and a fault indicated on the dash, but if it happened while the cruise was engaged it is not possible to disengage the cruise using the cruise cancel button, the brakes or changing gear. Check the owner's manual for a record of the recall rework having been carried out.It's a cat, and that counts, but there are better used prestige buys.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011 Jaguar X-Type as a used buy.

However, for a while there, Jag devotees, like most luxury car buyers, would have shuddered when the Federal Government announced in its Budget that it would increase the luxury car tax from 25 per cent to 33 per cent.Then the Greens came to the rescue winning an exemption for fuel-efficient cars that consume no more than seven litres of fuel per 100km. These "green" cars will not attract any luxury tax until a new higher threshold of $75,000.Among the 25 luxury models that win the tax break is the Jaguar X-Type diesel luxury model which was above the previous luxury tax threshold of $57,123. (The X-Type 2.2D LE costs $55,490 and never qualified for the tax.) Jaguar just sneaks in under the fuel economy qualification with a claimed combined consumption figure of 6.9 litres per 100km.Hard to believe for a one-and-a-half-tonne car but they proved accurate during a recent two-week test of the X-Type diesel which included a couple of leisurely trips to the coast.And to make the Greens even happier with their forced amendment to the luxury tax, the Jag's engine is fitted with a particulate filter to lower emissions to 184g/km which is only slightly worse than a Toyota Corolla.But as much as the Jaguar X-Type is a modern green vehicle, it is also a styling anachronism, reminding us of 1950s British cops and robbers shows.Some might like that, but it looks tired against the rest of the modern Jaguar fleet, including the brilliant XF which came second in the 2008 Carsguide Car of the Year voting.It is also rumoured to face the axe from the line-up now that Jaguar has been taken over by Indian car company Tata.The X-Type is based on the previous-generation Ford Mondeo, not the current well-sorted vehicle and now that it is no longer part of Ford, it is unlikely to get the benefit of the new Mondeo mechanicals, if it survives at all.The smallest and cheapest model in the iconic British range feels and drives like a bigger car, but when you get five adults inside, it certainly feels squeezy.It also handles like a heavy car with a ponderous turn-in and copious understeer. The springy centre to the steering doesn't help.Twisty mountain ranges are not its forte, but at highway speed, it is stable and quiet.The cockpit feels a bit claustrophobic thanks to the traditionally high Jag dashboard, while the rear passengers will also feel a bit cramped for room, especially with a long-legged driver and front passenger.There are also no airconditioning vents in the back.The problem is that the traditional Jag styling with its long bonnet and boot minimises cabin space. However, the pay-off is an enormous cargo area.The Sport model is well-appointed with a quality touch-screen sat nav, new trim combinations, more supportive seats, new door trims, metallic trim highlights, Bluetooth compatibility, electronic everything and steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, but no trip computer.Instrumentation is a strange mixture of old and new, while all the controls have a quality feel and are intuitive. Unfortunately some of the leather trim was not up to Jag's usual high standard.Outside, the X-Type now comes with new rear view mirrors with in-built indicators, mesh grille with deeper air intakes, new front and rear bumpers, smaller parking sensors and 17-inch Barbados alloys or 18-inch Abaco alloys on the Sport.The diesel engine develops 107kW at 3500rpm and 366Nm from a low 1800rpm, giving the car a 0-100km/h sprint time of 9.9 seconds.Like most turbo diesels, it feels a little ponderous off the line, then suddenly hits its maximum torque and squirts.In drive mode, the six-speed sequential automatic transmission shifts smoothly and swiftly into higher gears to improve fuel economy.However, I found that on rolling terrain it often got caught out when the car started to run up a hill. Here the transmission groaned and thought long and hard before shifting down.In sport or sequential mode, there were no such problems.If the styling suits, Jag fans will find this quite an attractive luxury package without the luxury price tag. SnapshotJaguar X-Type 2.2D SportPRICE: $59,935ENGINE: 4-cylinder 2.2 litre diesel with particulate filterPOWER: 107kW @ 3500rpmTORQUE: 366Nm @ 1800rpmTRANSMISSION: 6-speed sequential automaticACCELERATION: 0-100km/h in 9.9 secsECONOMY (l/100km): 9.5 (urban), 5.4 (highway), 6.9 (combined)CO2 EMISSIONS: 184g/km

As the first of the Jaguar pride to dig deeply and openly into the spare parts bin of new owners Ford early in the millennium, the X-type was doomed to put traditionalists off-side.Not only did it not have a bespoke Jaguar platform and engine but it was, horrors, a front-wheel-drive. The very first to besmirch the proud Coventry-built marque.The fact that the donor platform was Ford's rather tasty Mondeo did little to mitigate the crime. It was, quite simply, not cricket.After the initial outrage, and some mid-life idiocy from Jaguar itself, when it attempted to take the car down into the cheaper seats with cloth trim and nasty plastics, the X-type settled in to a life of quiet mediocrity. The forgotten Jaguar.As rumours start to gather momentum in Europe that, like the S-type, the littlest Jaguar's days are numbered it seemed timely to take another look at the car.Jaguar's first, and to date, only, front-drive effort is a good one. The 2.1-litre V6 Sport brings a lot to the table for its moderate, in luxury terms, price tag of $56,990.It matches its rivals in standard gear, a quality audio system, full leather, electric windows and heated mirrors and gets the usual array of safety kit expected in this class — front, side and curtain airbags, traction control and ABS, an occupant sensing system and five three-point belts.Such is the quality of the work that Jaguar's engineers have put into the X-type chassis most drivers would not pick it as a front-driver model at casual acquaintance.The steering is near-neutral, the balance good and the poise on the road quite reassuring. Likewise, the ride and handling equation is a positive. The X-type soaks up bumps with aplomb and the cabin is pleasantly free of road and wind noise.The speed-sensitive steering is well-weighted, with responsive turn-in through corners. When punched hard the little V6 (117kW@6800rpm; 200Nm@4100rpm) can struggle and get coarse, battling its way from standstill to 100km/h in 10.8 seconds.Getting to the official top speed of 205km/h will take patience, persistence and a tail wind.The five-speed automatic gearbox is reasonably well sorted when driven as a composed city car. Demand too much of it and you are going to be disappointed.Try to drive it in the ludicrous J-gate manual mode and you can add frustration to the experience. Thankfully, Jaguar has done away with the J-gate concept during the X-type's lifespan for all new models.Boot space is surprisingly good and uncluttered and there's a full-size spare under the carpet. The 70/30 split-fold rear adds the option of carrying longer loads.Inside the environment is plush and Jaguar-like. Soft leather and a rather stylish piano (black) wood trim sets off the ambience nicely. The front seats are supportive and reasonably well bolstered but the headrests, both front and rear, are not especially comfortable. Most drivers will find an acceptable driving position thanks to the height- and reach-adjustable steering and power seat height adjustment but space is a little tight in the rear — quite acceptable for little people but tall adults could have issues.The Sport also has steering wheel-mounted spring-loaded audio and cruise controls.It is in the controls that the use of Ford parts becomes more evident to the user. While the large dials and easily read screens and dials are a blessing many of the switches and knobs look to have migrated straight from a less-glamorous Ford.Regardless, the X-type has earned its bonnet-mounted Leaper and, if only for proving that persistence is a worthy attribute. Fast factsJaguar X-type SportPrice: $56,990Engine: 2.1-litre V6; 117kW@6800rpm, 200Nm@4100rpmTransmission: 5-speed automatic; front-wheel driveFuel: 61-litre tank, 9.4L/100km combined cycle on testBody: 4-door sedanVerdict: The forgotten member of the Jaguar pride. Nice, competent little city driver with enough legs for highway travel.Alternatives  BMW 320i ExecutivePrice: $58,500Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder; 110kW@6200rpm, 200Nm@3600rpmTransmission: 6-speed automatic; rear-wheel-driveBody: 4-door sedanVerdict: Clear leader in drive dynamics. Fresh model with serious badge credibility and proven buyer appeal. Audi A4 2.0Price: $50,450Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder; 96kW@5700rpm, 195Nm@3300rpmTransmission: Multitronic automatic; front-wheel-driveBody: 4-door sedanVerdict: Quality build, fresh styling and top-level inclusions and trim. Engine lacks a little dash but is very smooth and comfortable through the changes.

It was not and could not be a real Jag, detractors argued, not with drive transmitted to the road through the front wheels.While the 2.1-litre entry level model remains front wheel drive, all wheel drive is available with the 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre V6s.It has gone a long way to answering many of the jibes and in doing so has elevated the car to an entirely different plain.Front wheel drive is one thing, rear wheel drive is highly prized, but all-wheel drive...well that's something else again.Jaguar has been pushing the sporting and safety aspects of its four-paw "Cats" in recent print and television advertising campaigns.And, late last year, it released a Limited Edition X Type Sport.The Limited Edition carries a small plaque at the bottom right hand corner of the driver's door, with the name of F1 driver Mark Webber on it.It is powered by a 2.5-litre V6 with an output of 145kW and maximum 244Nm of torque at 3000rpm, with 90 per cent of torque is available between 2500 and 6000rpm.In terms of performance it is not going to move your world but as a total package the car has a certain intrinsic appeal.Guess it must be the X factor?Our test vehicle was finished in Jag's new Ultraviolet colour, a finish that looks blue in some light and almost mauve at other times.It's a good looking thing with huge, guard filling 18 inch BBS alloys and low profile rubber.In keeping with tradition twin pipes occupy the space below the rear bumper.The interior of the car is distinguished by a spotted, grey silky oak wood finish, not the kind of wood that you normally associate with Jags and sure not to be to everyone's taste.Leather is standard and the sports seats are trimmed in full leather too.The 2.5-litre engine is an enthusiastic performer and can match it with similar-sized Euros but high powered Japanese performers will leave it in their wake.Standard on the Limited Edition is five-speed automatic transmission which unfortunately reduces acceleration times from 8.3 seconds to 8.9 seconds.The gated shift is okay for normal driving, but does not lend itself to quick, hard changes where it is easy to leapfrog a gear.The full time Traction-4 all wheel drive system is biased towards the rear wheels which take 60 per cent of torque.Sport suspension is standard and handling is above average but the car has a tendency to oversteer on the limit and moves around under hard braking.Fuel economy is rated at 11.0L/100km city cycle and 7.4L/100km on the highway.During the test period we achieved an average of 11.2L/100km from the 61-litre tank.Standard equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags, climate air, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats and a steering wheel with cruise and audio controls.The Limited Edition X-Type Sport is priced from $79,990.

This is one of the most important cars in Jaguar's history, the all-new X-type sedan. It is the first compact prestige contender from the leaping cat.  It is also the first all-new model since Ford took total control of the brand several years ago.The X-type is aimed at attracting younger buyers to the Jaguar brand. Even the X in its name should strike a chord with cashed-up, computer-bred Generation Xers.  Jaguar hopes the baby cat will woo buyers away from German rivals such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, then keep them as Jaguar owners as it re-invents the rest of its model range.The X-type is just one ingredient in Ford's plan to resurrect Jaguar as a serious luxury brand across the globe. It comes hot on the heels of Jaguar entering Formula One racing and the successful retro-styled S-type mid-sized sedan.AppearanceLike the S-type, the X-type is instantly recognisable as a Jaguar.  The front end borrows heavily from the range-topping XJS with its four headlights and large, horizontal grille. The back end also has design links with other Jags, including its twin tail pipes and classy tail lights.PlatformUnder its skin, however, the X-type shares most of its basic architecture with the all-new Mondeo, which has been scrapped from the blue oval's Aussie line-up.The two cars were engineered together from the beginning of the project, but the Jag is clearly a Jag and the Ford is clearly a Ford -- there is no visible common link between the two.DrivetrainsTo further separate the pair, the X-type comes standard with a four-wheel-drive transmission and its own 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre V6 engines.  Both engines produce a fair amount of power, with the 2.5-litre pumping out 145Kw and the 3.0-litre delivering 172Kw.The base engine is beaten in the power stakes only by the turbo-charged Volvo S60 2.4T, while the bigger V6 matches the class-leading BMW 330 as the most powerful naturally aspirated 3.0-litre engines on offer.Fit-out and equipmentJaguar Australia has two spec levels available for the X-type, Sport and SE. Both are available with either the 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre engines.  The Sport comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission but has an optional five-speed automatic, which is standard on the SE.The Sport models have 17-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, cloth/leather interior trim, CD sound, full electrics, auto air-con and grey-stained woodgrain dash inserts.  The more luxurious SE comes with more comfortable touring suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, leather trim and conventional woodgrain dash inserts.Safety-wise, all X-types come with anti-skid brakes and dual front, side and curtain airbags.  The extensive options list is highlighted by a voice-activated and touch-screen satellite navigation, audio, telephone and air-conditioning system.DrivingJaguar has needed a baby car for so long and now it's finally here. The new kitten is compact but not cramped; affordable but not cheap; youthful but not childish.  The X-Type is a sporty sedan that is really enjoyable to drive, with the cushy luxury you expect in a Cat car.It's good enough to make a strong case with $60,000-something prestige buyers, though it's not the Gen-X breakthrough that many people expected. It's too reserved.  The best news is that it is a real Jaguar, something you feel in the floating-cloud ride and the smell when you slide into the leather-wrapped cabin.But the X-Type has a secret. It's really a Ford.  The American carmaker has been providing the cash and technology for new-car projects since it took control of Jaguar, with results from the impressive retro-styled S-Type to the radical F-type concept car.But this time it's more. The basics for the X-Type are shared with the all-new Mondeo, which Ford Australia foolishly rejected as a contender for local showrooms.  The Mondeo has cleaned up as the best mid-sized sedan in Europe this year, so the Ford connection isn't nearly as negative for the X-Type as it could have been in the past.Actually, it's a bonus, because sharing the core engineering has allowed Jaguar engineers and designers to spend more on bits that really count for their customers.  They've given the car a unique all-wheel-drive system to step it well away from Mondeo motoring, as well as the luxury stuff you expect in a Cat car with a $68,150 base price.That means auto air-con, electric seats (as well as windows and mirrors), a funky sound system and satellite navigation.  After a week with the X-Type, including a Sydney-Bathurst run, we're converts.  The test car was the 2.5-litre Sport model with automatic transmission, alloy wheels and a spoiler.The leather-wrapped front buckets had surprisingly good side support and qualify as some of the best we've travelled in lately.  It got along nicely enough, handled crisply, was comfortable and quiet, and did well at the pumps with a thirst of just 9.7 litres/100km.  The engine is probably the letdown in the package. It's missing the bottom-end urge that usually makes Jaguar motoring so effortless.You have to stir the V6, using the J-gate shift to get it revving, and it doesn't have much of an exhaust note when it's working.  The J-gate is another disappointment, with a vague shift and an outdated concept. Today's touch-change autos are much more responsive, particularly in the latest Benz.  The test car was also hard to move in and out of park.The X-Type has a very crisp chassis, with good cornering bite and incredible grip. The ride is great, but Jaguar has missed one thing: impact control. The test car's big wheels really thumped into potholes.The rest of the X-Type package is impressive and refined. The cabin takes four adults and the boot is the biggest in the Jaguar family.Against its rivals, the X-Type is not the cheapest, and it has a few annoying foibles, but after all it is a Jaguar. For many, including a new generation just discovering the brand, that will be good enough.JAGUAR X-TYPE 2.5 SportPrice as tested: $75,750Engine: 2.5-litre V6 with overhead camshafts and fuel injectionPower: 145kW at 6800revsTorque: 231Nm at 3000revsTransmission: Five-speed automatic, Four-wheel driveBody: Four-door sedanDimensions: Length: 4672mm, width: 2002mm, height: 1392mm, wheelbase: 2710mm, tracks: 1522mm/1537mm front/rearWeight: 1595kgFuel tank: 61 litresFuel consumption: 9.7 litres/100km average on testSteering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinionSuspension: Fully independent with front MacPherson struts and multi-link rearBrakes: Four-wheel anti-skid discsWheels: 17x7 alloysTyres: 245/45 R17Warranty: Three years/100,000kmRIVALSBMW 325i **** (from $67,405)Lexus ES300 *** (from $79,950)Mercedes C240 **** (from $75,000)Volvo S60 T *** (from $66,950)The bottom line ****+ It's a Jag- Suspension thump; vague auto shifter. Good news for Jag -- and younger customers.