Jaguar 3.0D XJ
Jaguar is the curveball. In a world of predictably good, if dull super-executives, you need a car where you could sit in either the front or back with dignity and hopefully even a little joy. These are cars that are often driven fast. Most of them come out with engines that could be employed with some success pulling carriages at the railways. Enough power and torque to impress even the most petulant underling.
Jag on the other hand is all about gorgeous shapes and sportiness. A diesel coming to this house is seen in many camps as not a little heresy. A diesel in our Jaguar? You must be joking.
First off about the XJ, regarding the design, it has presence. Real presence. The front end and profile views are in my opinion exactly as they should be for a Jaguar. The rear in my opinion is a little more controversial. I find it a little plump and bloated, most others disagree with me. The “slashes” of the lights are similarly a little too clever and cutesy for such an iconic heritagefilled brand. Again, I do not share this opinion with others. I must say overall, it is a perfectly beautiful thing. As to the interior, I can easily say it is the most elegantly successful sedan interior I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. A lot less gimmicky than the XF, it employs gee-whiz in understated ways.
From the central touch control screen with different views for the driver and passenger, to the instruments that are actually a display screen, but are rendered as old fashioned gauges, it is a winner. In full sport they get a different red sporty feel and with the gearshift in sport it even has a brilliant gear display. The seats are infinitely adjustable, sublimely comfortable and the standard heat, cool and massage function wasn’t very hard to get used to at all. As for that engine? Well uber- executives are defined by sufficient power and torque. To put this in perspective, it has 600Nm of torque. That is a lot.
The big 375kw petrol V8 has 625, but this is supposed to be a puny three litre diesel, with a mere 202 kW. That is enough to get her to the ton in 6.4 seconds. That isn’t the party trick, which is reserved for the feel and for the fuel economy. While that big V8 will get you there in 4.9 seconds, it sucks a whopping 18.3 litres per 100 in town, this one pulls off 9,6 and a staggering 7l combined. It didn’t during my testing, averaging 11, but I must stress that was under strictly flat footed driving. It is brilliant. Your passengers simply will not believe it is a diesel. It sounds and drives like a great petrol, the only disappointment being what is missing. Besides not drinking fuel it doesn’t get a charismatic engine note. What you get is unfussed and spectacularly elegant. This is truly effortless speed. The car feels solid, the gearbox does what you tell it to and is so good you never notice it. It is a driver’s car.
It is as good to sit in the front or back of. Trust me, there is nothing comparable this side of a Bentley. For “only” R950,472 including a 5 year / 100,000 km Maintenance Plan, it is a steal!
