2003 Jaguar XJ Series Road Test - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our road test for the 2003 Jaguar XJ Series includes a full evaluation of the 2003 Jaguar XJ Series from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2003 Jaguar XJ Series, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2003 Jaguar XJ Series help you decide if a 2003 Jaguar XJ Series is right for you.

2003 Jaguar XJ Series Road Test

Pros	Cons

Ride	Fuel economy

Acceleration	Cargo space

Quietness

Exterior finish

Interior materials

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
7	6	8	6.5

Even with the base V8, these 2-ton sedans move with authority, aided by a quick, positive automatic transmission. Supercharged versions are hot rods; test XJR did 0-60 mph in just 5.7 sec.

Fuel Economy

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
4	4	2	4.1

Test XJ8 averaged 18.5 mpg, including lots of highway driving. Test Vanden Plas averaged 15.5 mpg with more city travel. Test XJRs averaged around 13 mpg. All require premium fuel.

Ride Quality

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
10	10	8	8.2

Except XJR, these Jaguars are cushy and compliant, upset by only the biggest bumps and pavement heaves. Rough rail tracks can induce slight body shudder. With bigger tires and stiffer suspension, XJR suffers some jittery wheel patter and thump on blemished surfaces.

Steering/Handling/Braking

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
7	7	8	6.6

Steering precise if slightly dull, and must be guided back to center after turns. Mediocre crosswind stability. In corners, XJR stays flat and grippy, but other models show marked body lean before taking a set and powering through.

Quietness

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
9	9	7	7.8

Quiet cats all, with minimal wind and road noise. Some supercharger moan evident at full throttle in models so equipped. Blower fan rather loud except on lowest settings.

Controls

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
3	3	3	5.7

Gauges unobstructed, but some controls not well-placed and/or labeled. Odd "J-gate" transmission selector allows manual shifts, but lever action lacks feel. Navigation system not that easy to use. Stitched leather, burnished wood creates a clubby British air inside, but like-priced Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus models exhibit slightly greater attention to assembly details.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
5	5	5	8.1

Seats arm-chair comfortable, but low-roof styling means minimal head clearance for 6-footers and compromised positioning for large drivers. Long, narrow front footwells feel confining. Center console can't open with cupholders in use.

Room/Comfort (rear)

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
5	7	5	7.6

Head room also tight here, even though seat cushion is too low for comfort. Leg space limited except in long models. Entry/exit demands crouching, again due to low-roof styling. Vanden Plas features classy fold-down wood writing tables, but no model has rear cupholders.

Cargo Room

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
2	2	2	4.8

Tail styling limits trunk height enough to make cargo volume subpar for the class. At least the hold has a regular shape and low load sill.

Value within Class

XJ8	Vanden Plas	XJR	Class Average
3	3	3	5.3

Rival designs are much newer, but the aging XJs still shine for top-notch ride and refinement; potent, silky V8s; and evergreen British charm. Workmanship and reliability have become class-competitive under more than a decade of Ford Motor Co. ownership, but the redesigned and aluminum-intensive '04s promise better fuel economy, more interior space, and additional comfort with no loss of performance or Jaguar character.

Total Score