2017 Jaguar XJ Review

Name: 2017 Jaguar XJ Review
Brand: Jaguar

2017 Jaguar XJ XJL Portfolio Sedan Exterior Shown

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Used XJ for sale

$22,990

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Jaguar XJ model years

Jaguar XJ for Sale

Jaguar XJ types

Sedan
XJR
XJR LWB

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byJonathan Elfalan^{Director, Vehicle Testing
Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at Edmunds, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.}

Pros

Strong lineup of supercharged V6 and V8 engines
Lively handling and responsive steering
Available with AWD and in short- and long-wheelbase configurations

Cons

Front seat room is a bit tighter than the competition's
Touchscreen infotainment interface starting to feel dated
Trunk is somewhat shallow and small for the class
Rear seats do not fold down to accommodate long cargo

What’s new

Following a face-lift in 2016, the 2017 Jaguar XJ remains relatively unchanged with the exception of a few new paint colors and a new 19-inch wheel design.

Vehicle overview

The full-size, luxury-packed 2017 Jaguar XJ may be falling behind in the race for the latest advanced technology, but it still manages to offer more sex appeal than any of its competition. The XJ is available in both regular- and long-wheelbase models, the latter offering becoming the standard configuration for the class. All XJs come with heated and cooled seats across the board, but only the longer XJL models can be outfitted with reclining rear seats, rear footrests, fold-down laptop trays and a dual-screen rear entertainment system.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2017 Jaguar XJ R-Sport 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$252/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The XJ features a series of strong supercharged engines: a V6 in the base models and two levels of V8s for the mid- and top-tier trims. There's also a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive (base models only). The engines provide more than enough motive force in the XJ even if its sporting intentions don't quite match the levels of rivals.

There is much to enjoy while in the XJ's quiet, comfortable and well-appointed cabin, less any latest nifty gadgets you'd want to show off to the neighbors. And like many Jaguars before it, the design should stand up to the test of time.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

3.5 / 5

With an abundance of elegance, style and British essence, the Jaguar XJ is a refreshing departure from the typical German luxury sedan offerings. The competition, however, has evolved and is more dynamically capable and technologically advanced, causing this big Jag to slip down the leaderboard ranks.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our first drive of the 2016 Jaguar XJL Portfolio AWD (3.0L supercharged V6; AWD; 8-speed automatic).

Scorecard

Overall	3.5 / 5
Driving	3.5
Comfort	4.0
Interior	3.0
Utility	3.0

Driving

3.5

It's not top-of-the-class, but the Jaguar XJL Portfolio AWD is thoroughly competent, and it has the driving characteristics of a much smaller car. If the 3.0-liter V6 doesn't light your fire, the XJL Supercharged V8 or top-dog XJR provides much more power in similar packages.

Acceleration

4.0

The base engine, a 340-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6, never feels sluggish, even with 4,400 pounds of Jaguar to lug around. It allows the XJ to execute passing maneuvers with ease and sprint from zero to 60 mph in only 5.4 seconds, a solid showing for any sedan.

Braking

3.0

The XJL's brake pedal doesn't provide the feel or feedback we'd expect of a dynamic luxury sedan. Despite this numbness, it delivered surprisingly good results in our simulated panic-stop test from 60 mph, with a distance of 111 feet. This is a shorter than average for the segment.

Steering

3.0

Steering weight is surprisingly light for such a large luxury sedan. Those looking for firmer, European-style steering may find it too feathery.

Handling

3.5

Ample grip, all-wheel-drive traction and modest body roll deliver confident handling on twisty roads that's likely beyond what most will expect from a luxury sedan. That said, competitors in this space continue to push the envelope and offer sharper response characteristics.

Drivability

4.0

Acceleration is always smooth and confident thanks to the tractable engine and the quiet decisiveness of the eight-speed transmission. The engine's auto stop-start transition isn't where it needs to be in terms of smoothness, but it can be disabled.

Comfort

4.0

Although others have surpassed it in this area, the XJL is still extremely comfortable. It comes with standard dual-pane side glass, four-zone climate control, soft-close doors, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and one of the quietest cabins around.

Seat comfort

4.0

The front seats offer good adjustability with four-way power lumbar and a massaging function, but they may be narrow for some frames. The rear seats gain 5 inches in legroom over the standard-wheelbase XJ; optional premium rear seating adds niceties such as power reclining and electric sunshades.

Ride comfort

3.0

The standard adaptive, self-leveling suspension on the XJL is comfortable for the most part, but on poorly maintained roads it can feel busier than you'd expect. The Supercharged and XJR variants get a specially tuned, stiffer suspension, which would exacerbate this condition.

Noise & vibration

4.5

The XJL is exceptionally quiet at any speed with wind and road noise distant and dispersed. It in fact isolates you from the outside world so well that the sounds of the seat cooler fans are much more noticeable.

Climate control

4.5

Four-zone climate control means all the people onboard can have it their way. All controls have physical buttons for easy, straightforward temperature and fan-speed adjustment, and all seats come with heating and cooling functions.

Interior

3.0

Rated from the backseat alone, the XJL's interior would be excellent, but ergonomic woes affect its score. The premium rear seat package, which includes power seats, dual 10-inch screens, laptop tables, electric shades and winged headrests, adds considerable luxury points.

Ease of use

2.0

Despite recent updates, the infotainment touchscreen interface still falls behind some newer systems. The graphics are attractive, but functionality is average. Also, the many mirror-finish surfaces throw off glare when it's sunny out and can be distracting.

Getting in/getting out

5.0

Large soft-close doors require only a light tough, and access to all seats is excellent. The sloping roofline, often a problem with such highly styled sedans, may only be an issue for tall occupants. Keyless entry with pushbutton ignition is also standard.

Roominess

3.5

The XJ is large enough inside to qualify as a short limousine. There's ample room for rear passengers, but front occupants may feel a little cozy due to the high center console and the way the dash wraps around like a cockpit. There's plenty of headroom both front and rear for average-height adults.

Visibility

3.0

The forward view is especially good thanks to slender front windshield pillars and a long sloping roof. There is a sizable rear three-quarter blind spot, but blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera, and front and rear parking sonar are standard and alleviate this foible.

Quality

3.0

Excellent paint and leather, but other aspects come up a little short. The interior appears impressive at first glance, but a closer inspection reveals seat cross-stitching that doesn't look as clean as it should, and the use of plastic parts is a little too liberal for a vehicle of this ilk.

Utility

3.0

There's good small item storage front and rear, thanks to the center armrest bins and a large glovebox, but the XJ's shallow trunk is slightly smaller than those of most competitors.

Small-item storage

3.5

A large glovebox and medium-sized center console bins front and rear provide decent storage options, though the door pockets are narrow and not made for water bottles. Both front and rear cupholders have an anti-tip design and a pass-through to accommodate cups with handles.

Cargo space

2.5

The XJ's long-but-shallow trunk has a total carrying capacity of 15.2 cubic feet, which puts it on the lower side of average for the class. The rear seats are fixed in place and don't fold to expand the trunk, which is a common in this class of car.

2017 Jaguar XJ models

The 2017 Jaguar XJ is a sporty full-size luxury sedan that seats up to five and is available in regular XJ and long-wheelbase XJL models. Standard trims consist of the base R-Sport, mid-level Supercharged and high-end XJR. The XJL comes in Portfolio, Supercharged and XJR trims. All models feature supercharged engines and eight-speed automatic transmissions. The R-Sport and Portfolio share a 3.0-liter V6 (340 hp, 332 lb-ft) with the option of all-wheel drive, the Supercharged trims get a 5.0-liter V8 (470 hp, 424 lb-ft) and the XJR models a higher-output V8 (550 hp, 502 lb-ft).

Though it's the base model, the R-Sport comes very well equipped with standard 19-inch wheels, an adaptive and self-leveling suspension, driver-adjustable steering and throttle settings, shift paddles, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, automatic wipers, automatic adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, LED taillights, a panoramic sunroof, power soft-close doors, a power trunklid, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, auto-dimming mirrors, and keyless ignition and entry.

Inside the R-Sport you'll find leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled seats across the board, eight-way power front seats (with four-way power lumbar adjustment), driver-seat memory settings, and a power-adjustable and heated tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. An 8-inch touchscreen anchors the infotainment system featuring navigation, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, voice controls, the InControl app suite, a Wi-Fi hot spot and a 14-speaker Meridian audio system with a satellite and HD radio, a CD player, digital music storage and a USB connection.

Options and packages available for the R-Sport include the Comfort package that adds 14-way power front seats with massage functions, front passenger-seat memory settings and four-zone climate control. The Parking Assist package includes a surround-view camera, 360-degree parking sensors and, for rear-drive models only, an automatic parking system. The Illumination package adds LED rear reading lights and blue illumination surrounding the front and rear air vents, on the door tread plates and the trunk finisher. Stand-alone options include adaptive cruise control, an upgraded stereo, a heated windshield and a wood-and-leather steering wheel.

The Portfolio model is the equivalent base trim of the long-wheelbase XJL. In addition to the 5 inches of rear legroom gained, you'll also get upgraded leather upholstery, standard four-zone automatic climate control, 14-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, rear LED reading lights, an electric rear window sunscreen and manual rear-side-window sunscreens.

The options list for the Portfolio is similar to the R-Sport, with the addition of a Premium Rear Seat package that includes reclining rear seats with memory function and footrests, extra cushy winged headrests (for the front and rear seats), electric rear side-window sunscreens, fold-down tray tables and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The V8-powered Supercharged trim, again available in both regular- and long-wheelbase, includes the Portfolio model's standard equipment, along with unique exterior trim, an active locking rear differential, tauter suspension tuning, 20-inch wheels with performance tires and larger brakes. All of the XJL Portfolio options are also available on the Supercharged model.

Topping the range is the fire-breathing XJR models with 550 horsepower on tap. If that isn't enough to get excited about, you also receive exclusive 20-inch wheels, premium paint colors (an extra-cost option on lesser XJs), R-specific suspension tuning, an active exhaust system (varying the amount of exhaust noise), sport seats, a heated steering wheel and unique interior trim. Due to the XJR's performance focus, however, you unfortunately lose the massaging seats, and the Premium Rear Seating package and the upgraded Meridian stereo are not available.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2/5Below Average

#47 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Jaguar XJ from 2008-2022.}

$953/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

2.57x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

21.5%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Jaguar XJ.

5 (72%)

4 (9%)

3 (13%)

2 (0%)

1 (6%)

4.4

32 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Awesome Jaguar XJRsport

Bill A, 05/30/2018

2016 Jaguar XJ R-Sport 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A)

This is a big, extremely good looking, very comfortable, excellent handling, luxury, sedan. I've owned it two years, and nothing has broken. All of the electronic toys are a bit much, but it seems that most people want this crap these days. This car is so much superior to my previous Mercedes CLS 550 that there is just no comparison, and it is trouble free, unlike my CLS, that had many …

My third Jaguar, but my first XJ

cbrandi, 03/27/2015

2014 Jaguar XJ 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A)

I cross shopped all the major cars in the class, wanted a luxurious car with a definite performance edge. Decided Maserati Ghibli was too much an unknown and its interior wasn't up to snuff. The S Class was superb but too large and too expensive. The BMW 7 series needs updating, it looks and felt like a bloated 3 Series. Audi's are boring. I've been very happy with my decision. Its …

Jaguar XJL portfolio, awesome car

Bill A, 05/30/2017

2013 Jaguar XJ XJL Portfolio 4dr Sedan (5.0L 8cyl 8A)

After you buy one you will not want to drive anything but a Jaguar. I have owned many fine cars but the Jag is so comfortable, quiet, plush, and powerful, it makes my Lincolns, and Mercedes pale by comparison, and the Jag costs less than the my Benz. Since purchase in 2013, nothing has broken. For required service the dealer picks up my car and leaves me a new Jag to use and delivers my …

Love this car

Tim Murray, 08/20/2016

2014 Jaguar XJ XJL Portfolio 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A)

I purchased this car as a demo/used vehicle directly from a dealer. The price was great and the luxury of the car is unsurpassed versus it's direct competition: Lexus, Mercedes and BMW. I have owned all 3 and will choose the Jaguar again.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Jaguar XJ, so we've included reviews for other years of the XJ since its last redesign.

See all 32 reviews of the Jaguar XJ

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2017 XJ Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

R-Sport

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$74,400
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$252/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the XJ models:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a preset gap between you and the vehicle in front and will come to a complete stop automatically when reaching a line of traffic.
Blind-Spot Monitoring: Notifies you of a car approaching in an adjacent lane that falls within a difficult-to-see area.
Surround Camera System: Displays images on the central touchscreen from four cameras positioned around the car, creating a 360-degree view.