more about this model
A funny thing happened on our way to proclaiming the Jaguar XFR-S as the greatest sedan in the British marque's history. We drove the 2014 Jaguar XJR Long Wheelbase.
Not that we didn't enjoy our time with the flashy 550-horsepower 2014 XFR-S, with its monster brakes and even more monstrous rear wing. It captivated us with a raucous supercharged V8, on-demand burnouts and powerslides, and sublime twisty-road tenacity.
The problem is that the larger, quieter, more comfortable and classier Long Wheelbase Jaguar XJR (the old man's Jaguar) can do pretty much everything the XFR-S can do.
Maybe there's some kind of new, new math going on here that only the Brits understand. Because this doesn't add up.
Bigger, but Lighter
With 550 hp at 6,000 rpm from a direct-injected supercharged 5.0-liter V8, you'd think the XJR's goodness would begin and end with its engine. You'd be wrong.
Not that we mind 502 pound-feet of torque churning the XJR forward with instant neck-wrenching grunt from just 2,500 rpm. But what separates the XJR from the smaller XFR-S isn't what it has, but rather what its all-aluminum body structure doesn't have. Weight.
Get ready to be baffled: The XFR-S, which rides on a 114.5-inch wheelbase and measures 195.3 inches overall, tipped our scales at 4,382 pounds. The 2014 Jaguar XJR LWB, which rolls on a 124.3-inch wheelbase and takes up 206.8 inches bow to stern, weighed in at 4,351 pounds. That's 31 fewer pounds!
Bigger, but Faster
The lack of mass and the traction of a longer wheelbase translated into stunning acceleration times for the XJR, especially so considering this is a two-wheel-drive sedan distinctly lacking launch control. The sprint to 60 mph took just 4.1 seconds (3.8 seconds with a 1-foot rollout like at a drag strip), with the quarter-mile arriving in 12.1 seconds at 117.6 mph. The XFR-S was a tenth slower, though with a higher trap speed of 118.5 mph.
This, even though the XJR's ZF-built eight-speed paddle-shiftable automatic transmission takes its time going through the gears. The last Porsche Panamera Turbo S we tested, with all-wheel drive and a lickety-split-shifting PDK transmission, proved slightly quicker, clawing its way to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and through the quarter in 11.9 seconds at 117.2 mph.
And it's out on a two-lane road, when you need to pass a line of big rigs, that you come to realize true luxury isn't just a sumptuous interior. But rather, it's the ability to summon huge bundles of XJR horsepower with barely more than half throttle.
Although the XJR wasn't put on this earth to go head to head with plug-in hybrids for fuel miserliness, Jag fitted the car with a standard stop-start system that automatically shuts the engine off at stoplights.
It's fairly seamless in operation, the engine firing back up the second you take your foot off the brake. One downside to the stop-start is that the air-conditioning can't keep up during shutdown on hot days. If the system annoys you, it can be turned off via the Eco button on the center stack.
The EPA rates the XJR LWB at 18 mpg combined (15 city/23 highway), which matches it well against the Audi S8, Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, Porsche Panamera Turbo S and Maserati Quattroporte.
We averaged 16.7 mpg overall, but the 21.6 mpg we achieved on our 116-mile Edmunds test loop (using stop-start) showed what this car is capable of with a reasonably tepid right foot.
Drives Small
Besides the lightweight chassis, the 2014 Jaguar XJR comes standard with two other ultra-important facets: two-mode adjustable constantly adaptive dampers and hydraulic (not electric) power steering.
At our test track the big Jag produced only 0.86g circling the skid pad, but still turned in the best slalom we've recorded for an XJ at 66.6 mph. Neither figure will put fear into the Panamera Turbo S, which is good for 68.9 mph through the slalom and 0.96g lateral acceleration.
But the magic happens for the XJR LWB when you wick up the pace on a twisty road. It's there that the steering, which seemed a bit light at the test track, comes alive with a wonderfully intuitive nature. Wherever you point the XJR's leather-wrapped steering wheel is exactly where it will go, while the perfectly tuned dampers make it feel like a midsize sport sedan.
Throw the XJR into a corner and suddenly the cockpit seems to shrink and envelop you. The 5 extra inches of wheelbase and huge rear overhang are all but forgotten. All you think about is the steering's precision and feedback, and that nicely controlled powerslide at corner exit. Dynamic mode makes the throttle delivery a bit abrupt, but seriously, who would've guessed you could have this much fun in a car this large?
As with other Jags with adaptive dampers, the difference between Normal and Dynamic modes isn't that great. You can take high-speed sweepers in Normal and think nothing of it, or leave it in Dynamic mode on a city street without rattling your teeth loose.
That said, if you're expecting anything resembling a plush ride, you're buying the wrong XJ model. The suspension is never truly harsh, but it is taut and there's a palpable level of stiffness ensured by the car's structure, 30 percent stiffer springs and ultralow-profile rubber.
The XJR shares the same 15-inch front and 14.8-inch rear brake rotors clamped by two-piston front and single-piston rear calipers as the XFR-S, along with identically sized Pirelli P Zeros (265/35ZR20s up front and 295/30ZR20s at the rear). Yet once again the XJR outperformed the XFR-S, stopping from 60 mph in 105 feet versus 108.
Pedal travel was on the long side during hard back-road running, but there was never a lack of braking power. Around town pedal feedback was perfectly linear.
Blindingly Good Cabin
Unlike some of the more staid German marques, the XJR's interior is a vibrant mix of leather, carbon fiber and chrome. The workmanship is meticulous, without a squeak or rattle to be heard throughout our time with the car.
We particularly love the huge swiveling dash vents, which make it easy to direct air exactly where you want it. And you might not realize it at first because it's so good, but the XJR's instrument panel is in fact a virtual rendition of analog gauges. The 8-inch touchscreen makes it easy to navigate through the menus, but it should be a requirement that the navigation system in all cars this powerful show the current speed limit. Because you're probably exceeding it.
Some testers also noted that if the sun hits the chrome trim just right (or just wrong) it can temporarily blind you.
The seats offer the body-hugging bolstering you'd expect in a car with the XJR's need for speed, without sacrificing comfort. But the XJR's low-slung body forced Jag to be stingy with headroom, especially in the rear. That said, the LWB's extra 4.9 inches translate to near-limitless rear leg- and foot room.
As further proof of its split personality, the XJR is an utterly silent traveler. Our sound readings showed it to be several decibels quieter than the Panamera Turbo S at full-throttle and 70 mph top-gear cruising. Wind, road and tire noise are nearly nonexistent.
Real Value
Starting at $119,895, including destination ($123,870 as tested), the 2014 Jaguar XJR LWB is considerably less costly than both the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and Porsche Panamera Turbo S. It's more of a driver's car than the big, heavy Benz. And while the Jag doesn't offer the all-out performance numbers of the Panamera, its graceful body slices a far prettier line through the air while also offering the purer thrills of rear-wheel drive.
Ultimately, what sets the 2014 Jaguar XJR LWB apart from its rivals are its uncanny do-all abilities. It's as quick as all but the priciest exotics and rips through back roads like a much smaller sport sedan, yet can still play the role of limousine with an inviting interior that manages to be both cozy and gigantic.
That it is one of the finest ultra sedans ever created is without question. And despite the XFR-S's statement and speed, we'll take the more subtle, versatile and quicker XJR. Suddenly, getting old just got a lot better.
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Used 2014 Jaguar XJ listings and inventory:
Shop Edmunds' used car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million pre-owned vehicles to find a cheap used and certified pre-owned (CPO) 2014 Jaguar XJs for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 49 used and CPO 2014 XJs listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 26,899 and mileage as low as 10,333. Simply research the type of used car, SUV, or truck you're interested in and then select a vehicle from our massive database to find cheap pre-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the used 2014 Jaguar XJ. Then select Edmunds' special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 300 on a used or CPO 2014 XJ available from one of 2,630 dealerships in your area.
What's a good price on a used 2014 Jaguar XJ ?
Save up to $300 on one of 10 used 2014 Jaguar XJs for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $26899 as of Apr 25, 2018, based on data from 10 dealers and 97 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 2.3 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2014 Jaguar XJ trim styles:
The used 2014 Jaguar XJ XJL Supercharged is priced around $36974 with average odometer reading of 33881 miles.
The used 2014 Jaguar XJ XJL Portfolio is priced around $38610 with average odometer reading of 28456 miles.
The used 2014 Jaguar XJ Base is priced around $29650 with average odometer reading of 49942 miles.
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What options are available on the 2014 Jaguar XJ?
Available Jaguar XJ 2014 Submodel Types: Sedan, XJR
Available Jaguar XJ 2014 Trims: XJL Portfolio, R-Sport, XJL, Supercharged, Base, XJ8, XJL Supercharged, XJR
Exterior Colors: Indigo Blue Metallic, British Racing Green Metallic, Ebony, Storm Grey Premium, Ammonite Grey Metallic, Corris Grey Metallic, Ingot Premium, Loire Blue Metallic, Rhodium Silver Metallic, Stratus Grey Metallic, Azurite Blue Metallic, Carnelian Red Metallic, Caviar Metallic, Dark Sapphire Metallic, Firenze Red Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, Italian Racing Red Metallic, Liquid Silver Metallic, Lunar Grey, Midnight Black Metallic, Polaris White, Porcelain, Santorini Black Metallic, Tempest Grey Premium, Ultimate Black Metallic, Vapour Grey Metallic
Interior Colors: Jet leather, Jet w/Ivory Stitching premium leather, London Tan premium leather, London Tan w/Jet Stitching leather, Cashew w/Truffle Stitching premium leather, Jet w/Ivory Stitching leather, London Tan w/Ebony Stitching premium leather, Cashew w/Truffle Stitching leather, Navy leather, Ivory leather, Ivory w/Jet Stitching premium leather, Jet premium leather, London Tan leather, London Tan w/Jet Stitching premium leather, Cashew leather, Champagne premium leather, Cirrus leather, Ivory w/Ebony Stitching premium leather, Ivory w/Oyster Stitching premium leather, Jet w/Red Stitching leather, London Tan w/Ebony Stitching leather
Popular Features: Keyless Entry/Start, Mobile Internet, 360-degree camera, Alarm, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Auto Climate Control, Aux Audio Inputs, Back-up camera, Blind Spot Monitoring, Bluetooth, Cooled Seats, Electronic Folding Mirrors, Heated seats, Leather Seats, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Navigation, Parking sensors, Power Driver Seat, Power Liftgate/Trunk, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Sunroof/Moonroof, Tire Pressure Warning, Trip Computer, USB Inputs, Upgraded Headlights, AWD/4WD, Lane Departure Warning, Upgraded Stereo, Rear Entertainment System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking
Engine/Mechanics: 6, 8 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: premium unleaded (required), flex-fuel (premium unleaded required/E85)
Drivetrains: all wheel drive, rear wheel drive
Used 2014 Jaguar XJ Overview
The used 2014 Jaguar XJ is offered in the following submodels: XJR LWB, Sedan, XJR. Available styles include XJL Portfolio 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A), XJL Portfolio 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A), and 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A). Pre-owned XJ models are available with a 0-liter gas engine or a 0-liter flex-fuel (FFV) engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2014 XJ comes with all wheel drive or rear wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 8-speed shiftable automatic.
