By Gary Anderson
Road Test
Is there room in the automobile market for another $35,000 sports sedan?
In the 1960s, Jaguar was the first company to offer a true small luxury four-door car with sporting performance - the Mark 2. Now, however, that market is dominated by the BMW 3 series, with Mercedes, Audi and Lexus all trying to gain share.
Since its reincarnation funded by Ford, Jaguar hasn’t had anything to offer in this sector, though its high-end luxury sedan and sports car have been well received.
Now Jaguar is introducing its own competitor - the X-type sedan - selling for as little as $29,950. But for that price, can we get a “real Jaguar” with the stylish lines, luxury interior and smooth ride that is associated with the leaping cat?
For the answer, I looked at the new Jaguar in the trendy environs of Atlanta’s W Hotel, tested it on the banked ovals and road-course curves of Atlanta Motor Speedway, then drove more than 200 miles of two-lane blacktop along the ridges of the Smoky Mountains. The overwhelming conclusion: this is a fine car for its price, and it is definitely a Jaguar.
In its basic form, a young family can get a luxurious four-door sedan with a reasonable back seat and more trunk space than any other car in the class. The interior has all the Jaguar hallmarks: bird’s-eye maple trim (Jaguar actually raises its own trees); Connolly leather; and wool carpets.
The lowest price buys a 2.5 liter 194 bhp (brake horsepower) engine with manual five-speed transmission that is more than adequate for highway speeds. Automatic transmission is available as a $1,275 option. A variety of luxury touches like a moon roof, reverse park control and rain sensing wipers can be added for $2,500.
For the young professional who wants an alternative to BMW sportiness, the car can be ordered with the 3-liter engine and five-speed stick, and upgraded with the sport package.
The package includes 17-inch wheels, performance tires, tightly tuned suspension, bolstered performance seats, and gray-stained interior wood. This version stickers for just under $42,000 without the optional navigation system.
The exterior styling is pleasing and graceful. The car is small (though five inches longer than the comparable Mercedes or BMW) but is definitely a Jaguar. From the front, it has the horizontal grille, curved hood lines and dual headlights of the big XJ8 sedan. The back fenders and rear end have the powerful look of the XK8. And, of course, the hood sports Jaguar’s trademark leaping cat.
Driving the car is a real treat. Unique in this class, all-wheel drive comes standard on the X-Type. A viscous-coupled differential normally puts 60 percent of power to the rear wheel, but directs power away from spinning wheels under wet or icy conditions. A completely new and stiff body has been engineered for the car, carried on front MacPherson struts and 3-link coil-spring rear suspension. Power is provided by the V-6 engine Jaguar developed for the S-Type, but transverse mounted for more interior space.
The result is smooth, quiet, comfortable handling under all conditions. While the sport version is more fun to toss through the corners, the basic version still handles well, even on a wet track. In the “don’t try this at home” category, I rode with professional drivers through the curves and on the oval of the Atlanta race course, up to the cars’ electronically limited 130 mph top speeds. The handling, even under those conditions, was totally confidence-inspiring.
To meet its ambitious growth targets, Jaguar must succeed in the mid-30 marketplace. But in this highly competitive niche, that is going to take an exceptional car.
With the X-type, we think Jaguar has come up with both a comfortable family sedan and a fun-to-drive performance sedan that should do well in this market.
Anderson is editor and publisher of British Car Magazine, published bimonthly and distributed internationally from offices in Los Altos (949-9680; www.britishcar.com).
