The name Jaguar evokes certain images: sexy XK-E sports cars, luxury sedans with rich walnut interiors and a strong heritage of innovation and racing history.
So it came as no surprise that several people, upon beholding the X-Type Sportwagon, exclaimed, "A Jaguar station wagon? I don't get it."
Sure, sporty BMW has found success with its wagons. And five-door wagons and crossovers are the hottest segment of the automotive market as fuel prices rise and big sport utilities lose their luster.
From Jaguar, one would expect a wagon that exudes the sinewy shapes of the famed British feline, something distinctive and loaded with character. Instead we get a standard-issue station wagon with little to set it apart aside from the leaping cat on its hood.
Jaguar had a tough year in 2004, fading behind stiff competition from premium brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Audi, Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti and Acura. Those are some tough characters, and Jaguar is feeling the heat.
Jaguar has some truly distinctive cars. The full-size, aluminum XJ8 is brilliant, and I recently enjoyed a great run with the high-performance XKR sport coupe.
All good stuff, but all with price tags in nosebleed territory. The X-Type sedan and Sportwagon vie for the middle ground of luxury cars, the $30,000 to $40,000 range of "entry level" wealth.
Nimble and accommodating but still lacking the presence and panache one should expect from Jaguar, the X-Type remains a disappointment. If the look were more striking, perhaps more people would accept the notion of Jaguar producing a station wagon.
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