By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National September 9, 2010Vehicle Overview
Jaguar redesigned its flagship sedan, the XJ, for the 2010 model year, giving it an exterior and interior design in the style of the XF sedan, along with the new engines. The XJ competes in the full-size luxury class along with the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The 2010 XJ comes in four models: XJ, XJL (long wheelbase), Supercharged and Supersport. Supersport models are available by special order only.
New for 2011
There are no significant changes.
Exterior
Jaguar has finally given tradition a rest, abandoning the classic four-headlight front-end design that dates back decades — and that had long appeared unchanged to the untrained eye despite a complete redesign in 2004. The nose is a more balanced execution of the XF's prominent mesh grille and sculpted headlight clusters. The hood is dramatically domed and creased, an apparent trend across the market.
Viewed from the rear, the XJ would be indistinguishable as a Jaguar were it not for the large and perfectly centered chrome "leaper" emblem. The taillights look like someone grabbed a Bentley by the tail and stretched it vertically. The car looks coupe-like in profile, with a gradually sloping roofline, high rear deck and high belt line. It's more Mercedes-Benz CLS than 2009 XJ. A notable feature is the blacked-out C-pillars (the pillars that flank the rear window). They give a floating-roof look that's drawn mixed reviews.
Exterior features include:
- 19-inch wheels
- Rear spoiler
- Optional adaptive headlights
Interior
The interior also got the full XF treatment, with a more modern design, piano-black and chrome surfaces, the JaguarDrive gear selector that motors up from the center console, and virtual gauges on a 12.3-inch display. Though the tech is high, the gauges still appear as classic analog, though different instruments can be emphasized based on conditions. It's a mix of old and new, which the interior as a whole attempts to accomplish with familiar rich leather, as well as wood trim that runs in a continuous line from the door panels across the top of the dashboard. Interior features include:
- Standard panoramic glass roof
- XJL models offer 5 more inches of backseat legroom
- Standard leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Standard leather-covered dashboard
- Standard heated and ventilated front seats
- Optional ventilated rear seats
- Optional carbon fiber dash and door insert
Under the Hood
Though the XJ shares its direct-injection power plants and six-speed automatic transmission with the XF, Jaguar says the larger XJ's swift sprints come courtesy of a similar aerodynamic drag coefficient and lightweight aluminum construction. Mechanical features include:
- Standard 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 385 horsepower
- Supercharged 5.0-liter engines make 470 hp in the Supercharged trim level and 510 hp in the Supersport
- Standard air-spring suspension that varies firmness as conditions dictate
Safety
Safety features include:
- Standard antilock brakes
- Standard electronic stability system
- Standard front seat belts that cinch up under heavy braking or aggressive cornering
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | September 9, 2010 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Kristin Varela | Mother Proof | September 22, 2011 |
| Scott Burgess | The Detroit Newspapers | April 2, 2011 |
| Scott Burgess | The Detroit Newspapers | September 9, 2010 |
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