When I hear “Jaguar,” I visualize driving to the ballet decked out in diamonds and a mink coat. How bad could it be living that fantasy for a while? My personal reality is quite different, however. I do drive to the ballet on a regular basis (although it’s my 4-year-old’s ballet class), and I’m usually dressed to kill in jeans, a tank top and flip flops. I’m a bit skeptical as to whether this fancy, high-society car “inspired by over 70 years of legendary performance and design” can fit into my very ordinary life as a suburban mom.
My first obstacle to overcome is the Latch connectors. They’re so tightly wedged into the crevasse between the seat back and bottom that they’re really not accessible. Note to automotive manufacturers: Test your Latch connectors. If you can’t use them, neither can we. I fall back on using seat belts to install the car seats.
I realize that not every mom wants to drive a minivan or an SUV. The problem with smaller cars such as this one is that I risk head injury every time I buckle my kids in. I am able to duck low enough to avoid hitting my head on the roofline, but now I need a live-in chiropractor.
Also, the small amount of legroom in the rear makes installing a rear-facing infant seat difficult at best. For those of you with older children or no children at all, this certainly won’t be an issue for you.
Opening the trunk, I’m impressed with how much space there appears to be. It seams that appearances are everything with this car. The “luggage” compartment turns out to be just that. It has tons of room to store Gucci bags for a trip to the Hamptons, but anything odd-shaped (or practical), like a jogging stroller or a double stroller, won’t fit.
Adjusting the driver’s seat to accommodate me is easy thanks to the telescoping steering wheel. Like all busy moms, I catch an occasional case of “mommy Jell-O brain,” and today is my turn. Inserting the key into the ignition takes several tries. The odd-shaped key makes it difficult to figure out which way to put it in.
On a short drive to our local pool, I quickly realize that the narrow body design of the Jaguar X-Type places my children too close to one another for comfort. They spend the entire five-minute drive poking, prodding, pinching, grabbing snacks and sippy cups, and otherwise making each other’s lives (and my own) miserable. I confiscate the cups only to discover that they won’t fit in the cupholders.
While I don’t need it on this short trip, the touch-screen navigation system surprisingly proves to be user-friendly. The graphics are clearly labeled and easy on the eyes. I also like the touch-screen audio function. It’s easy to program my favorite radio channels.
Getting back into the car after a few hours at the pool (the Jag parked in the blazing hot sun) reveals an important issue: Don’t waste your money to upgrade to a woodgrain steering wheel. It’s so hot I literally can’t touch it. We have to sit in the car with the air conditioning blasting for 10 minutes before I can drive without getting third-degree burns.
So maybe the Jaguar X-Type 3.0 isn’t very functional for me and my family. I recognize, however, that every woman has her own idea of a perfect car. It’s possible (though unlikely) that this one’s for you.
*For more information on the Jaguar X-Type and its safety features, visit www.cars.com.
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