Premium saloon and deceptively spacious estates make up the impressive X-Type range. They combine the build quality that is unmistakably Jaguar with the performance synonymous with the name. (In production from 2001 to 2009).

The good

Excellent value

The bad

Stiff opposition from the German manufacturers

Tech Specs

Price from

£20,000

Combined Fuel up to

50mpg

0-62 from

7.3 seconds

max speed up to

141mph

co2 from

149g/km

Test Drive

Jaguar X-Type Estate 2.2 Diesel Sovereign auto

Uncompromising luxury is something we have come to expect from the Jaguar team of designers, but is that all?

Certainly not… for these vehicles are up to any challenge in any demanding driving condition and while the level of luxury is not compromised the standard of performance can take your breath away.

The top-of-the-range Sovereign model comes complete with an amazing array of classy features, which are accentuated by the delicate display of wood and leather trimmings. Add electrically-adjustable seats with two-stage heating and driver memory, an ear-drum-bursting sound system that can

be controlled from the steering wheel and a sat nav system that defies belief and you have a brief glimpse of what’s on offer.

The estate offers a vast amount of storage space with a host of other useful little compartments throughout and the boot will hold a kitchen sink… if so desired.

Although the X-Type is no novice to the world of motoring, the diesel engine with an automatic gearbox is a fairly recent addition. It delivers ample power both in and around town and then out on the open roads it really opens up in style, hugging the winding lanes with ease and cruising through the transmission.

But one surprising factor is the excellent economy. The fuel gauge dropped so slowly
that I questioned its accuracy at times – needless to say it was spot in.

As one would expect with such a price tag and with the Jaguar reputation and standards to live up to, the safety specification is excellent. Along with the more run-of-the-mill features such as anti-lock brakes, it boasts dual-stage front airbags that actually assess the front passenger positions, whether seatbelts are being worn and the passenger’s weight to deploy the correct level of protection.

All in all, the X-Type is an absolute dream to drive and with eye-catching good looks, comfort levels that match your lounge and technology seldom seen outside a science fiction film, it’s clear to see why the Big Cat is still roaring.

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