Jaguar X-Type Review Covering 2001 To Date

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Quick Summary of the Jaguar X-Type

OVERALL

Buyers of used Jaguars have traditionally needed some sort of homespun, emotional response when questioned about their purchase. The heritage, the looks, the badge – all reasons as valid as any other but reasons which the X-TYPE keeps in its toolbox rather than acting as the tools of its trade. This is a car that has layers, textures and subtleties to its talents, a Jaguar that needs no preamble. It’s up there with the best in the class. Just don’t expect a bargain.

X SPOTS THE MARQUE

The Jaguar X-TYPE marked a series of firsts for Jaguar. It was their first all-wheel drive production car and subsequently their first front wheel drive. It was the first to challenge the hegemony built up by the BMW 3 Series and the first to be built around a mainstream Ford Mondeo platform. Old school Jaguar purists wrung their hands in abject horror whilst the rest of us recognised the machinations of Ford’s Premier Auto Group at work behind the scenes and recognised the X-TYPE for what it was – pragmatism and clever engineering writ large beneath some pretty clothes. Shooting yourself in the foot with a used example would take some doing as the X-TYPE has thus far proved to be a sound proposition.
Used Jaguar X-Type for sale

History of the X-Type

Perhaps feeling that the compact executive class was becoming a tad predictable, Jaguar’s attempt to muscle in on the BMW/Mercedes/Audi party was launched in February 2001. The X-TYPE range was built on a modified Ford Mondeo chassis and featured all-wheel drive ostensibly as an engineering ‘fix’ to get around the front wheel-drive Mondeo layout and also as a handy marketing tool to scotch Audi’s quattro USP. Two engines were made available, either a 194bhp 2.5-litre V6 or the punchy 227bhp 3.0-litre V6, each available in either base, SE or Sport trim levels. This remained the case until early 2002 when the X-TYPE 2.0-litre models were introduced. Apart from the 157bhp 2.0-litre V6 engine (which was strictly speaking a 2.1-litre lump), this model differentiated itself by junking the X-TYPE’s hitherto much-lauded all-wheel drive in favour of standard issue front-wheel drive. So good was it that few noticed the loss. Estates were later introduced. Later a 2.0-litre diesel engine was added and in the autumn of 2004 the Sport Premium and Sovereign trim levels materialised. A 2.2-litre diesel was added to the range in late 2005. All models received a chrome mesh grille in spring 2007.The X-TYPE was tweaked again for the 2008 model year and although the visual changes were difficult for the layman to spot, over 500 new components were introduced. Revisions to the grille, bumpers and side mouldings altered the front end while enhanced trim materials upgraded the interior. Otherwise, there was a new 6-speed automatic gearbox for the 2.2-litre diesel.
Used Jaguar X-Type for sale

Jaguar X-Type Road Test

If you’re after the full-on X-TYPE experience you need that 3.0-litre. Fire it up and you’ll be greeted with a muted growl before it settles to a distant rumble. You’ll initially feel that this is going to be a sporting drive, tilting at a 3-Series rather than a C class. Indeed, although the suspension is admirably supple in its absorption of ridges and ruts, there’s not a great deal of body roll, the X-TYPE feeling taut and eager. When coupled with the automatic box it’s easy to forget that 40% of the drive is directed to the front wheels.The steering takes a little getting used to. Gone is the usual Jaguar steering feel, that remote, oily slickness that distanced drivers from the road. In its place is a ZF Servotronic variabe-ratio system which seamlessly reduces the amount of assistance as speed builds. It’s a great system for motorway cruising, with just the right amount of feel around the straight ahead point, but get a bit enthusiastic into the corners and the tardy turn-in and odd feeling that you need to turn the wheel far more than is at first expected will take some getting used to. Likewise, the automatic gearbox, even when switched into sport mode, can’t really keep up with the demands of being pitched through a series of twisty bits. Still, that’s what Jaguar makes the X-TYPE Sport for. The chubby windscreen pillars restrict visibility through tighter bends, but otherwise the Jaguar is a genuinely impressive packaging job. For a British car it adopts a groundbreaking competence in ergonomics, with all switches, minor controls and access points being intuitive to operate. Rear legroom isn’t the best, especially if there are long-legged drivers up front, but that’s par for the course in this class. What isn’t is the enormous boot, 452 litres being a Jaguar record. Get a bit brutal with the right hand pedal and, with a 3.0-litre underneath you, you’ll despatch 60mph in 6.9 seconds, the X-TYPE launching off the line without drama whilst making a strident high-pitched yelp as the gearbox hangs onto each gear, peak power arriving at a stratospheric 6800rpm. The 231bhp engine will punch the car up to 143mph, although this sort of driving won’t get you near Jaguar’s combined fuel consumption figure of 27mpg. Despite it’s stiff, no-nonsense chassis feel and tight suspension, the luxury accoutrements and unwilling steering and transmission of the SE version don’t encourage press-on driving, all of which make the Sport variant a far more satisfying model. The 2.5-litre is less satisfying for the keen driver, with the 2.0-litre being surprisingly zippy, able to hit 60mph in 8.9 seconds and keep going until 130mph.
Used Jaguar X-Type for sale

Buying a Jaguar X-Type

If your last experience with a Jaguar was one of the unlovely XJ40 models from the eighties, then it may be time to reacquaint yourself with the brand. Some of the first cars were a little looser in terms of internal fit and finish than Jaguar would have cared to admit but the production experience curve soon saw to any minor niggles. In most respects there’s no appreciable quality difference between an X-TYPE and a Mercedes C-Class. No significant mechanical issues have been raised, reflected by Jaguar’s enviable results in recent J D Power surveys.
Used Jaguar X-Type for sale

Jaguar X-Type Typical Pricing

Whereas once the values of used Jaguars fell quicker than Michael Owen in the opposition box, these days Jag residuals are reasonably perky. Great news if you’re the one with your details on the V5, not such good news if you’re sniffing about looking for a bargain. The X-TYPE starts at around £4,800 for an X-TYPE 2.5 with the Sport and SE versions worth an additional £400. Should you hanker after the 3.0-litre, you’ll need to dredge up at least £5,300. The 2.0-litre models are a good intro for those on a tighter budget, starting at around £5,375 for 2001 51 plated examples. The 2.0-litre diesels are available from £7,950 on 2003 plates. Insurance is pretty easy to work out. The 2.0-litre models are Group 14, the 2.5s Group 15 and the 3.0s fall into Group 16.
Used Jaguar X-Type for sale

Jaguar X-Type Parts

(approx based on 2001 X-TYPE 3.0) Spares for the X-TYPE hover around the compact executive average although you won’t have quite so many ‘parallel’ imports of pattern parts if you want to cut corners. Given the fact that pub bores may denigrate it as a Mondeo, nipping down to your local Ford dealer to pick up spares is often likely to result in a wasted journey. Front brake pads are around £45, whilst rears are £30. Expect to have to fork out around £175 for a new clutch assembly and around £485 for a new exhaust system. A replacement headlamp unit costs around £220.
Used Jaguar X-Type for sale

Jaguar X-Type Rated

Performance Performance 3 out of 5

Comfort

Handling

Economy

Styling

Equipment

Build

Depreciation Depreciation 3 out of 5

Insurance

Value

Jaguar X-Type Review2001 To Date