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Introduction |
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The
X-Type, better known as the baby-Jag, was launched to be a competitor
for the popular BMW E46 3-Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class
and the Audi A4. Under the hood there was a 2.0, 2.5 or a 3.0 V6
engine. In order to raise its sales figure in Europe, Jaguar had
to introduce a more economic engine.
So they did with the
2.0 TDCi from Ford, which we already know from the Mondeo, got
a place between the X-Type’s front wheels.
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Chassis |
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 This
car is immediately recognisable as a Jaguar: the typical Jaguar
nose and rear end are present on this little one also. These
are the same unmistakable curves as the first XJ from the late
sixties. The car itself makes a very robust and luxurious appearance.
Driving a Jaguar is still something exclusive. Although we are
driving the least expensive model of the Jaguar fleet, people
turn their heads and envy us. Those who were afraid releasing
an affordable Jaguar would be the end of a strong reputation
can relax: you can expect all the refinement of a Jag. This certainly
isn’t a baronial Mondeo.
With a length of 4.67 meters and a width of 1.79 meters this
car is the biggest in its category… it even beats the 3-Series
by 20 centimetres in length. The luggage compartment is wide and
deep, but not high enough.
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Interior |
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The
interior of the X-Type is a jewel of style and class. The wood-inlay
is standard and the optional ‘Ivory’ leather
seats are a perfect fit. The dashboard is dominated by an optional
touch screen on the central console, which controls the Alpine
audio system with CD-changer, the easy to use GPS navigation system
and the air-conditioning. A little more space inside the car would
have been appreciated: despite it’s a five-seater, there
is only enough room for 4 adults. We are afraid that if you buy
the Classic-version, without any options, you will be disappointed… a
BMW or an Audi without leather seats, we can live with that, but
a Jaguar… no way. So if you’ll have to load up the
car to gain the luxury feeling which will cost you a lot of extra
money.
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Engine & Performance
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 The
four cylinder diesel engine has been developed by Ford. The Jaguar
engineers made it more quiet and civilised, so it fits in better
with the character of a true British prestige car. The engine comes
with 130 break horse
power and provides 330 Nm of torque. The acceleration from 0 to
100 km/h takes 9.9 seconds and the top speed is reached
at 201 km/h… which is not as fast as its direct rivals.
However, this is made up by the acceleration from 90 to 120 km/h
in 5.0
seconds in fourth gear and 6.8 seconds in fifth gear.
It comes
with a
five-speed manual gearbox standard. We don’t
really miss a sixth gear in this car, since the gear-ratio’s
are very well chosen: at 120 km/h in fifth the engine does its work
at 2.500 rpm. |
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Fuel
Consumption
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| It’s a diesel. That’s
good for countries where taxes on gasoline are very high. But what
does it consume?
We can assure you that the engineers of Ford and Jaguar made their
homework: during our test weekend we established an average of 7.8
liter/100 km, but with a gentle right foot 7 liter/100 km is very
realistic. This is a figure to be proud of. We also took note of
a maximum of 8.2 liter/100 km in the city and a minimum of 5.7 liter/100
km on the highway. With a fuel tank of 61.5 liter you can drive for
800 km before filling her up again. |
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Driving
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 An
exceptionally stiff body structure is primarily responsible for
the X-Type’s agile handling and compliant ride quality. The
steering is very direct and precise. The four-wheel independent
suspension delivers a high degree of inherent stability as well,
although it has trouble with sudden bumps in the road. We do regret
that this X-Type is only front-wheel driven and that it doesn’t
come with four-wheel drive like the 2.5 en 3.0 models.
With the
large amount of torque it’s difficult to get the power to
the ground… especially
on a wet trajectory where the traction control is working it’s
ass off to prevent wheel spin. What also bothered us was that the
nose goes up and down too much while accelerating or braking. |
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Comfort
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The
diesel engine is very quiet, also inside. Together with the comfortable
suspension, it’s a pleasure to drive, also for a longer
time. The air-conditioning does its job pretty well, but is not
separated for driver and passenger. If paid for
extra, the seats can be adjusted in 10 different ways, electrical
off course. On the other hand, the brake and throttle pedal are
to close together so it did happen that we pushed them both at
the same time. We had some trouble with the alarm-system also:
it activates itself after a couple of minutes when you stop the
car, but it doesn’t lock the doors... so if you don’t
push the unlock button again, the alarm goes off when you want
to get back in.
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Price & Equipment
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 You
can have an X-Type starting from €26,350… that’s
a very competitive price if you compare it to the €27,500
of a BMW 320d, the €26.850 of the Audi A4 1.9 TDI or the €30,371
of the Mercedes C220 CDI.
But for a Jaguar, we aren’t satisfied, so we choose for the
more aggressive Sport-version or the luxurious Executive like our
test car, costing €31,200. Like this it comes standard with
16” alloys, fog lights in the front bumper, chrome around the
windows and on the bumpers, a leather interior, a central armrest,
fully electrical windows in the front and the back, automatic air-conditioning,
cruise-control, an Alpine sound system with 6 speakers and CD-player,
an army of airbags with a sensor-system and the remote controlled
alarm-system. |
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| That
looks more like it, but there is more we think a Jaguar needs:
a cold climate pack with xenon headlights, heated seats and a defrost
function for the front windshield (€1,650). A dynamic stability
control (€500). Those great seats adjustable in 10 ways (€540),
preferably in even nicer ‘Ivory’ leather (€1,100).
The more aggressive 17” alloys (€1,390) and off course
the GPS navigation system, with beautiful touch screen on the central
console (€2,940)… There is much more, giving the car we drove a price tag of €43,975. Quiet
expensive, but again, it’s a real Jaguar you are driving. |
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| Story
and images by Frederick Valkenborgh from AutoTester. |
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| Specifications |
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Engine
& Transmission
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| Type |
Inline
4, 16-valves |
| Location |
Front,
transversely-mounted |
| Displacement |
1998
cc / 121.9 cu in |
| Bore |
86.0
x 3.39 in |
| Stroke |
86.0
x 3.39 in |
| Compression
ratio |
18.2:1 |
| Power |
96.9
kW / 130.0 bhp at 1800
rpm |
| Torque |
330.0
Nm / 243.4 ft lbs at 3800 rpm |
| Drive |
Front
wheel drive |
| Transmission |
5-speed
manual |
| Front
brakes |
Ventilated
discs |
| Rear
brakes |
Solid
discs |
| Steering |
Rack
and pinion, hydraulic power assistance |
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Performance
& Fuel Economy
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| 0
- 62 mph |
9.9
seconds |
| 0
- 100 mph |
Not
Available |
| 0
- ¼ mile |
17.6
seconds |
| Top
Speed |
201.0
kph / 124.9 mph |
| EPA city |
7,5
l/100 km |
| EPA
highway |
4,5
l/100 km |
| EPA
combined |
5,6
l/100 km |
| Our
driving |
7,8
l/100 km |
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Dimensions
& Weight
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| Length |
4672
mm / 183.9 in |
| Width |
1789
mm / 70.4 in |
| Height |
1392
mm / 54.8 in |
| Wheelbase |
2710
mm / 106.7 in |
| Front
track |
1522
mm / 59.9 in |
| Rear
track |
1537
mm / 60.5 in |
| Front
tyres |
205/55-R16 |
| Rear
tyres |
205/55-R16 |
| Kerb
weigth |
1502
kg / 3311 lbs |
| Max.
permitted weigth |
2025
kg / 4464 lbs |
| Seating
capacity |
5 seats |
| Trunk
volume
min / max |
452
liter |
| Fuel
capacity |
61,5
liter |
| Spare
wheel |
Emergency
spare wheel |
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Price
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| Available
from |
€26,350
(2.0 Diesel Classic) |
| Base
price test car |
€31,200
(2.0 Diesel Executive) |
| Price
as tested |
€43,975 |
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Verdict
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True
British prestige car |
| Luxury
and driving comfort |
| Base
price |
| Fuel
economy |
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Operation
of the alarm-system |
| Price
full-option |
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