Great in the snow
Great looks
Quality built interior

Poor customer service from Jaguar
Uses premium gasoline
Too many problems for the amount of miles

Purchased 2004 Xtype in January 2005, with 800 miles. The looks of the car are GREAT but that is about IT. Had trouble from about 3,000 miles and Jaguar did NOTHING....rust on the trunk where the trim is.....had it repainted TWICE but the trim will still rub against the paint which means it will still rust. Also had the whining noise but at any speed. They said I needed new tires at around 8K.... also had the drive shaft replaced which did NOTHING to the whining noise..Found out later that the conti tires may have been the problem. A close family member who deals with the conti tires say there are problems with them. Also in the winter the radio lights would flicker. I finally had ENOUGH and traded it.

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Acceleration from 20mph on up, ride quality, HANDLING, gas mileage, appearance. The AWD and variable valve timing is positively exhilirating and noticeable.

Clutch takes a while to "get acclimated to," acceleration from stop (1st gear) is just a bit weak (from 20mph on, its fine)

I had searched around for a used XK8 for a few months when a dealer finally suggested I take an X-Type for a spin... the rest was history. After driving the 3.0 auto and the 2.5 manual, I decided the get-up-and-go of the 2.5 was both sportier and gave me a more enjoyable ride. If you search long enough, you can find a 3.0 manual- but these are rare since the automatic comes standard on the 3.0 (i.e., you don't save money by going with the manual). Besides the styling, ride, airbags, trunk space, Leaper on the hood, and the price ($20k for a car with 13k is a bargain)- the warranty was the clincher. When you purchase a certified used X-Type, you receive a 6 year 100k bumper to bumper warranty from the original purchase date. In effect, I had a 87k/4.5 year warranty (which includes free oil changes up to 50k). I've had my X since Feb '05 and have lived in Tampa and Dallas with it. Its the first AWD car I've owned, and I have yet to break the traction (well, except for the ice storm we had in November). I have the "standard" Jaguar (not the sport model), but the handling is superior to any car I've ever owned. If I ever do get myself into trouble in a corner, its nice to know the entire inside of the car turns into a wrap-around airbag. My wife and two kids ride comfortably even on long trips, and I've gotten 23mpg with mainly stop and go traffic (gets about 28 on the highway). Jaguar service in two states has been outstanding (punctured a tire and had a vent replaced- other than that, not a single problem). The only "downer" would be the fact that the integrated telephone controls only work on a Motorola that you can only purchase through Jaguar (I don't think they even sell the phone anymore). For 2003 on up, you can have Bluetooth installed which will integrate with some cells. The radio controls (and especially the auto-climate controls) are just great. Anyway, I trade cars fairly often and after a year with this car I haven't had the slightest itch. My next car will defintely be the XK8- but I'm guessing I'll drive this car for at least 3 years (which is an eternity for me). Finally, you rarely see X-Types on the road. My office parking lot has at least 10 BMW 3 series, only 2 Jaguars.

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Have had various sports cars- Camaros, Mustangs, etc... Will never return- Jag forever.

Feels well-built and as new with 43,000 miles. Classy leather/wood interior RWD "feel" J-Gate shifter unique and intuitive. AWD capability Security of 6 year/100,000 mile warranty

No "retained power" feature. CD player in trunk Don't lose the keys!! Replacements are $300.00 !!!

I bought the Quartz-colored 2003 X-Type 2.5 with around 43,000 miles as a Jaguar "Certified" Used car. It's impossible to tell it's not a new car. There is nothing in the price range of under $20,000 that compares to it in terms of class and style. As other reviewers have noted, it stills smells new inside even though it's over 3 years old. It's reasonably economical and the all weather capability with its AWD makes it the perfect vehicle for the car nuts among us who have felt we need two vehicles; one that's capable in adverse weather conditions, and another that gives us the driving satisfaction a sports car provides. The Jaguar X-Type has that delightful rear wheel drive sports car "feel" and will still pull itself out of deep snow. When I testdrove it with a buddy of mine, his comment was "Why couldn't General Motors figure out how to make something like this?"

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BMW 325 All Wheel Drive Infiniti G35x All Wheel Drive Both much more expensive without the Jaguar's classy interior appointments.

AWD, ride and handling, large trunk.

Excessive road noise

After reading reviews on this Website, I bought a 3.0 liter with automatic transmission. The car has just turned 9,000 miles and I am well satisfied with it. The ride and handling are superb. The engine has adequate power, and I especially like the ease of downshifting using the "J" shifter. This is a very solid car, and the fit and finish are excellent. Mileage on the Interstate exceeds 26 mpg. The trunk is huge for this size car, and can accomodate 4 sets of golf clubs. The fingertip climate control system is easy to operate and very efficient. The stereo system is also very good. The appearance is impressive, and if you want an affordable Jag, this is the car for you. I've had this car back to the Rahal dealership twice for service, and couldn't have been treated better. The only problems I've had are a slight whining noise around 60-70 mph, and also what I thought might have been bearing noise. The dealer installed a liner (noise blanket) somewhere under the car which pretty much took care of the whine. The wheel bearings checked OK, so they did a wheel realignment in an attempt to reduce the noise, but it didn't help much. The road noise, I believe, is excessive. Maybe it's the tires. The other problem was rust below the chrome strip on the trunk. According to the dealer, this strip was installed on the X type cars without a rubber strip between the chrome strip and the trunk, so the chrome digs into the paint on the trunk. If you own an X type, it would be good idea to check this out, and have it corrected, if necessary.

I will highlight one very important strength: SAFETY. The exact ratings escape my memory, but the X-Type received high marks in front and side impact crash tests. There are airbags in the steering wheel, passenger dash, over the windows in the front and the back and in the door frames specifically for side impact crashes. I feel safe in my car and I feel safe driving passengers anywhere and at anytime. Accidents happen, it's a fact of life. However, Jaguar has taken the necessary steps to make sure that an accident in an X-Type is just an unfortunate event and not a tragic event.

I'll address two weaknesses. The first is a weakness that I don't necessarily agree with, but I can see the point. The backseat leg room is sufficient for people under 6 feet in height. However, for friends and family over 6 feet, make sure they call shotgun and sit in front. Leg room in the backseat for them would be quite lean. Then again, the X-Type isn't a boat like those big Cadillacs and Lincoln Towncars, so you should not be expecting a lot of leg room to begin with. But the real knock I have is the stereo system. It came with a tape player! I had to put a Pioneer CD Changer in the trunk. Who listens to tapes anymore? I figured that a 2002 edition of any car would have a CD player. So, when looking at an X-Type, keep in the back of your mind that you may be making a trip to Best Buy or Circuit City to put in a CD player of some kind, unless you still have those WhiteSnake cassette tapes you got for your birthday in 1987!

"What a gorgeous car!" Get used to comments like that if you choose to purchase a Jaguar X-Type. This car deserves a pat on the back, and if you think you deserve a pat on the back, then owning an X-Type is your reward. The Jaguar X-Type that I own is a 2002, 2.5 liter Sport Edition. The car has leather/heated/power seats, power windows and locks, power sunroof that tips up or slides back completely, power mirrors, All Wheel Drive, Diagnostic Slip Control, Sport Shifting (I just use the automatic transmission), folding rear seats and reverse sensors in the rear bumper. Jaguar certainly knows how to spoil a driver! I have owned my X-Type for 7 months. I read a lot of reviews before purchasing this car. Owner reviews were important to me in making my final decision. Professional car reviews tended to focus on issues that are foreign to most real buyers, so I certainly hope that this review will aid in your purchase decision. With that said, let's talk about the X-Type. PERFORMANCE-The X-Type comes with two engine choices; the 2.5 liter V-6 and the 3.0 liter V-6. I test drove cars with both engines, and will tell you that the 3.0 has more punch. However, the 2.5 liter engine delivers a knock-out punch of its own. It's like comparing the punches of Mike Tyson (The 3.0 liter) and Sugar Ray Leonard (the 2.5 liter): Tyson may be bigger, but Sugar Ray will still knock you into next week all the same. The engine in my X-Type is the 2.5 liter and I can attest to the following attributes: I've gotten 29-32 miles per gallon on the freeway & usually 22 mpg in the city. I find that extremely nice with a V-6. Passing power and acceleration are impressive. Handling with the AWD is fantastic. Body roll in tight curves is minimal and you feel like you're in a sports car instead of a sedan....thus the reason the X-Type is a true sports sedan! Don't let this go to your head. You may feel invincible behind the wheel, but everyone is subject to accidents, and you wouldn't want to put a dent into a beautiful machine like this. Over-all, when it comes to performance, it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. The X-Type embodies that phrase. EXTERIOR STYLING-The knock on the X-Type has been that it has the outline of a Ford Taurus. Park a Jaguar next to a Taurus or Mercury Sable and you will see a similarity. However, who only looks at the outline? The curves of the X-Type are purely Jaguar. My favorite angle is from the front. The hood has wonderful curves that form right into the headlamps. The lines of the car from front to back are bold and form into a trunk and tail that has the signature Jaguar tail lights. The over-all look of an X-Type is quite similar to its larger family members like the S-Type. You know that this car is a Jag when it drives by. When my cousin, Ben, first saw my car, he said, "Boy, that car's got attitude." I think he hit the nail on the head. INTERIOR APPOINTMENTS-The X-Type wraps you in leather and sophistication. It feels, looks, and smells like a luxury car. I bought mine pre-owned and it still smelled new. (It's the leather in my opinion.) The gauges are easy to read and all of the stereo and Climate Control buttons are easy to reach. Buttons for cruise control, radio volume, etc. are in the steering wheel as well. The cockpit is laid out nicely and looks great. I've gotten more compliments on the interior than I have on the exterior of this car! The one "neat" thing that I like about the interior is that there is a nightlight that illuminates the interior when it's dark outside. The light is in the control panel for the sunroof. The control panel is on the ceiling just infront of the sunroof. The nightlight bathes the front seats in a soft yellow illumination that allows you to see everything you need, but is not distracting in the least. That's just plain "neat." THE FEEL-Driving a Jaguar is a wonderful feeling. I can't say enough about this. This is why: I drove a 1988 Ford Escort from the time I was 16 until I was 26. I then bought a 1998 Plymouth Neon and drove that for 3 years. Both cars were great on gas, which has always been a concern of mine. I loved both of those cars, especially my first car. The Jag is definitely a step up, in performance and in feel. I've worked hard to get through college and to get into the first decade of my career. I felt like I should spoil myself with a car at some point, and I've finally done it with the X-Type. But, I've never lost sight of the value of a dollar! I bought my X-Type off lease. In the two years it was leased by the previous owner, the car depreciated 46%. New, my car would have cost (tax and title) $39,000. I bought it for $21,400 with 32,000 miles. I have friends who have spent over $21,000 for brand new cars that are ordinary in design and reputation. A brand new car is only brand new for a short time, but a Jag is a Jag forever.

SAFETY - check out the NHTSA ratings and compare to BMW 300 series! AWD standard leather, powered moonroof, AWD HUGE trunk space (good for family) 17" tires precise, agile handling (grace under pressure) very comfy seats plenty of room in back (compared to BMW 300 series) stylish design, unmistakable

because everything else in the interior is so top-shelf awesome, the usual plastic cup holder and door handles, etc seem a bit off, but its no worse than your normal car parts

My wife and I researched cars quite a bit before buying this Jaguar. The general comments from the snobbish reviewers were disappointing. But we ignored them and gave it a test drive. The moment I was behind the wheel and on the road, my decision was made. Don't listen to the snobbish reviewers! We bought this car fully loaded - luxury package, with both front seats heated, rear parking sensor, etc. Everything works as advertised. The main point I want to make concerns the snobbish reviewers who keep comparing it to that itsy bitsy little BMW hatchback 300 series. Oh, its not a hatchback? Sorry, easy mistake to make. I see these 300 series cars on every corner. They are SO tiny! Where do these snobbish reviewers get off saying the Jaguar X-Type has a similar or same amount of room?! Crazy. Let's put it this way - you could easily fit a family of four in a Jaguar X-Type. In a 300 Series? Yeah, maybe, for like a 10 minute drive to the store, before the kids start pulling each other's hair out. Ok, size not an issue? Let's talk NHTSA crash test results. The X-Type comes with every airbag known to man. You got curtains, side doors, passenger side, etc. BMW? Don't think so. Jaguar X-Type scored 4 stars in every category. BMW? Nope. As a matter of fact, the 300 series had serious safety concerns noted for one of the categories. You going to trust your loved ones in that tiny danger box? Not me. Ok, let's talk price. Here's another one the snobbish reviewers get 100% completely wrong. Just pull up the stats on the web and see for yourself. I did it just a few minutes ago. I added up all the ameneties we have on our fully-loaded Jaguar and guess what - the BMW is thousands, THOUSANDS more expensive! PLUS, it doesn't come with AWD! Let's talk AWD. I've never had an AWD vehicle before. But, living in a mountain state, I figure it will come in handy. BMW? Not even an option from what I could see. The Jag has a death grip on the pavement. I am truly amazed at how the car feels with that immense grip. Its a truly conforting feel on those sleety days when you're on the freeway trying to pass a double-decker semi-trailer doing 75 mph. Let's face it, the truck driver probably won't even see your tiny BMW 300 series. Sorry for the rant, but as you can tell, I am fed up with the reviewers. Its just like movies - most reviewers have their own little pet peeves and favorites and they aren't anything like us. The snobs point out the little plastic parts in the Jaguar cupholders, etc. Who cares? It holds the cup, right? It doesn't determine whether I have a good day or bad day, whether I swerve and end up in a ditch turned around 180 degrees, whether I can fit ALL of my parents' luggage in the trunk when we pick them up from the airport. . . They cry about how WONDERFUL the BMW 300 series handles compared to the Jaguar. Who are these people? Its like apples and oranges! AWD v. rear wheel drive? Tiny hatchback v. sedan? I'm no car expert, but these seem like some pretty BIG differences to me. If you read the reviews closely, you will see they all say the X-Type handles very well and the AWD is gripping (sorry for the pun). In summary, forget the hype. Get a real car, not what everyone and their brother has. If you drive a BMW 300 series, I'm sorry you bought into the hype. Trade it in for an X-Type and start living life a little. Buy a Jaguar for its style, for its statement. It exudes success and refinement. What does the BMW 300 series exude? You're just like all the rest? The X-Type is perfect for 20-somethings or 30-somethings buying their first luxury car. Our next car will also be chosen from the same parking lot this one came from, just maybe a size or two bigger.

All-wheel drive Good fuel economy for a midsize car Excellent seat comfort on long trips Superb handling Good sound system Nice styling Good warranty and service package Fit and finish is flawless

Needs premium fuel Tires are not cheap Two separate dash displays are complicated to program/operate

Reluctantly bought this car after my wife fell in love with it. Turns out it is a great car and a good value. The car was purchased with 20k miles, and has the Premium Package w/folding rear seats, sunroof, heated leather, 5-speed auto. Although I was skeptical about the 2.5L, it has excellent power. The car is very fast and requires attention so as not to exceed speed limits. Handling, in a word, is exceptional, as is braking. Gas mileage is about 28-29 on the highway with four passengers and a full load of luggage. City is about 21 mpg. Fit and finish is flawless. It also has, by far, the best auto climate control I have ever used. The defogger is so powerful it will dry your hair in the front seats! The only minor problem so far was a sticky driver door lock mechanism that was replaced under warranty. Service at Rahal Jaguar has been flawless and very friendly. Although I have driven Fords for many years, the Jaguar is not really a Ford. It has many Ford-like qualities I appreciate - quietness, good suspension, good breaking and handling, etc., but in the end, it has the elegance, performance, and feel of a Jaguar.

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'94 & '97 Acura Integras - both good cars but not as practical or as capable as the Jag. '96 Taurus LX - not sporty, but reliable and inexpensive to maintain.

Looks, preformance and quality

None

This is my 2nd X type, having now upgraded from a manual 2.0 to a 2.5 Auto. Having always had an affinity for the marque the X type has the looks and preformance at an affordable price. The interior and ride quality are all I expected from a jaguar. The build quality and reliability is faultless and I expect to remain an X type driver for many years

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None - previously had 4X4s

All-Wheel-Drive, sport suspension, premium 320 watt 10-speaker Alpine sound system, classy luxury interior with sport seats, awesome Jaguar styling and the leaper on the bonnet.

None

I've wanted to own this automobile since it first came out for the 2002 model year but was turned back by the price after adding on the desired options. After doing some research and comparison in February 2004 with rivals 330xi and Audi A4 Quattro, I decided to take the plunge into the Jag world. I felt that after taking the sum of all the factors, especially the price, the X-Type came out at the top. Pricewise, I was fortunate enough to qualify for the Ford Business Partner program whise pricing puts me at invoice plus 4%. Coincidentally, Jaguar was offering a manufacturer-to-dealer incentive of $3,250 (which was passed on to me) during the time I was looking. This resulted in my acquisition of a 2004 X-Type 3.0 Automatic with the Sport and Premium Packages, Heated Seats, and Reverse Park Aid for $33,144. (The BMW equivalent was almost $10k more). I love the 18" with Pirelli PZero Nero high-performance wheels. At first I didn't think I would need the Reverse Park Aid but now I enjoy having this due to my crowded garage. I haven't had the need to use the heated seats yet.

Fun to drive, safety features are outstanding

Gas mileage was a bit suspect, lack of an inside trunk hatch is annoying

Absolutely loved this car. People definitely notice this car - as a driver in his mid-30's - people definitely wonder what I'm doing driving a JAG. Here is the big plus that rarely gets mentioned: the safety features are awesome. My wife had the unfortunate luck to get sideswiped into a large stoplight pole at 45mph. The 3 airbags (the front, side and side curtains) probably saved her life. In the hospital, she insisted that we replace it with an identical car. We did.

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