2005 Jaguar X-Type Mid-Size Luxury Sedan and Wagon

Base MSRP Range: $30,830 - $36,330

Base Invoice Range: $28,056 - $33,061

Options & Features
Price Quote
New Car Prices
Used Car Prices
Payment Calculator
Rebates & Incentives
Trade In Values
Find A Dealer
Financing
Insurance Rates
Sell Your Car

-->

MSRP As Tested: Not Available

Versions: Base, VDP, Sportwagon and Sport

Vehicle Category: Mid-Size Sedan and Wagon

Engine Location: Front Engine

Drive Wheels: Two-Wheel Drive and optional All-Wheel Drive.

Engine as Tested: 3.0-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 24-valves, ">V-6, 227-horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 206 lb-ft torque at 3,000 rpm.

Transmission As Tested: 5-speed Manual optional 5-speed Automatic. .

Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 5-speed manual 18/28, 5-speed automatic 18/25.

Standard Safety Features: Dual-level driver and passenger airbags, Side Curtain Airbags ">Antilock Brake System, electronic brake force distribution, Tire pressure monitor.

Competition: Volvo V50, Audi A3, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS300 Sportwagon.

Review

Jaguar introduced the X Type in August of 2001 to give the British automaker a car that could compete in the entry-level, luxury market against the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C Class and the Lexus IS and ES models. Unfortunately the X-Type has not captured buyers the way the company hoped. They have sold nearly 200,000 since launch, rather than selling that number each year, as was the original plan.

Part of the reason for lack-luster sales is the styling. It is old, reflecting Jaguar's past, rather than looking forward to the company's future. The target audience for this segment is younger, tech-savvy, and brand loyal. Jaguar can capture some of that audience -- necessary for the brand to survive, and grow -- but it will take a technological leap to do it.

There have been several changes to the X-Type lineup for 2005. Now there are now four versions of the car available: the 3.0, Sport, VDP and SportWagon. The new VDP model, or Vanden Plas, provides a higher level of luxury to the X Type, and the wagon is designed to provide more utility. The VDP treatment is a first, for the X Type.

The SportWagon is the first wagon ever sold by Jaguar, during their entire history (odd because we could swear they sold an estate wagon, but it might have been a chop job.) They have become very popular in the last few years with models introduced by BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Saab and Lexus. Jaguar is late to the game, but probably not too late. Baby boomers think of wagons as "mommy cars" because that's what their parents drove. But that isn't the case with Gen X and Y. Their parents drove minivans and SUVs. Jaguar thus has a chance to pull in some younger buyers with this product.

A supercharged, high-performance version of the X Type R was also in development. But the project was quashed as Jaguar sales dwindled. This is unfortunate as we really like the XJR. An R version of the X Type would give the car credibility with performance-minded buyers who will look at the BMW M3, Audi S4 and the Mercedes-Benz C Class AMG. The R treatment is necessary if Jaguar wants a performance-halo car to increase traffic in Jaguar dealerships.

Exterior

The 2002 Jaguar X Type marked the company's entrance into a new segment. Design was limited because the company believed it needed a car instantly recognizable as a Jaguar. The X Type took lots of design cues, including hood shape and headlights, from the XJ. The X looked like a shrunken XJ. It was one of the last cars designed under the guidance of Jaguar's long-time director of styling, the late Geoff Lawson.

BMW and Audi reach for edgier designs with each new model. They know the challenge is to catch the eye of design savvy, style conscious, entry-level luxury buyers. Jaguar needs to deliver cutting edge, modern styling to really compete with its Teutonic rivals. Jaguar would attract more attention if they moved the design of the X Type SportWagon more toward that of the Volvo V50.

The new SportWagon has the same front facsia as the sedan. But the car is very different from the B pillar on. The wagon back slopes down to the rear bumper, and is attractive. The passenger doors are larger than those in the sedan. But the overall design is a little on the bulky side and not as sleek as the competition.

Interior

Jaguar tried to give the the X Type the same luxurious interior as its, more expensive, sister the XJ. While it isn't the same, it is a good approximation.

The layout of the dashboard and instrument panel is similar to the XJ. Under a low-rise cowl is the main instrument cluster. On the base model and VDP there is a wood-veneer dash. The Sport gets a carbon fiber treatment. Below the center HVAC vents, the stack houses the screen for the optional navigation system, and other controls. Analog controls for the HVAC are below the screen, but above the audio controls. The center console contains the gear selector and an old-style, lever-type emergency brake.

The front seats have leather seating surfaces. They are very comfortable providing good support for long drives. There is an optional material for the sedan called Alcantara that feels like suede but is vastly more durable. It is not available in the SportWagon.

The X Type has more front-seat leg room than its competitors. But the bottom of the dash board hangs so low it decreases the size of the footwell. It feels like your knees are up against the dash, too close to it in the case of an crash.

The rear of the X Type has a comfortable, 70/30-split seat that folds flat. Some competitors don't have fold flat seats. Those that don't make their sport wagons a great deal less useful. The Sport Wagon has up to 50 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. The standard cargo net can be used to hold packages andbagged groceries in place. It can also be attached to the interior roof to prevent cargo from flying forward into the passenger compartment in the case of a crash.

Vanden Plas is Jaguar’s ultra-luxurious trim level. The VDP has upgraded leather upholstery with contrasting piping accents, burl walnut trim veneer, heated seats with position memory, 10-direction adjustments, and more.

Performance

Only one engine is available in the 2005 Jaguar X Type -- unusual in a genre where most introductions have two or more engine available. The new X Type receives a 3.0-liter, DOHC, 24-valve, V6 engine with 227 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 206 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. Both a 5-speed manual and an automatic transmission are available in the sedan. The wagon comes only with an automatic transmission. And that's odd, given that the target for the vehicle are performance buyers. Most people looking for a sport wagon won't find this one sporty enough without a manual transmission.

The engine has 28 horsepower less than the Audi A4, and 2 less than the current BMW 330 models, but they have more torque. The engine is very smooth and the acceleration exciting, but it doesn't have the thrilling note of the BMW.

The transmission is smooth on up shifts, but slow to drop down when the driver stands on the peddle for passing, or getting on the freeway. The manual 2005 Jaguar X-Type with gets 18 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway, while the automatic gets 18 around town and 25 on the highway.

Ride and handling

The ride of the 2005 Jaguar X-Type is luxurious, especially for its size. It is smooth and takes bumps well without bouncing. The Sport model is stiffer but remains comfortable. The wagon's ride is almost as good as the sedan. There is a little more body flex because of the large open area, but it is nominal.

Jaguar’s Traction-4 (tm) all-wheel drive system comes standard on every X-Type. Jaguar said in the past the car wouldn't handle right without it, and it definitely helps. It makes the X Type a very good choice for people who live in areas where road conditions can get challenging. Dynamic Stability Control is optional on the Base and VDP, versions. It is standard on the Sports model.

The car's handling is competitive with the 3 Series, C Class and the Audi. We recommend getting the Sport Model. The steering is quicker and the car has less roll in turns. It provides a much more satisfying drive, and very little is lost in the way of comfort.

The car was a lot of fun on the winding mountain roads of the San Jacinto forest, above Palm Springs. Point the car into a turn and it goes exactly where you want it to. We drove the X-Type at the Atlanta Motor Speedway too. We were not confident of its handling on the infield road course, but the car was smooth and stable at 135 mph on the banked portion of the oval.

Safety

The X Type is loaded with all the safety features you would expect in an entry-level, luxury sedan. There are dual-stage, front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger. The driver gets an inflatable knee bolster. Side-curtain airbags are standard for both the front and rear passengers

X Type comes equipped with 4-wheel antilock, disc brakes with plenty of stopping power for the small Jaguar. Most people plant their foot down hard on the brake pedal and hold it down during a panic maneuver. In the case of an accident, the 2005 X Type's brake pedal collapses, so that the driver's locked-tight leg doesn’t break. Electronic brake force distribution is also included.

The 2005 Jaguar X Type received a "good" rating in the 40-mph, frontal, off-set crash test. It received a "marginal" rating on the side-impact with airbags test. It also received a "poor" rating on the rear-impact test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not tested the X Type for frontal impact. But it has received a four-star ratings for front and rear passengers in the side-impact test, and four-stars for the rollover rating.

Conclusion

The 2005 Jaguar X Type represents a competent, competitive vehicle in its class. It is a real value when compared to the all-wheel drive offerings from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but less so when compared to the Audi A4. The 2005 Jaguar X Type runs between $28,000 and $36,000. The comparable Audi A4s run between $32,828 and $36,400, the BMW 3 Series between $26,000 and $37,450, and a Mercedes-Benz C Class will cost between $32,665 and $39,150. At first glance it may look like a buyer can get into the competitors' products for less money, but their entry-level luxury cars are not V6 powered, nor do they come standard with all-wheel-drive.

Pros: Nice ride, decent handling, good value .

Cons: Not exciting, old fashioned styling.

Ratings (1-10)

• Style: 7
• Performance: 8
• Price: 9
• Handling: 8
• Ride: 8
• Comfort: 8
• Quality: 8
• Overall: 8.0

More Data

Where Built: England

Major Options: Moonroof Package, Sport Package, VDP Edition, Premium Package, Navigation System.

Seating: 5

Number of Rows: 2

Length in Inches: 106.7

Warranties: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper, 5 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection, 4 years/50.000 miles free scheduled maintenance, 4 years/50.000 miles Free roadside assistance.

Weight in Pounds: Sedan 3586, Sport Wagon 3761

Cargo Capacity in Pounds: Not Available.

Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: 3,472 - 3,616.

Towing Capacity in Pounds: Not Available.

Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 16.0

Destination Charge: $550