Jaguar XJ Review: Reliability, Problems & Buying Guide

When it comes to executive sedans, German flagships come to mind first: Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, or Mercedes-Benz S-Class. However, for connoisseurs of originality and British style, there's an alternative --- Jaguar XJ, a purebred representative of English automotive engineering that offers a unique combination of luxury, technology, and distinctive design.

History and Model Positioning

The Jaguar XJ X351 series debuted in spring 2010 and represents the fourth generation of large sedans from the British marque. During production, the model underwent several modernizations, the most significant of which took place in 2015. Interestingly, Jaguar positioned its newcomer not as a direct competitor to the German trio, but rather as an alternative to the Porsche Panamera.

That's precisely why designers endowed the XJ with an impressive coupe-like silhouette that distinguishes it among traditional executive sedans. This solution gives the car a dynamic and modern appearance, but beauty came at the cost of practicality.

Design and Body Features

The foundation of XJ construction became a bonded aluminum body, with most parts made from lightweight alloys. The front section of the car is made from magnesium alloys, which provides significant weight reduction but complicates repair in case of serious damage.

Warning sign: Aluminum trim, including moldings around windows, may lose its original appearance over time due to natural material aging. This is a feature characteristic of many premium automobiles with abundant aluminum elements.

The coupe-like body shape affected trunk volume --- 520 liters. For a golf-class sedan, this is an excellent indicator, but for an executive car, it's rather normal. Problems are added by the narrow opening and complex relief of the internal trunk space.

Interior and Comfort

When planning to use the XJ as a chauffeur-driven car, one should consider the features of the rear seats. Legroom is truly regal, but headroom is limited due to the sloping roofline. This is a compromise for the sake of stylish silhouette.

The base equipment of XJ may seem modest for the premium segment. Jaguar relatively recently mastered electric drive for side window shades, while four-zone climate control and rear seat heating were long offered as options.

One of the interesting features of XJ is the rotary gear selector knob for the automatic transmission. It should rise from the depths of the central tunnel when starting the engine, but sometimes the mechanism may malfunction.

Panoramic Roof and Its Features

The panoramic roof is one of the notable XJ options, but its mechanism initially had built-in structural play. When driving over bumps, noise could be heard from above. The manufacturer released several repair kits, finally solving the problem by 2013.

Electronic Systems Reliability

Cars from the first years of production were distinguished by "raw" electronics. Over time, the situation improved, but even on relatively fresh examples, Jaguar's electronic systems remain quite capricious. Therefore, thorough diagnostics before purchase is mandatory.

Critical issue: The problem of rapid battery discharge was solved by updating the charge control system software. After this, the car began to distribute energy resources more rationally, although XJ still doesn't welcome prolonged music listening without starting the engine.

Interior Materials

The quality of finishing materials corresponds to premium status but requires careful handling. Natural leather on seats may show signs of wear after just 100,000 kilometers of mileage. Wood veneer is also prone to peeling with improper care.

Engine Lineup

5.0-liter V8

The flagship 5.0-liter V8 from the third generation of Jaguar's AJ-V8 series is a successful and generally reliable unit. The main problem is related to the timing mechanism drive. Design flaws in the hydraulic chain tensioner could lead to chain sagging and damage to the variable valve timing system gear shoes by 50,000 km mileage.

Critical maintenance: To solve this congenital problem, the manufacturer conducted five design updates, the last of which was dated 2013. New-design parts can be installed even on older engines.

With proper maintenance, the 5.0-liter V8 shows high reliability. Direct injection requires regular cleaning of fuel injectors and throttle body, as well as timely spark plug replacement.

Failure point: The weak point is the cooling system pump. Officially, from 2014, the pump design gained necessary tightness, however, in practice, complaints are encountered even on relatively fresh automobiles.

3.0-liter V6

There's a myth that the three-liter V6 is a Ford Duratec series engine. In reality, the Jaguar six-cylinder is a truncated version of the five-liter V8. This engine can also be purchased quite confidently.

Warning sign: The supercharged variant has a feature --- not very durable supercharger drive. Specialized services can replace the spring damper or install a homemade nylon coupling instead of buying a new compressor assembly.

3.0-liter Diesel V6

The three-liter diesel is familiar from Land Rover SUVs. Its main problem is sudden bearing shell spinning or even crankshaft destruction. The manufacturer claims the problem was solved by a major 2014 revision, when the unit received upgraded short block and oil pump.

Critical warning: However, diesel engines newer than 2014 don't guarantee absence of problems. Major overhaul may be required at mileages from 100,000 km. The reason lies in unsuccessful crankshaft design and oil pump.

Another problem of the diesel engine is rapid seizing of variable geometry turbine's moving vanes. Although fuel economy is attractive, diesel XJ is not the best choice for long-term operation.

Transmission

Initially, Jaguar equipped XJ with a six-speed ZF automatic, although a more modern eight-speed version already existed at the time of premiere. Practically everything is known about this unit, including main weak points.

Main problems of the six-speed:

• Solenoid block gasket prone to leaks
• Hydraulic block seal with resource of about 3 years
• Plastic pan that begins deforming after 100-150 thousand km

Later, the British switched to eight-speed ZF boxes. They retained problems with pans and gaskets, but overall this variant is more reliable than its predecessor and usually withstands at least 250,000 km with regular oil changes every 60,000 km.

Common failure point: A common problem of all XJs is leaking tubes of the automatic transmission cooling system. On diesel versions, due to unsuccessful placement, the transmission cooling radiator quickly gets clogged with dirt.

All-Wheel Drive

All-wheel drive XJ versions are not so common, but they exist. The 4x4 transmission is built on the basis of Magna transfer case with multi-disc clutch. The unit itself is quite reliable, but all-wheel drive XJ will cost more to maintain.

All-wheel drive cars have their own subframe, steering knuckles, engine mounting points, and exhaust system. The right driveshaft passes through the engine crankcase. All these are rare and expensive parts.

Regular rear-wheel drive sedans are subject to only one transmission problem --- oil may seep through drive seals and tailshaft. If the level is not restored in time, this will lead to final drive failure.

Suspension

On good roads, suspension lives minimum 120,000 km, but active operation can halve the resource. Usually, front control arm bushings fail first, causing the car to produce characteristic sounds when driving over bumps.

Expensive repair: Front wheel bearings serve maximum 70,000 km. Their replacement is an expensive undertaking since the manufacturer offers only complete hub assemblies.

Instead of springs, XJ has pneumatic elements installed, which behave decently up to 150,000 km. However, air-leaking bags are harbingers of expensive repair. With a leaky system, the compressor won't last long. Additionally, the pneumatic suspension control system may produce various electronic errors.

Purchase Recommendations

When choosing a used XJ, the main thing is the condition of the specific automobile, not mileage or year of manufacture. Thorough diagnostics of all electronic blocks and checking software currency is mandatory.

The ideal option is a car from one owner who properly maintained it. Even finding such an example, one must be prepared that Jaguar XJ is a complex and demanding automobile.

Service Maintenance

XJ maintenance should be conducted in specialized services familiar with British automobile peculiarities. Allowing inexperienced hands near this machine is categorically unacceptable.

The English aristocrat is peculiar, capricious, and requires appropriate treatment. It shouldn't be considered as the only daily driver --- this is rather a car for special occasions and true connoisseurs of British style.

Conclusion

Jaguar XJ is a car for those who value originality and are ready to tolerate certain features of British character. This is not just transportation, but an embodiment of the brand's philosophy, where traditions combine with modern technologies.

With proper specimen selection and competent maintenance, XJ can long please its owner with its inimitable style and character. The main thing is to approach the purchase thoughtfully and be prepared for the peculiarities of operating a premium British sedan.

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