Well, there’s no doubt about it – Jaguars are desirable and lovely cars. I had never tested one, so was delighted when their X-Type came on the Motability scheme. A week with it has confirmed my original impressions.

To begin with, you find you are in a motor car of some substance and one that other road users around you treat with respect. It handles beautifully and has all the urge you should ever need on our busy roads with its 2.2 litre engine. Power unit choices can range from 2.0 up to 3.0 litre petrol and diesels from 2.0 to 2.2. Tested here is the 2.2 diesel model. This X-Type is new in that it has been given a fresh look in 2009, including a new automatic transmission for the 2.2 diesel – in fact, this is the first time Jaguar have paired a 2.2 with a six-speed auto box on the X-Type and this includes their Sequential Shift which is an extra optional “manual” touch, offering the chance, for instance, to hold the car in third gear down a steep hill.

Externally, the car’s revised grill gives it a purposeful look to emulate its latest “big brother” XJ model, as do many other such tweaks in the body style, including alloy wheels. However, a word of warning: I daily drive a Mercedes A-Class with alloy wheels and clipped a kerb one day. This put a dent in the allow rim. Not being a steel wheel, it could not be straightened and had to be replaced – ouch! So, if you have a car with alloy wheels, treat kerbs with special respect at all times.

This new X-Type is full of modified features including new speedometer and rev-indicator designs, reprofiled side mouldings and improved sill mouldings – and even Rosewood veneer options if you feel so inclined.

Performance is all you would expect from a Jaguar – this 2.2 diesel can reach 60mph in 8.9 seconds, which is exceptional for any “oil burner”. Top speed is stated as 134mph, but you can’t legally go for that on a UK public road – if you want to, take it down a German autobahn!

Being a big car, its kerb weight is nearly 3,500 pounds, so it’s hardly surprising that urban fuel mpg is in the lower thirties, although the combined (urban plus open road) figure quotes is a respectable 46. On the road prices are around £25,000 according to specifications, and Motability advance payments similarly range from £5,000 to £8,000. Pricey, but for it you are getting a highly desirable car which surely can only impress your neighbours!

Model
Jaguar X-Type 2.2 Diesel
0800 085 1069
www.jaguar.co.uk

Cost
£21,500-£32,245

Motability
16 Models are available through the scheme, ranging from the 2.0 diesel version to the 2.0 diesel Sovereign. Call 0800 093 1000, or visit www.motability.co.uk.

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