Vehicle: 2008 Jaguar XJ8 with DVD-based navigation system, front park control, climate front seats; heated and cooled front seats with perforated leather
Price as tested: CDN$90270

Performance: The XJ8, as its name implies, its powered by Jaguar’s normally aspirated V8 powertrain. The codenamed AJ33 4.2 liter DOHC V8 has 32 valves and variable valve control. With 300 horses and 310 lb/ft of torque for driver’s disposal, one would expect to be a powerful unit. While its certainly has more than adequate performance to motive XJ’s hefty 3726 lb beast, its level of acceleration and responsiveness are underwhelming for a luxury sedan of its caliber. Given its peers have received either a direct injection 4.2, 5.0 and 5.5 liters respectively; Jaguar engineers should massage more out of this engine in order to be more competitive. Without the use of ZF’s 6-speed automatic, this 300hp V8 would feel gutless. Thankfully, this gearbox has low enough ratio for traffic light acceleration and high enough ratios for highway cruising. Unfortunately, XJ still suffers from Jag’s not user-friendly J-Gate which already felt dated a decade ago. It just feels completely obsolete in 2008.

Handling: The ride quality is superb in XJ. It absorbs every bumps and roughness relatively well, even with a touch of floatiness on high speed cruising. However, its dynamics left a-lot-to-be-desired when pushed within its limitations. While the steering provides more than enough feel and response, it just lacks the tactical precision from its German rivals. That’s despite the fact that CATS acts predictably at and beyond the limits, even with plenty of body rolls. Its dynamic stability control is an instrusive type as it kicks in right after entering the limit.

Brakes: XJ’s brakes are surprisingly good consider its weight. Both the pedal feel and stopping distance are one of the best efforts ever from Jaguar.

Interior: The best merit of XJ’s interior has to be its user-friendly touch-screen DVD based navigation system, which is far more user-friendly than those complicated ones from rivalled German manufacturers. Those Connolly leather seats continue to be impressed with their level of support and quality. Its a pity the rest of the interior ergonomics and materials already started to feel dated. There are just way too many buttons on the center console. While the wood trim is nicely polished and Connolly leather is superb, those plastic materials are completely out of place for a car of this caliber.

Because this is a short-wheelbase version, the rear leg and headroom feel tight. The same goes for the trunk space.

Conclusion: Only three years after the current XJ debuted, it already felt dated compare to its rivals. It doesn’t mean the XJ8 is a poorly executed premium sedan, its the competitions have improved a whole lot in the last three years.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2008 Jaguar XJ8
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Performance: 3/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 2/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 3/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 3/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 1/5
Value-for-money: 2/5

Overall rating: 2/5