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3
Handling
4
Performance
Usability
2
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
2.5
By Richard Aucock
First Drives
01 July 2008 12:30
The X-type isn’t dead. It’s been given another facelift. Should we care? Well, while it can’t hold a candle to a 3-series or A4, it is now becoming the car it always should’ve been. This latest version has nearly 500 changes, and are centred around the mating, in both saloon and estate forms, of diesel to auto for the first time. Oh well. Better late then never.
Seems not: oil-burning X-types now form 97 percent of sales. To think, back in 2003, there was so much fuss from traditionalists about ‘the first Jag diesel’. Some would argue the company is listening to those backward-looking sorts that set the company on its unsuccessful retro-inspired path in the first place, but never mind. At least this self-shifting diesel sticks to Jag tradition in one way. It’s rather good.
No, the transmission. The six-speeder shifts smoothly, both up and down. It mates well with a fairly torquey engine for relaxed forward motion that even the 3.0-litre version of those peaky old V6 petrols can’t provide. It's much more straight-six Jag in response, even if not in noise as it shudders into life and clatters when cold. Luckily it's much sweeter when warm, and is pretty free-revving. Jaguar also shows off about the sequential shift, but we’re less excited here. Rivals have had it for years. The auto’s emissions and economy are also way off the manual’s. Oh, and even the auto can’t mask that lazy, old Ford diesel step-away from rest. Be wary at junctions.
Click 'Next' below to read more of our Jaguar X-Type first drive CAR review
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Jaguar X-type 2.2D (2008) CAR review
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Boulton says
RE: Jaguar X-type 2.2D (2008) CAR review
It is suggest that with over 350,000 “X-Type” vehicles sold as new cars during its 8-9 year lifetime; and, with those cars now having been “sold-on” to new owners; there must be some 700,000 folk who have had a positive experience of this vehicle - that was so unfairly criticised in the past. The “X-Type” succeeded in breaking many taboos that had hindered the development of the Jaguar company’s model line-up . . . 1. The “X-Type” was the FIRST Jaguar with a transverse engine. 2. With the larger 2.5 V6 petrol engine, and 3.0 V6 petrol engine, the “X-Type” was the FIRST 4x4 All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) Jaguar. 3. With the smaller 2.0 V6 petrol engine, and 2.0/2.2 IL diesel engines, the “X-Type” was the FIRST Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD) Jaguar. 4. The in-line (IL) four-cylinder diesel engines, were the FIRST (modern production) four-cylinder engined Jaguars. 5. With the 2.0/2.2 IL diesel engines, the “X-Type” was the FIRST diesel fuelled Jaguar. 6. The ESTATE version of the “X-Type” that was eventually introduced, was the FIRST (production) Jaguar estate car. Indicating their success and popularity, it is significant that the last “X-Type” vehicles to be left in production were, transverse engined; Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD); in-line four-cylinder; diesel fuelled; estate cars !! The ONLY taboo that the “X-Type” was NOT allowed to break - was the instillation of a transverse mounted; Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD); in-line four cylinder; PETROL fuelled engine. If correctly managed, there must still be a lot of “mileage” in the “X-Type”, if it were allowed to be re-introduced and developed to exploit additional “niche” market segments.
It is suggest that with over 350,000 “X-Type” vehicles sold as new cars during its 8-9 year lifetime; and, with those cars now having been “sold-on” to new owners; there must be some 700,000 folk who have had a positive experience of this vehicle - that was so unfairly criticised in the past.
The “X-Type” succeeded in breaking many taboos that had hindered the development of the Jaguar company’s model line-up . . .
1. The “X-Type” was the FIRST Jaguar with a transverse engine.
2. With the larger 2.5 V6 petrol engine, and 3.0 V6 petrol engine, the “X-Type” was the FIRST 4x4 All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) Jaguar.
3. With the smaller 2.0 V6 petrol engine, and 2.0/2.2 IL diesel engines, the “X-Type” was the FIRST Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD) Jaguar.
4. The in-line (IL) four-cylinder diesel engines, were the FIRST (modern production) four-cylinder engined Jaguars.
5. With the 2.0/2.2 IL diesel engines, the “X-Type” was the FIRST diesel fuelled Jaguar.
6. The ESTATE version of the “X-Type” that was eventually introduced, was the FIRST (production) Jaguar estate car.
Indicating their success and popularity, it is significant that the last “X-Type” vehicles to be left in production were, transverse engined; Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD); in-line four-cylinder; diesel fuelled; estate cars !!
The ONLY taboo that the “X-Type” was NOT allowed to break - was the instillation of a transverse mounted; Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD); in-line four cylinder; PETROL fuelled engine.
If correctly managed, there must still be a lot of “mileage” in the “X-Type”, if it were allowed to be re-introduced and developed to exploit additional “niche” market segments.
08 April 2013 08:13
vamps666 says
Nearly all these comments seem to be written by lovers of German automobiles, many of whom have never owned or driven a Jaguar. Personally I find BMWs and Audis bland and uninteresting, and the Jaguar image still "does it" for me. Now on my 116th Jaguar, my current X-type diesel is possibly the best car I have ever had, though possibly also the most un-Jaguar-like. Yes, they have learned to pander to you "modernists" but retain sufficient of Jaguar's image to please us old-timers. The diesel returns excellent mpg, excellent torque and a performance which may not look like a 5-series on paper, but is delivered powerfully and more smoothly than most diesels within a body which looks British rather than European, and there are a lot of us around who still value that ! Add to that the relief at not having flashing lights on the dash to order you to visit your dealer for a service, which cannot be extinguished by anyone else, and Britishness seems worthwhile.
23 December 2011 04:25
RS4FAN2010 says
RE: Jaguar X-type 2.2D CAR review
Its a shame that there over but they had to end someday.It all began in 2001 but now has officialy ended in '09.They were never groundbraking but brought Jaguar a new style,they had four-wheel drive which was new and later on they bought their first estate Jaguar which was the x type,but it still remained versatile and stylish they remained virtually unchangend from launch to '08. Then at last in '08 they gave them their final facelift which made them a little more fresh and upmarket and of course they ended the 3.0litre saloon in 2008 and just left it in the estate so people could opt for the more economical 2.2 diesel which is still great to drive.So there you have the end to Jaguar's first mid-sized saloon.Lets hope the next one will be just as nice.2001-2009.
19 February 2010 10:23
a t o m i c says
The obvious RWD base for an RD-6 type car would be the Mazda RX-8 (whether current or forthcoming), unfortunately this is probably completely off the menu now thanks to the Ford link being broken.
07 July 2008 16:43
v0lterra says
Actually I see quite a few XF's around. Jag sales are up significantly this year in a period where fuel prices are shooting up. Says it all really, so there's a lot of nonsense spoken below (probably by employees of BMW etc ;-) Where are all these advances that have left the X-Type behind then? Actually only one - BMW stop-start and I'll let a few other people try that for a couple of years to see how well it lasts. And I just don't get this low quality interior gripe with the X-Type. I was chauffered in an Audi A8 recently and it seemed like a Skoda with more tacky gadgets. Just keep saying "German cars good, other cars bad" often enough and the brainwashing will work. When it comes down to it, if you want an economical but graceful car with some individuality, and you don't want a German greybox, what alternative is there to the X-Type diesel? None whatsoever.
04 July 2008 22:55
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