2009 Jaguar XJ - Quality Review

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The 2009 Jaguar XJ exhibits its share of foibles, but it also has stellar materials and assembly quality.

The 2009 Jaguar XJ is the marque's flagship sedan and contains all the burl wood trim, luxurious leather, and gleaming chrome accents one would expect, along with the usual quirks that make it quintessentially British to some and endear it to traditional British luxury fans. However, to those less familiar with Jaguar, some of these quirks can be merely annoying. For example, Kelley Blue Book, in its mostly positive review, notes that "the dash-mounted ignition slot is placed fairly low, allowing dangling keys to brush annoyingly atop the driver's right leg."

In the cabin, Edmunds admires the abundant wood, leather, and chrome, as well as "acoustic laminated glass,” but bestows higher praise to form than function, adding, “In contrast to all the plush surroundings, some of the Jag's controls are confusing and have a cheap feel to their operation." ConsumerGuide notes, "Rear-entertainment-system controls are not intuitive, and DVDs load via an inconvenient trunk-mounted changer and only with the ignition engaged." Kelley Blue Book states that, inside the 2009 Jaguar’s cabin, “wide front seats provide excellent lower thigh and back support and include a four-way power lumbar support. In the rear, you'll find a vastly larger passenger space than in previous XJs, with ample head and legroom for six-footers." Cars.com goes a step further, saying that in long-wheelbase XJs, there's "legroom in the rear seat for NBA players," and Edmunds proclaims that, with its ”multiadjustable, climate-controlled front seats" and other accoutrements, the interior of a 2009 Jaguar XJ would "make the Fifth Duke of Wellington feel at home."  However, Edmunds remarks of the front seats, "Some larger folks may find that those fancy seats just don't fit them.”

Edmunds notes that “trunk space could be deeper,” which might be a consequence of the full-size spare tire located beneath it. According to ConsumerGuide, however, with 16.4 cubic feet of storage capacity, the 2009 Jaguar has “plenty of usable trunk space,” and the lid “opens wide on non-intruding hinges and has assisted soft-touch close”

"Operating in virtual silence...the Jaguar XJ-Series sedans have a personality unique among high-end luxury sedans,” remarks Edmunds.  ConsumerGuide adds, "the cabin is impressively free of mechanical noise, but our testers did notice some wind rush and road rumble at highway speeds."