SAFETY | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
No data
NHTSA
No data
IIHS
There's no night vision, no lane-keeping assist, no follow-to-stop cruise control or autonomous braking.
Motor Trend
...You will appreciate the standard back-up camera and sensors when in Reverse.
Autoblog
The current Jaguar XJ has not yet been crash-tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS),
We've given it high safety marks because of its construction techniques--the panels are glued and riveted together for a very strong passenger cell, much in the same way airplanes are built.
Too, it's piling on more safety this year, on an optional basis. All-wheel drive gives the slushy states a realistic alternative to the all-weather versions of the luxest Mercedes, BMW, and Audi sedans. It's offered only on the six-cylinder XJ, though, and only on the long-wheelbase model. The all-wheel-drive system has a torque bias of 10:90 in normal driving, and 30:70 in winter mode. It can apply as much as 50 percent of torque to the front wheels while it's sorting out available traction.
Along with the usual required safety gear, the 2013 Jaguar XJ has most, but not all, of the techiest in-car safety features found in its competitors. All versions have the mandatory airbags and stability control--and in the XJ's case, the stability system has a sport mode that forgives some wheelspin, just in case the driver wants to play around with available grip.
For advanced features, the XJ gets a standard rearview camera, which augments a view that's a little compromised by the XJ's big roof pillars. There's also a blind-spot alert system that blinks an alert in the sideview mirrors when cars approach in side lanes. Adaptive cruise control is option, as are automatic and adaptive headlights. However, Jaguar doesn't offer night-vision or lane-keeping systems, features now found on rivals.
Conclusion
Crash-test safety is absent, but the Jaguar XJ has a body like a Boeing and now, all-wheel drive on tap.
