Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 78%

The Jaguar X-Type is the only luxury saloon in its class, according to its makers. And while owners of bona fide luxury cars may scoff, the X-Type has all the right ingredients: heritage, comfort and sartorial elegance.

But with the very best luxury cars also being deft of foot, can the Jaguar X-Type – which was first built in 2004 and facelifted in 2008 – mix it with the best?

View more pictures of the Jaguar X-Type

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The traditional Jaguar looks divide opinion, especially since the Jaguar XF saloon pointed the future for the Big Cat in the styling department. But in the years after the car originally launched it still cuts a dash with those of a more retro persuasion. The car received a facelift in 2008, which saw a raft of revisions to the bodywork, chief among which is a new grille, front and rear bumpers and rear lights.

8/10

2. Looks inside

With the genuine wood (or real carbon fibre) trim, the Jaguar X-Type is more gentleman's club than night club. The quality of materials used for most of the cabin and the craftsmanship with which it is built is worthy of a car many times the X-Type's £20-30k asking price. The straight panel, which has been a Jaguar trademark for many years, stretches across the dash, interrupted only by the curved centre console. And the new-for-2008 diamond-stitched Spice leather trim looks surprisingly contemporary.

8/10

3. Practicality

The Jaguar X-Type sports a 452-litre boot which is long, but very shallow. A big bootlid aids access, but it is still compromised over a similar-sized hatchback. There is a larger estate version available should more space be required. There's enough space around the cabin for most users, but those seeking radical storage solutions will be disappointed. The cleverest compartments are under the interior door handles, but are fiddly for regularly-used items. Space in the back is tighter than many of its rivals, but room in the front is very good.

7/10

4. Ride and Handling

Although the Jaguar X-Type is more tuned for comfort rather than speed, it still handles well. It's very quiet on the move and soaks up bumps with aplomb. It’s a relaxed cruiser, but has responsive steering and a forgiving chassis making it more agile than its traditional appearance may have you believe. It's not BMW 3 Series, but it has a very different sort of appeal.

8/10

5. Performance

Jaguar offers the X-Type saloon with a choice of two diesels; a 2-litre and the 2.2 we tested. The sole petrol option is limited to the estate model, and is a lusty 3-litre V6. The Ford-sourced diesels are smooth and offer a respectable turn of speed. The 2-litre and 2.2 will reach 62mph from rest in 9.5 and 8.5 seconds, respectively. The 2.2 is also available with a new automatic gearbox, which is exceptionally smooth but drops the 0-62mph to 9.5 seconds. Top speeds are all in all in excess of 125mph.

On the road, the 2.2 auto we tested was smooth, refined and punchy, especially through the middle of the rev range.

8/10

6. Running Costs

The Jaguar X-Type is priced well to compete with its German rivals in the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class, but it suffers heavier depreciation, retaining between 39 and 47 per cent of it value over three years/36,000 miles. By comparison, the Audi A4 retains around 50 per cent of its original price. Fuel consumption is reasonable for the manuals, with the 2-litre and 2.2 returning averages of 49.1 and 47.1mpg respectively. The auto saps even more fuel, returning just 41mpg. CO2 emissions of 149g/km and 159g/km place the 2-litre in tax band C (£120 a year) and the 2.2 in tax band D (£145). Again, specifying the automatic gearbox attracts a financial penalty, and increases emissions to a considerable 184g/km. That forces the car into tax band F, which costs £210 a year.

7/10

7. Reliability

Ford engines, and vastly improved build quality means the Jaguar X-Type should be a safe choice.

8/10

8. Safety

The Jaguar X-Type scored four out of five stars in the EuroNCAP crash test programme; less than many of its rivals. Jaguar says it spent 175,000 hours – or 25 years – of computing time into the X-Type's safety systems. All models feature traction control, anti-lock brakes, dual-stage front, side and curtain airbags which deploy depending on the position of the driver's seat, the weight of the front passenger and whether seatbelts are used.

7/10

View more pictures of the Jaguar X-Type

9. Equipment

Four models are available in the Jaguar X-Type range: S, SE, Sport Premium and Sovereign, and all are superbly equipped. The base S model features 17 inch alloy wheels, half-leather electrically-adjustable seats, automatic climate control with pollen filter and steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, Bluetooth and automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers. The SE adds heated leather seats, power folding wing mirrors, park sensors, headlamp washers, a heated windscreen and a touch-screen DVD navigation system. The Sport Premium model we tested also features tinted windows, larger 18 inch alloys, 10-way adjustable front seats with memory function and real carbon fibre veneer trim.

The range-topping Sovereign adds walnut veneer, 'contrast piped' leather seats and Jaguar Premium Sound System with JaguarVoice voice control.

9/10

10. X-Factor

The Jaguar X-Type offers something unique in its class. It looks and feels like a luxury car, and is a superb, effortless cruiser. And all with an affordable price tag.

8/10