Driving Impressions

The unique looks of the XJ8 are complemented by a driving experience all its own. Mercedes and BMW share a ride that is more on the firm side and generally feel tight and buttoned up. Lexus and Infiniti offer a softer ride and a more relaxed atmosphere. The XJ8 is wonderfully comfortable with an elegant feel. Acceleration performance is startling with instant throttle response. On dry pavement, the Jag will light the rear tires up if the traction control is turned off. In a handful of seconds it's hurtling past the speed limit. Jaguar says the XJ8 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, an impressive feat given its size and weight. (The 370-horsepower XJR can do it in a mere 5.4 seconds.) Shifting is silky smooth, even at full throttle. You can almost feel the transmission signaling the engine to reduce power slightly because a shift is coming. It's an almost imperceptible pause as the shift is made. We had some fun with the manual shifting mode, but it seemed superfluous with a transmission that does such a great job on its own. The manual operation is electronically controlled to prevent downshifting at an inappropriate speed. The gear can be selected, but the shift won't be made until speed has dropped sufficiently. Differences between Normal and Sport suspension modes are perceptible on rough surfaces and in hard cornering. The Sport setting lets a little more road roughness come through the steering, but gives the car a slightly flatter stance in cornering. Driving on narrow Connecticut roads, we discovered that the fenders loom large from the driver's seat. The left front fender obscures the center line and the right front fender masks the verge to give the driver a feeling the car is taking up all the lane and more. But it isn't; we never posed a threat to mail boxes or other vehicles. The steering lets the driver feel connected to the road, providing a strong sense of control. The wheels do not straighten by themselves after a tight maneuver; they must be brought back in line by turning the steering wheel, just like a race car. Quiet is an expected part of the luxury quotient, but we didn't expect this much quiet. It is so quiet inside it's almost eerie. No wind noise, no road noise, no harmonics from various systems. You can hear the transmission as it reaches a shift point, and there is a sound you realize must be the engine, but it is more like an electric motor humming than a V8 combusting. Visibility is good in all directions. The C-pillars are quite thin, so rear visibility is above average for cars this size. Overall, the XJ8 provides a very pleasurable driving experience.

Final Word

This is certainly one of the finest cars built today. Ford's involvement has undoubtedly had a lot to do with that achievement. The old quality bugaboo seems to be just a memory. BMW and Mercedes and the rest really can't be compared with the XJ8, other than in price, because the Jaguar offers something altogether different. In price, however, the XJ8 is very competitive. For luxury with a difference, drive a Jaguar XJ8.