Jaguar S-Type (99-07) - Review

Thanks to that wonderful ride, the S-Type is a perfect car for covering length motorway miles - there's little engine or road noise and the suspension does a superb job of smoothing out uneven roads. It's a shame then that the cabin feels a little cramped, especially in the rear where legroom is quite limited and the large central transmission tunnel makes it difficult to seat three. But the seats are incredibly comfortable and supportive enough for longer journeys too.

The S-Type is only available as a four-door saloon, there's no estate version so practicality is fairly limited. The boot itself offers 400 litres of space, which is less than most alternatives, plus the luggage area itself is pretty shallow and not capable of carrying large or boxy items. On the plus side the rear seats do fold and split 60/40 to increase carrying capacity, while in the front there's decent stowage with a central twin cupholder and a cubby between the front seats, however the door pockets are small for an executive saloon.

The S-Type's driving position is excellent, with a low slung seat and plenty of adjustment in the steering column, while the instrument dials are easy to read. All the controls for the stereo and air conditioning are on the central console and fairly simple to get to grips with - although there are a lot of buttons. Top models come with a touch screen system which is straightforward to use, but while the layout is clear and quality good - the cabin lacks the modern touch and supplication of alternatives from BMW or Audi.