Jaguar XJ Saloon (10 on) - Review

There’s a choice of two different lengths in the XJ line-up – the standard car or the long wheelbase version. The latter offers around 13cm more legroom for those in the back giving it a limousine-like feel, complete with separate rear climate controls, electric blinds and rear privacy glass. However, the standard model is still very spacious with a similarly luxurious feel. There are slight criticisms - the seats aren’t particularly enveloping like they are in a Porsche Panamera while taller passengers may find they sit close to the roof, a result of that low coupe-like profile, which also makes it a little gloomy. But all cars come with a panoramic glass roof (with retractable covers for the front and back) which adds to the light feeling inside. Thanks in part to the acoustic laminated windows and windscreen, there's practically no wind or road noise on the move, even at Autobahn speeds, giving the cabin a cosseting feel. Also standard are heated front seats while Portfolio models have heated and ventilated seats both front and back.

At more than five metres long, the XJ has plenty of room for five passengers, although four will better appreciate the luxury feel. There's also masses of space for their luggage thanks to a 520-litre boot - that's more room than an Audi A8 or a BMW 7-Series, but not quite a match for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. However, you can easily fit two large suitcases in side by side and it's also convenient thanks to the electric boot lid which can be set to open to a predetermined height - useful if you regularly use an underground car park. Keyless entry and start is a standard feature on all cars while the excellent sat nav system includes Bluetooth, a music hard disk drive (so you can store music from CDs) and voice control. Even more impressive is the 8-inch dual-view touch-screen display which allows the driver and passenger to look at completely different things on the same screen - so the driver can follow the sat nav while the passenger watches a DVD.

Jaguars are renowned for their elegant interiors, something which the XJ continues. It has the feeling of a hand-crafted bespoke design with some wonderful styling touches, the classic aircraft-style air vents being just one example. The designers were influenced by high-end yachts and powerboats, something which is evident in the interior design with lots of high-gloss panels and a wide central console. Despite all the on-board functions, the layout isn't too button-heavy, helped by the superb touch screen sat nav system. All this adds to a cockpit feel from behind the wheel, while the quality and finish are unsurpassed. Jaguar has dispensed with actual instrument dials in favour of a high-definition screen which displays virtual dials. It can be difficult to see in very bright sunshine, but aside from that it's superb and with the exception of the speedo, allows you to alter what information is on display, including sat nav instructions at junctions.