Jaguar XJ Series

Theres no denying it was a huge risk for Jaguar starting from scratch for its core model, but it was a risk worth taking. Has all the refinement of a German luxo-box, shot through with the spirit of an XK

• Comfort

  Probably slightly sportier ride/handling compromise than many people expect (especially on the larger rim sizes), but the XJ remains one of the best riding cars in the class. Makes mincemeat of long journeys. Smoother than a big Lexus, which is truly saying something.

  

• Performance

  The new XJ has the choice of a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 (the one that came to the XJ and XF last year, with 385bhp), a supercharged version and the 275bhp V6 diesel. The V8 is an imperial thing. The torque is marvellous, delivered good and early to the tune of a lovely pillowy V8 exhaust. Squeeze higher up the revs, and it doesn't flinch. It does 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, and overtaking is mighty. Still not enough? Well, there's a 503bhp supercharged one over and above that - the most excellent engine out of the XFR and XJR. The diesel is staggeringly quiet. As smooth as that wonderful V8 petrol? Of course not, don't be daft. But given the fact it has torque to spare, hits 62 in six seconds, 155mph and makes 40mpg in the official tests, with these figures, you can see why this'll be the one everyone buys.

  

• Cool

  Surprisingly for a large Jag, yes. But it depends who's driving it. If it's an old giffer in a camel hair coat smoking a Café Crème, then probably not. A young bloke in an XJ on pimp rims? That's very cool indeed...

  

• Quality

  This car's interior is spectacular. The new XJ is a warm, cosseting, engaging place to spend time. The three-spoke wheel looks and feels wonderful, and the hi-tech instruments - noting analogue, this is a TFT screen - and beautifully intuitive touch-screen telematics somehow manage to sit harmoniously alongside the wood and leather and traditional air vents.

  

• Handling

  This Jaguar, big though it is, behaves remarkably like a not-big car. It stays level, and there's no fight from the steering. As the road starts to curve and then twist and the corkscrew and then hairpin, the car stays fluent and agile. Yet it feels perfectly natural, like it's not pulling any special tricks - though it definitely must be. At big, straight-line speed, the XJ is as it needs to be, and has a lovely effortless subtlety to its steering that makes it easy to guide it almost subconsciously within its lane.

  

• Practicality

  The new XJ is simply huge. Front or rear, all occupants have room to stretch. They also sit low (allowing the car to envelop them in a way cars rarely do) meaning there's plenty of headroom despite the low, swoopy roof.

  

• Running costs

  For a big luxury saloon, the diesel XJ is remarkably cheap to run. It should return a more-than-adequate 40mpg, while 184g/km of CO2 puts company car tax at a very reasonable 27 per cent. These are almost identical figures to the BMW 730d and better than the Merc S320 CDI.