2002 Jaguar X-Type Philadelpia

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2002 Jaguar X-Type Design

The visual stance of the X-Type is not affected by the all-wheel-drive system. This is a ground-loving vehicle that makes the eye believe it is longer and lower than it is and bigger as well. What seemed to me at first to be a busy-ness about the indents, many horizontal lines and visual cues of Jaguarness faded with on-going exposure into acceptance and even appreciation. Anyway, the car looks better on the road than it does in a showroom. Or in pictures. Moral: don't cling overlong to first impressions.

The front view is broadened with two sets of side-by-side round lights flanking Jaguar's traditional horizontal split grille. The design of the grille and headlamps with fluting that sweeps back over the hood make the X-Type look like a baby XJ. It looks more conservative than the S-Type with its unique round grille. This aspect of the X-Type looks particularly auspicious when seen in a rearview mirror. Riding the hood is the traditional bounding Jaguar known as the leaper. (Such hood ornaments are outlawed in Europe, so the X-Types there will make do with the flat, full-faced Jaguar known as the growler.)

The X-Type is clearly a Jaguar, which will delight Jaguar's many female fans. If anything, the X-Type might be a little too self-conscious in staking out its claim to Jaguarness with its abundance of family cues. It might clutter your vision at first look. The X-Type's appearance is more like the lordly XJ than the more retro S-Type, which was Jaguar's first (and successful) effort to broaden its customer base.

Handling of the 2002 Jaguar X-Type

The five-speed manual, standard on the 2.5-liter and available as a no-cost option on the 3.0-liter, has a short throw with a sports-car feel. It can add to the fun and is our first choice for race tracks. If only to nitpick, the clutch pedal is a little vague, and it takes a little practice to achieve smooth launches and elegant shifts. A little time in the car solves this, however. It works great when driven with gusto in a high-performance setting

The transmission choices are both quite good and come down to personal preference. The five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission costs more on the 2.5-liter model, but is a no-cost choice on the 3.0-liter version. Put it in Drive and it shifts smoothly and predictably up and down, keeping the X-Type's engine in the proper gear for smooth cruising or quick acceleration. Its shift points seem to be the result of some clever mind reading; this is because the transmission selects shift patterns according to driving conditions. There's also a switch to select either normal or sport modes; sport mode raises the shift points to make full use of available engine power. Jaguar's trademark J-gate, allowing the driver to shift over to partial manual use, works okay, with shorter, sportier shift throws than those of the Jaguar S-Type.

2002 Jaguar X-Type Lineup

The Sport package includes gray-stained bird's-eye maple wood trim, special Connolly leather seating with sports seats (extra side bolstering), body-colored exterior trim, a rear spoiler, Dynamic Stability Control (yaw control), sport-tuned suspension, and 17-inch alloy wheels with high-performance tires. (You know what Babe Paley said: You can neither be too rich or have wheels that are too large. Or something like that.) The Sport package requires the Premium package.

The Premium package includes one-touch electric tilt and slide glass moonroof, an eight-way power passenger seat, two-way power lumbar support for both front seats, 70/30 split folding rear seat, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dim electrochromic rearview mirror, automatic headlamps, Reverse Park Control, trip computer and message center, and Homelink-compatible garage door/gate opener

Interior of the 2002 Jaguar X-Type

The design of the X-Type isn't all about style, either. The trunk is big, something that can't be said for all Jaguars. With 16 cubic feet of trunk space, the X-Type can carry more cargo than the big XJ sedan. The X-Type's boot is comparable to the impressive trunk on the Audi A4 and vastly superior to the trunk on the BMW 3 Series. Pull one or both of the small handles in the trunk and you can flip the rear seats down for carrying longer items. That makes this a practical Jaguar.

In addition to dual-stage frontal airbags, the X-Type features front and rear side curtain airbags, the first Jaguar to do so. In the vernacular one might say that Jaguar intenders skew heavily female. That means the woman buyer figured early in planning the ergonomics of the X-Type. Not that there is any evident feminization but rather such things as placing all the controls within easy reach and providing a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes, allowing her to adjust perfectly to the car. Many different body types will find a comfortable home in the X-Type. There's plenty of headroom unless you're wearing a helmet in a car equipped with the sunroof.

The cabin has a spacious feel with outward visibility enhanced by the slimness of the pillars. With the elevation of the driver's seat easily adjustable, drivers of varying heights have an excellent forward view over the hood. The rearview mirrors are particularly generous in size. I like this large exposure aft ward, but at city intersections the mirror can hide a pedestrian stepping down from a curb. Diligence and a little head movement are called for. All the switchgear operates intuitively. Only one cup holder is provided, however. Lots of stowage adds to the convenience, but the center console is small.

Conclusion

It comes to this: If you've always lusted after a Jaguar's feline mystery and elegance and thought that some day you should own one, but can't afford one of the pricier models, then some day may have arrived. Pricing for this newest of Jaguars has pulled that day in like a zoom lens. When you try one on be sure to search out some plate glass windows to mirror your passing. And reflect the sound of that engine.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com