Jaguar XKR Road Test

Jaguar XKR

The Jaguar XKR is equipped with all the usual comfort features such as rain-sensitive windscreen wipers and cruise control. The XKR is a hatchback (Jaguar call the XK range - lift backs), access to the boot is easy and it can accommodate 300 litres of luggage. You can fit in a bag of golf clubs and there should be enough space for two on holiday but not much else. Shutting the boot can be a little awkward and if you are on the short side you may find it difficult as the handle it quite high, but it is quite light to operate.

The telematics system allows you to attach your Bluetooth mobile telephone and use the car as a sophisticated hands free kit, it can be set to automatically answer calls. When coupled to our mobile telephones it even showed their battery life and signal strength. You can step through your phone book and dial through the telematics screen - simple!

Our test car was fitted with the Bowers and Wilkins 525 watt premium sound system which is especially designed for the XK range and includes custom made aluminium dome tweeters and Kevlar mid-range speakers. It is absolutely fantastic, arguably the best in-car audio system we have heard and that includes systems from Dynaudio and Bang & Olfusen. The reproduction was faithful to the source and we were able to explore the wide dynamic range of our CD collection - very impressive.

There are sockets for a USB memory stick /device and you can plug in an iPod, hidden in the central arm rest. Music tracks can be uploaded to the memory stick via your computer and then played back through the car. We seamlessly used an iPod which allowed us to step through play lists, albums and artists etc via the audio system. It automatically charges the iPod and even displays a Jaguar screen saver on the screen of the iPod.

There is a 6-CD auto changer for those of you who prefer that format, it also supports MP3 CDs, so most sound sources are catered for, our only small criticism is that there is not a DAB radio but otherwise this system is excellent. The Jaguar XKR is equipped with all the normal safety equipment including Traction Control, Stability Control, Anti-Lock Brakes, driver and passenger, front and side airbags - but no curtain airbags.

The XKR is fitted with a Thatcham category 1 alarm system with microwave intrusion sensing, door protection and tilt-sensing to detect the car being opened, jacked up or moved. You might wish to add a Tracker system to help bring down your insurance premiums. Reliability and build quality should not be an issue Jaguar has won a number of awards for customer service and they rank alongside even the most reliable of Japanese built cars.

There is no doubt that the Jaguar XKR is a superbly executed Grand Tourer which delivers everything it promises. It is only let down by some of the interior materials and we say this with great reservation - but I doubt that you will care, once you have fired up that wonderful V8 engine and gone for a drive you will always be taking the long road home.

Jaguar XKR