Jaguar X-Type Estate Road Test

Jaguar X-Type Estate

Build Quality

The switch gear is OK but as with Aston Martins - it is not as good as it should be and we suspect it is sourced from the Ford parts bin. The craftsmanship & quality of materials is very high and absolutely in keeping with a car of this class.

Value For Money

The Jaguar X-TYPE Estate is competitively priced within the premium segment which includes the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate.

The X-TYPE is based on the same platform as the Ford Mondeo and bearing in mind that the 2005 Mondeo ST220 is priced from £24,200 this makes the range topping Jaguar X-TYPE Estate 3 litre V6 seem good value for money at £28,970. As with all Jaguar's depreciation is an issue but if you buy wisely which inevitably means a smaller petrol or diesel model this shouldn't be too devastating after 3 years of ownership.

Overall Opinion

With the X-TYPE Estate Jaguar have created a superb estate car that exceeded our expectations. The X-TYPE Estate is equally at home at the gymkhana as it would be whisking you around the country to business meetings.

German marques such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz might be better cars on paper but in our opinion they are too clinical and lack character. The X-TYPE is the product of decades of Jaguar heritage and craftsmanship.

Jaguar's reputation as a prestige manufacturer is justified and driving the X-TYPE Estate makes you feel special - it tugs at the heart strings. Every time we walked back to the car it was seductive, we fought over who would drive it and we certainly did not want to give it back.

There is something about a Jaguar that stirs the soul and makes you feel proud to be British.