2018 Jaguar XJR575 | Why Buy?

Spending $130,000 on a luxury sedan is not a hard thing to do. Well-heeled buyers are spoiled for choice, with new and interesting entries from the big German brands. Among the oldest vehicles in this high-dollar market is the Jaguar XJ, a stylish and interesting alternative to the tech-laden Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW luxury sedans.

To offset the XJ’s age, Jaguar has done one of the best things an automaker can – added more power. The XJR575 elevates the discontinued XJR to new levels with an uprated version of Jaguar Land Rover’s likable 5.0-liter, supercharged V8 that now produces – you guessed it – 575 horsepower. Alongside 517 pound-feet of torque, the XJR575 can get four people in sumptuous comfort to 60 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds.

And that comfort is palpable. Despite the sporty pretensions, the XJ never compromises luxury. The interior is beautiful with rich leather throughout, just enough chrome trim, and piano-black trim that actually looks and feels like quality. The seats, with their quilted leather and red piping are remarkably comfortable and supportive. It’s easy to sink into these chairs and cover long distances.

But despite the pleasant surroundings, it’s hard not to feel like the XJ has gotten a little stale in its ninth year on the market. Jaguar has done a fantastic job of keeping this car feeling fresh – there’s a 10-inch display in the center stack running Jaguar Land Rover’s latest infotainment system and a 12-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster, along with a whole suite of active safety gear – but the character of this car is starting to feel old, particularly for drivers that have spent time in newer competition from BMW, Audi, or Lexus.

We like the XJR575 a lot – it’s still a fine luxury sedan and it has the pace to keep even enthusiast drivers satisfied. But we’re eager to see what Jaguar does next with its flagship sedan, particularly after sampling the company’s excellent line of crossovers (including the all-electric I-Pace). For more on the 2018 Jaguar XJR575, check out the latest episode of Why Buy.