Review of the new Jaguar XJ 3.0 D

When you tickle the throttle pedal in your Jaguar XJ, you want to feel an irresistible force stir, then draw you inexorably but effortlessly up the road. There should be barely a whisper from the exhaust or engine bay at part throttle, a muted growl taking over should you elect to give it the full beans. It has always been thus, so it's no surprise to learn that big petrol engines were usually selected to power Jaguar's flagship in the past. The diesel XJ is a relatively recent occurrence in a model line that can trace its origins back to 1968 but confidence is high that the latest XJ and the latest 3.0-litre diesel engine have the qualities to stop owners longing for a V8.

Through at least five generations of Jaguar's flagship, the styling evolved at an arthritic snail's pace. It reached the point where the last model, one of the most advanced luxury cars on sale at the time of its launch, looked ostensibly the same as the rusting relics that could be picked up for peanuts at any second hand car dealership. Jaguar wasn't communicating its dynamism and relevance, but it is now.

Today's XJ breaks with tradition in a gentle kind of a way. It's still very much a Jaguar but it revels in its modernity where previous generations have appeared stuck in the past. The fitment of Jaguar's advanced 3.0-litre diesel engine is just one way that the car is very much of its time.

We were well aware of how good the 3.0-litre V6 diesel was long before it was announced as the unit around which the XJ range would be based. It had already gained well deserved rave reviews in the smaller XF executive saloon and it seemed likely to cope admirably in the larger XJ. With two turbochargers working together to boost performance across the entire rev range and a common-rail injection system capable of making up to five injections of fuel per cycle, it's a very advanced engine.

The numbers tell of 271bhp being generated at 4,000rpm and a huge 600Nm or torque at 2,000rpm. In the real world, this spells plentiful acceleration from low speeds with the official 0-60mph time measured at 6.0s.

".it's the ride quality and refinement that really make Jaguar's effort stand out"

There's no problem with the way the 3.0 D delivers its power. The all-important surge of pace is present as the car gains speed but what's most impressive is the refinement. The engine is barely audible at low speeds and there's only a slight grumble from the exhausts when you open it up fully. Wind and road noise are extremely well suppressed. The emphasis of the XJ is on comfort but it can hustle along and proves surprisingly nimble. The sharp steering is particularly helpful making you forget you're piloting a five-metre luxury saloon.

The fully independent suspension is similar to that in the XF but drivers have the option of choosing standard, Dynamic or Winter settings via the JaguarDrive rotary knob that takes the place of a conventional gear lever. These modes adjust the suspension, throttle response, gearshift speeds, stability control settings and the active differential to produce the desired results. The gearbox itself is an electronically-controlled six-speed auto complete with wheel-mounted paddle shifters which sends drive to the rear wheels on all XJ models.

The XJ is available in standard or long wheelbase forms, with the longer car gaining 125mm and somehow managing to look even sleeker in profile. The front owes a lot to the XF but the real drama is at the rear where Jaguar has gone for an elegant but bold treatment. The C-pillars are blacked out to look like an extension of the rear screen and the tail lights arch up around the rear haunches into the line of the boot lid. The lighter paint colours show off those C-pillars more effectively and buyers who aren't persuaded by them can choose black paint, limiting their impact.

The cabin is massively impressive, modern but with the tactility and emotion that isn't always forthcoming in the clinical interiors of German cars. The dash is angled away from the driver to produce a roomier feel and the vents and buttons are dipped in chrome. The control interface is geared around an 8" colour touch screen display that gives clear advantages over controller driven systems like BMW's iDrive.

The instruments are a major talking point, or should that be the lack of them? Replacing the conventional cluster of dials is a 12" screen of the kind pilots refer to as a 'glass cockpit'. On to this, a variety of displays are projected, including virtual fuel, speed, temperature and rev-counter gauges. These can be configured or supplemented by additional information according to taste. From behind the wheel, it's clear what you're looking at is a digital display and despite the clear layout and high resolution of the screen, the effect isn't altogether convincing. Forgoing a nice set of chrome-ringed analogue dials in a car like the XJ for this feels a little choosing a digital watch over a posh Swiss-made timepiece.

Customers choosing the diesel engine can select from Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio trim levels. Even the entry-level cars come generously equipped with twin sunroofs, leather trim, dual-zone climate control, electric front seat adjustment and the touch-screen control interface. The trademark Jaguar drive selector and the less successful digital instruments are also included on all models.

Prices might steep for a luxury saloon with six-cylinder diesel power but they are actually very competitive against the XJ's key German rivals, especially when the Jag's generous specification is factored in. The long wheelbase models come at a premium of around £3,000 over the standard cars.

The XJ's lightweight design and aluminium construction should give it a crucial edge over equivalently-powered rivals in terms of fuel efficiency and emissions. The 3.0-litre diesel models certainly shape-up well with 40mpg combined cycle fuel economy and emissions of 184g/km putting them on a par with the sector's most efficient cars.

The various options facing customers who want a modern luxury saloon with a diesel engine include cars that are hugely competent at what they do but can seem a little bit sterile. Jaguar's XJ 3.0 D delivers a little more personality into the mix than we've come to expect and for that, it's to be commended. Of course, personality is of little use if the car falls down on the basics but this XJ also delivers on grounds of comfort, performance and running costs.

The effortless acceleration that's required in a car like this is in evidence but it's the ride quality and refinement that really make Jaguar's effort stand out. The exterior styling might divide opinion but real effort has been made to make the cabin feel special and it's hard to see too many people turning their noses up at the classily modern ambiance - digital instruments and limited rear headroom notwithstanding.