Jaguar's X-TYPE has always been up against it to a greater or lesser extent. Many capable vehicles have tried and failed to break the German monopoly in the compact executive sector and the X-TYPE has been ramming its bumper against that particular brick wall since 2001. It's made little headway and as the passing years have taken their toll on the junior Jag, any breakthrough has looked less and less likely. Don't write it off yet though. Facelifted and endowed with its best 2.2-litre diesel engine, the X-TYPE might still have something to offer.

It wasn't so long ago that Britain resounded with the gentle thud of flat caps and string-backed driving gloves being hurled to the floor in disgust as traditional Jaguar buyers learned of the marque's intention to offer diesel engines in its products. Now the X-TYPE models sold are almost entirely oil-burning, reflecting the shift in the compact executive market as a whole. Thankfully its diesels are decent ones, particularly the 2.2-litre unit featured here.

The engine is a 2,198cc 152bhp effort that is slightly off the pace being set by the likes of BMW but remains an agreeable companion. The maximum torque output of 366Nm is available at just 1,800rpm making the X-TYPE perfect for wafting around in that tried and tested Jaguar fashion. Outright pace isn't a particular strength of the engine but it's no slowcoach with its 8.7s 0-60mph time and 134mph top speed. The standard six-speed manual gearbox marshals all that mid-range muscle effectively and refinement is good once the engine is into its stride.

"Despite its advancing years, the Jaguar X-TYPE remains a relevant product"

Handling has always been an X-TYPE forte thanks to its to its previous generation Ford Mondeo underpinnings. The car's body control and supple suspension make it a pleasure to hurry along and there's plentiful grip even in these front-wheel-drive diesels.

The more recent X-TYPE facelift saw the introduction of a six-speed automatic gearbox, which has the added attraction of 'one-touch control' Jaguar Sequential Shift for manual gear changes. The six gear ratios are chosen to deliver refined cruising while maintaining sporty performance. Where the 2.2 litre diesel with manual transmission can achieve maximum torque from second gear, the combination with the auto 'box can achieve maximum torque in all six gears by utilising optimum gear change points to ensure best use of the muscle that's available. One downside is that 0-60mph acceleration slows to 9.5s with the auto 'box installed.

When this car was first launched, its interior set new standards of quality and, indeed, modernity for Jaguar. What's particularly impressive is the way that Jaguar has managed to blend traditional touches like wood veneers and chrome cappings with modern must-haves such as multi-function LCD screens, airbags and multi-speaker audio systems. That's a tall order, and the X-TYPE manages it better than most. Dated it may be in places but the X-TYPE has more sense of occasion than many of its rivals.

Owners familiar with earlier X-TYPEs will notice revised frontal styling on the latest cars that includes a redesigned '3D' bright mesh grille, complete with Jaguar 'growler' emblem. There are restyled front bumper covers, a bright 'splitter' in the lower air intakes and a neat roof-mounted Antenna Pod to replace the previous aerial. What Jaguar hopes is a 'lower, sportier profile' is also underlined by cleaner, more modern side mouldings. There are revised door mirrors too, which now incorporate the indicators (probably making them fearsomely expensive to replace). Revised alloy wheels and a wider range of colour options complete the improvements.

Pricing is crucial to the X-TYPE. To order one, you've got to prefer its low pricing and high equipment levels to the modern engineering of its German rivals. You can get into an X-TYPE 2.2D saloon for £22,500. That's the entry-level S model but the SE is a massive £4,000 more. The Sport Premium commands an additional £1,500 and the range-topping Soverign comes in at a nice round £29,000. At the top of the range, the 2.2-litre X-TYPE nudges very close to the desirables like BMW's 194bhp 325d and even Audi's 237bhp A4 3.0-litre TDI Quattro and against that kind of competition, the X-TYPE's no holds barred equipment lists won't do it much good. At the entry-level, however, the 2.2-litre looks far better value against the likes of BMW's 318d.and Audi's 1.9-litre TDI A4.

Estate variants are offered across the line up at a price premium of around £1,400, model for model. Here, the split fold rear seats allow for one, two or all three rear passengers to be accommodated comfortably and when folded flat, there's a whopping 1415 litres of cubic capacity to clog with lifestyle accoutrements.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine is reassuringly economical to run with a 47mpg combined economy figure. On the extra urban cycle that's supposed to be indicative of motorway driving, it even tips over the 60mpg barrier. The automatic gearbox suits the character of the X-TYPE and the 2.2-litre diesel engine well but be warned, fit it instead of the manual and combined economy drops to 41mpg while CO2 emissions increase dramatically from 159g/km to 184g/km.

You wouldn't expect X-Type residuals to be in the same bracket as those of newer rivals. Nevertheless, they're not as far off as you might think. Factor in the lower purchase price and the higher discounts that Jaguar dealers are likely to offer and you could find that this Jag is a more cost-efficient option than its German equivalent.

The Jaguar X-TYPE 2.2D has much to recommend it. It's acceptably quick, impressively smooth and enjoyable to drive but it struggles to excel against some tough competition. The 2.2-litre engine probably won't sway your decision, but if you were already looking at an X-TYPE, this is the engine of choice. The latest car retains the classic Jaguar qualities and its biggest asset might be that it doesn't slavishly ape the German class leaders. It's an intelligent choice in a sector where there's a strong temptation to follow the herd.

Despite its advancing years, the Jaguar X-TYPE remains a relevant product in the compact executive sector and the 2.2-litre diesel is its best engine. The X-TYPE has long cried out for a V6 diesel to battle the top German oil-burning saloons but the 2.7-litre twin-turbo unit from the S-TYPE wouldn't fit. This has seen the 2.2-litre spread a bit thinly. It's a good engine but with 152bhp, it isn't a convincing proposition in a £29,000 executive saloon, even one with the most opulent specification. This capable powerplant makes most sense priced competitively in the lower-spec X-TYPEs where its qualities can shine through.

TOP 5 X-TYPE DEALS

The results below show the top X-TYPE deals on buyacar

	Jaguar X-Type 2.2d SE 2009 4dr Auto DPF Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £414	Saving £5,396	Price £22,574
	Jaguar X-Type 2.2d Sovereign 2009 4dr Auto DPF Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £468	Saving £5,401	Price £25,069
	Jaguar X-Type 2.2d SE 2009 5dr Auto DPF Estate
	ETR	Mthly £430	Saving £5,679	Price £23,691
	Jaguar X-Type 2.2d SE 2009 5dr Estate
	ETR	Mthly £408	Saving £5,386	Price £22,509
	Jaguar X-Type 2.2d SE 2009 4dr Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £391	Saving £5,103	Price £21,392

typical 10.01% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000