That Jaguar's XJ saloon is one of the better luxury saloons to drive is something that owners and industry insiders have known for some time. Unfortunately for the Coventry marque, not enough younger executives shopping in the luxury sector seem to be aware of the fact. Hence the recent styling revisions to the range, aimed at giving it a sportier look.

So it is that the latest facelifted models offer buyers a more aggressive front end and side gills like those on the XK sportscar. Engines are as before - but that's no bad thing. Even the smaller units deliver strong performance and fuel economy is also impressive thanks to the car's lightweight aluminium construction. Rivals may feel more advanced but the XJ's old-school charm remains central to its appeal.

Jaguar has long had a tricky balance to strike in the ongoing battle to put one over on its rivals. The elegance, heritage and studied Britishness that are integral to the Jaguar brand are often slightly at odds with the dynamic, technology-laden approach favoured by the leading German marques. The sales charts would indicate that recently, it's the Bavarians who've had the better handle on the market's needs and wants but the latest Jaguar XJ saloon is spearheading a renewed attempt by Jaguar to capture the luxury saloon zeitgeist.

In a sector of the market where it's not uncommon for a car's owner to delegate driving duties in favour of a position in the back seat behind a copy of the FT, the XJ really does have the capacity to entertain. The car's aluminium construction keeps the kerb weight low, ensuring that the engines deliver a far bigger punch than their power outputs would lead you to expect. The XJ actually tips the scales at under 1,700kg, an equivalent mass to that of smaller cars like Volkswagen's Passat and well down on the comparatively portly Mercedes S-Class.

"The XJ really does have the capacity to entertain.."

This light weight also has benefits in terms of handling, with the XJ's substantial dimensions appearing to shrink around you on a twisty stretch. Opt for the sports air-suspension and the Jag comes hunkered down, ready to hug the road surface in a manner that really inspires confidence. On their standard comfort setting, the XJ's air-springs are more floaty, gliding over the bumps with notable composure but less body control. There's very little road noise in the cabin but the XJ does give you more of an idea of what its engine is up to than most rivals. If you've one of the V8 options installed, this is no great hardship.

Tinkering with the XJ's classic lines could have been a recipe for disaster, especially when it appears that the brief also required greater visual emphasis on the car's sporting qualities. Bolting spoilers and bodykits on to a design that has been lovingly refined and nurtured over more than 40 years, simply wouldn't do. Jaguar sensibly took a softly, softly approach with this facelifted XJ, evolving the detailing rather than getting too drastic with the famous shape. The water was tested with the Concept Eight showcar in 2004, then the XJR Portfolio model of 2006 so that we now have side gills behind the front wheel arches, a tri-sectioned under-bumper arrangement with fog lights housed in the outer apertures, lower side sills and an almost apologetic boot lid spoiler.

The XJ's interior has been modernised too. Buyers can still specify the traditional wood finishes but some more contemporary options have been added to the range. The controls remain refreshingly simple to use, even if some of them will ring a bell with Ford owners. The heated front seats now feature sculpted backs which increase the already generous legroom for those in the rear.

The XJ is available in four levels of specification, kicking off with the Executive priced at £43,747 and featuring Carelia 19" alloy wheels. The Sovereign gets a different wheel design again and is the entry point for those who hunger for V8 power. Then there's the value-added Sport Premium model and the XJ R with its supercharged V8 delivering 400bhp. The 240bhp 3.0-litre V6 and the 204bhp 2.7-litre twin-turbo diesel are the most popular choices, neither of which will leave you feeling short-changed in the performance department. All the XJ models are offered in standard or stately long wheelbase form.

Equipment levels are generous, with the 7" touch screen control system being one of the easier installations to get to grips with in this sector. There's full Bluetooth connectivity on the latest cars and customers who really like the sound of their own voice can utilise the JaguarVoice voice command system. There's the now obligatory adaptive cruise control, which automatically maintains a set distance between you and the car in front, while safety kit includes the Adaptive Restraint technology which calculates the best way to deploy the various airbags according to passenger weight and position.

Big luxury saloons aren't known for their miniscule running costs but the XJ does have an ace up its sleeve in the shape of its weight-saving aluminium construction. The 2.7-litre diesel engine is predictably the most cost-effective car to run with its 35mpg average economy and 214g/km emissions. With this unit installed, the XJ is also one of the few luxury saloons to sneak under the £1 per mile barrier for running costs. The 3.0-litre petrol is another popular choice with a 27mpg average economy and 249g/km emissions. Venture into V8 territory and you'll be lucky to get close to the official average of 25mpg but buyers at this level usually have the disposable income to make fuel costs something of an irrelevance. Insurance groups are a reasonable 15 for the 2.7D, rising to 18 for the V8 and 20 for the supercharged R model.

The Jaguar XJ isn't the newest kid on the luxury saloon block, having been in showrooms since 2003, but the car's designers can be very proud of the fact that it remains relevant and competitive in the modern marketplace. The XJ's sporty nature had long been an underplayed strength but the current models make more of the platform's dynamic excellence with a range of styling tweaks.

Whether the car looks better as a result of its facelift is open to debate. It certainly looks sportier but there is the risk that in trying to pinch sales from the 7-Series and the A8, the latest XJ's looks will deter traditional Jag customers. Check the car's recent sales performance and the answer soon presents itself. These traditional Jaguar customers have been in short supply of late and appealing to younger buyers could be the best way for Jaguar to make the most of a product that still has the verve to worry the competition.

TOP 5 XJ SERIES DEALS

The results below show the top XJ SERIES deals on buyacar

	Jaguar XJ Series XJ 2.7 TDVi Executive 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £653	Saving £8,311	Price £37,236
	Jaguar XJ Series XJ 2.7 TDVi Sovereign [LWB] 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £802	Saving £8,946	Price £44,351
	Jaguar XJ Series XJ 2.7 TDVi Sovereign 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £773	Saving £8,628	Price £42,919
	Jaguar XJ Series XJ 3.0 V6 Executive 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £658	Saving £7,946	Price £35,796
	Jaguar XJ Series 4.2 V8 XJR Supercharged 4dr Auto Saloon
	ETR	Mthly £906	Saving £10,193	Price £50,159

typical 9.62% APR

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