Jaguar X-Type (2001 – 2009) Review
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Jaguar X-Type (2001 – 2009) At A Glance
Styling has aged well. Good to drive with fine ride and handling.
Early cars suffered from poor build quality. High tax on V6 petrols.
Rewind to 1998 and Jaguar was then part of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, a stable of fancy brands including Aston Martin, Land Rover and Volvo. While that meant injections of cash and access to Ford hardware, Jaguar also had to earn its coin - and that meant it needed models that sold in bigger volumes than the relatively niche XK8 and XJ8.
Enter the X-Type, Jaguar’s attempt to take on the German heavyweights in the compact exec sector like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. If you haven’t heard it already, a frequent brickbat thrown at the X-Type was that it was just a Mondeo in drag.
It’s true that the X-Type shared a platform with the second generation Mondeo, but it had many unique components and bespoke suspension tuning. And the Mondeo was a car blessed with fine ride and handling. It’s also worth remembering that the contemporary XK8 could still trace some of its hardware as far back as the XJS…
At launch the X-Type came with a choice of 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre petrol V6s, both with four-wheel-drive as standard, as well as a dinky 2.1-litre V6 with (shock horror) front-wheel-drive from 2002. It took until 2003 for a diesel version to arrive - admittedly a 2.0-litre Ford unit - but a more powerful 2.2-litre arrived later which was the oil burner of choice.
But the first thing you’re likely to notice is the X-Type’s styling. Jaguar had already taken a run at modernising its back catalogue of iconic designs with the S-Type, and the X-Type trod a similar line. Time has been kind to it, but it’s very much a matter of personal opinion as to whether it elegantly recalls the past or reeks of pipes and slippers.
As for reliability, the X-Type is certainly an improvement over Jaguars of old, but at the same time you need to be cautious of a car that is 16 years old as a minimum. Early cars suffered from poor build quality, but post-2003 cars had most of the faults ironed out. A front-wheel-drive model will dodge any potential issues with transfer cases and most headaches are related to electrical gremlins and suspension components wearing out.
Reviews for Jaguar X-Type (2001 – 2009)'s top 3 rivals
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Jaguar X-Type (2001 – 2009) handling and engines
- Engines range from 2.0 D to 3.0 V6
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 19–55 mpg
If you’re wearing your Jaguar flat cap you’ll know that a true Jag blends fine, if not class-leading, handling with good ride quality. And on that score the X-Type actually hits the nail on the head.
With a different steering set up from its Mondeo stablemate (which was already very good) and a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension, the X-Type steers well, soaks up bumps with ease and that combination makes it a genuinely enjoyable car.
Yes, the contemporary BMW 3 Series is arguably more fun, but not by much. And for the 80% of the time when you’re not trying to break a personal best on the way home, the balance of comfort and composure is just right.
As for engine options, the 2.5- and 3.0-litre V6s are sweet, fun and quick enough, but add in the standard four-wheel-drive and you’re looking at ruinously high running costs - 25mpg and £735 a year VED is the stark reality of going petrol.
In truth the 2.2-litre diesel is the sane option and if you can find a pre-2007 version without a DPF that’s one less thing to worry about going wrong plus it's available with a six-speed manual or auto option.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 D | 49–50 mpg | 9.9 s | 149 g/km |
| 2.2 D | 47 mpg | 8.9 s | 159 g/km |
| 2.5 V6 | 30 mpg | 8.3 s | 234 g/km |
| 3.0 V6 | 28 mpg | 7.0 s | 244 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Jaguar X-Type (2001 – 2009)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
91%
Real MPG
19–55 mpg
MPGs submitted
560
Jaguar X-Type (2001 – 2009) interior
- Boot space is 452 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4672 mm |
| Width | 1789 mm |
| Height | 1392–1430 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2710 mm |
On the inside a more obvious nod to the past seems more acceptable than the outside. The X-Type mixes all the contemporary toys you could want from a car of this age with more olde-worlde design. Early cars were swathed in wood and leather, so you’ll want a later car if you need something more contemporary when faux carbon or aluminium were options.
Practically speaking those in the front get the best deal. The driving position is comfortable with plenty of adjustment and space is good enough for a car of this size.
In the rear it’s a bit more cramped and frequent adult passengers will likely start to grumble. The boot is actually quite generous, with more than 450 litres available, but the shape of the boot isn’t ideal and may require some creativity if you plan to pack it out on a regular basis.
With several revisions and upgrades over its lifespan it’s worth seeking out one of the higher specification models so you get the best toys and materials. Sovereign, Plus and Premium specification cars get the best deal and if you want a car with less wood and chrome Sport models offer a more discreet look.
Jaguar X-Type (2001 – 2009) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4672 mm |
| Width | 1789 mm |
| Height | 1392–1430 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2710 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1502–1555 kg |
| Boot Space | 452 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 10000–12500 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £20,000–£31,800 |
| Insurance Groups | - |
| Road Tax Bands | F–L |
| Official MPG | 27.5–50.0 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4 |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | 1 |
| Overall | - |
On sale until January 2010
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.0 Diesel S | £23,011 | 50.0 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.0 Diesel SE | £26,011 | 50.0 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.0 Diesel Sovereign | £28,511 | 50.0 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.0 Diesel Sport Premium | £27,511 | 50.0 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel S | £22,542 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel S Auto | £22,542 | - | - |
| 2.2 Diesel SE | £27,011 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel SE Auto | £27,011 | - | - |
| 2.2 Diesel Sovereign | £29,511 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel Sovereign Auto | £29,511 | - | - |
| 2.2 Diesel Sport Premium | £28,511 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel Sport Premium Auto | £28,511 | - | - |
On sale until November 2007
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.0 Diesel S | £21,500 | 49.1 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.0 Diesel SE | £25,500 | 49.1 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.0 Diesel Sovereign | £28,000 | 49.1 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.0 Diesel Sport Premium | £27,000 | 49.1 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel S | £22,500 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel S Auto | £22,500 | - | - |
| 2.2 Diesel SE | £26,500 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel SE Auto | £26,500 | - | - |
| 2.2 Diesel Sovereign | £29,000 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel Sovereign Auto | £29,000 | - | - |
| 2.2 Diesel Sport Premium | £28,000 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel Sport Premium Auto | £28,000 | - | - |
On sale until May 2007
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.5 V6 S | £23,500 | 29.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| 2.5 V6 S Auto | £23,500 | - | - |
| 2.5 V6 SE | £27,500 | 29.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| 2.5 V6 SE Auto | £27,500 | - | - |
| 2.5 V6 Sovereign | £30,000 | 29.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| 2.5 V6 Sovereign Auto | £30,000 | - | - |
| 2.5 V6 Sport Premium | £28,500 | 29.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| 2.5 V6 Sport Premium Auto | £28,500 | - | - |
On sale until March 2007
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.0 Diesel Classic | £20,000 | 49.1 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.0 Diesel Sport | £22,505 | 49.1 mpg | 9.9 s |
| 2.2 Diesel Sport | £23,505 | 47.1 mpg | 8.9 s |
| 2.5 V6 Sport | £24,365 | 29.5 mpg | 8.3 s |
| 2.5 V6 Sport Auto | £24,365 | - | - |
| 3.0 V6 Sovereign | £31,800 | 27.5 mpg | 7.0 s |
| 3.0 V6 Sovereign Auto | £31,800 | - | - |
| 3.0 V6 Sport Premium | £30,300 | 27.5 mpg | 7.0 s |
| 3.0 V6 Sport Premium Auto | £30,300 | - | - |
Model History
- January 2001
- January 2002
- March 2002
- March 2003
- January 2004
- February 2005
- March 2005
- September 2005
- January 2008
January 2001
Engine range began with 195bhp 2,495cc Duratec V6 offering 180lb ft torque at 3,000rpm and 231bhp 2,968cc Duratec V6 with 210lb ft torque at 3,000rpm. Five speed manual and five speed automatic transmissions available with both engines.
Performance of 2.5 manual is 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds, 140mph top speed, combined mpg of 29.5 and CO2 emissions of 234g/km. 3.0 manual gets to 60 in 6.6 seconds, goes on to 146mph, delivers a combined mpg of 27.5 and emits 244g/km CO2.
Original on the Road List Prices, which include three year warranty, were: 2.5 V6: £22,000; 2.5 V6 Sport: £24,000; 2.5 V6 SE: £24,750; 3.0 V6 Sport: £25,500; 3.0 V6 SE: £26,250.
Air-Conditioning, ABS, Alloy Wheels and All-Round Airbags standard on all models. Automatic Transmission is an extra £1,250, Dynamic Stability Control an extra £480, and Rear Parking Sensors an extra £310.
January 2002
Three year UNLIMITED MILEAGE warranty on all new Jags sold by UK Jag dealers.
March 2002
2.1 litre front-drive only version from £19,995 from March 2002 puts out 156PS at 6,800rpm and 145lb ft torque at 4,100rpm. 0-60 8.9 seconds, top speed 130mph, combined consumption 30.7mpg and CO2 output 219g/km which originally gave it a BIK % of 26%.
Automatically recognises when child seat fitted to front passenger seat and de-activates the airbag.
March 2003
X Type V6 S anounced March 2003 at £20,995 with a lot of extras over the standard car.
January 2004
Got develpment of Mondeo 2.0 TDCI diesel engine early 2004. 130PS and 350Nm torque, emits 149g/km CO2, priced from £19,995.
February 2005
Diesel EU4 without the need for a particulate filter from February 2005, but CO2 up from 149g/km to 152g/km; prices from £20,995.
March 2005
XS special from March 2005 based on EU4 2.0 diesel and 2.5 V6 four wheel drive. 'Sports Collection' body styling including front spoiler, lower black mesh grille, sill appliqués, boot lid spoiler, rear valance and exhaust tail pipe trims, 18" Aruba alloy wheels and convenience pack (metallic paint, powerfold mirrors, rear park assist and carpet mats). XS Estate version offered elements of the Sports Collection, including upper and lower black mesh grill chrome tailpipe finishers and unique Proteus 18-inch alloys together with the convenience pack and silver roof rails. Colours: Midnight, Platinum, Zircon and Quartz. Advertised list prices started at £22,995 OTR.
September 2005
155PS EU4 X-Type 2.2 diesel from September 2005, with 360Nm torque and 6-speed box at last. 47.1mpg combined. CO2 159g/100km. New sound proofing. Two new exterior body colours – Winter Gold and Indigo – and a new 15-spoke, 16-inch Antares alloy wheel introduced to 2006MY X-TYPE range. 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) is reached in 8.9 seconds, top speed of 137 mph (220 kph).
Both 2.2 diesel saloon and estate car versions on sale from September 2005, prices from £22,995 for the saloon and £24,165 for the estate.
January 2008
Facelifted and revised for 2008, together with AW6 6-speed automatic for the 2.2 diesel. Priced from £21,500 for the entry model 2.0 litre diesel saloon. New 2.2 diesel automatic priced from £22,500 for the saloon and £23,900 for the estate. Facelifted X-Type went on sale in the UK in March 2008 and in other European markets in April 2008.
What to watch out for
Reports of clutch failures and drive-train whines. Reports of transfer box failures on four wheel drive models.
High incidence of DMF failures on 2.2 diesels during late 2009.
DPFs were only fitted as standard to facelift 2.2 diesel automatics. They were a rarely selected oprion on 2.0 diesel and 2.2 diesel manuals.
Cooling fan failure.
Further problems include erratic slow running in traffic with poor engine response from low revs and lights dimming (both main and dipped beam) for no apparent reason. Several complaints about poor headlight performance.
Boot lock solenoid also subject to failure due to moisture ingress.
One Backroomer wrote: "One year of ownership 16k miles. Lots of little warranty claims saved for one visit all known by Jaguar. Weeping washers solved fitting of non return valve, rocking drivers seat mod fitted, boot locking system replaced, car juddered in 5th at 30 mph: downloaded new software: problem solved, drivers door catch faulty, had dried out. Lubricated now OK, next week goes in for two days to have steering replaced squeaking noise, may be bearings and another developed this week petrol guage reads half when full, then dances between half and full, will be sorted same time as steering. Dealership very good and co-operative West Sussex."
Other reader problems with ZF autobox, broken driver seat runners, failed door seal, failed central locking mechanism, climate control not working, boot release not working, whining from the steering rack. Problem with ZF autobox identified as fractured clutch piston. Apparently common. Typical rectification costs by an automatic transmission specialist is £1,750.
Some of the first X Type diesels sold had similar problems to the Mondeo TDCI 130. By early 2010, diesel pump failures also damaging the injectors were on the increase for both the 2.0 and 2.2 litre diesels.
On four wheel drive 2.5s and 3.0s, the front tyres can wear unevenly to the extent of serious wear on the inner shoulders. After 10,000 miles they need checking by applying almost full lock and having a look. Rear tracking is adjustable for toe in / toe out, but cannot be set with some types of alloy wheel because they do not have continuous rims and confuse the laser. Too much toe in will make the steering very light. Too much toe out will lead to severe tyre inner shoulder wear.
On V6s, the bottom hose is held on by a wire clip and can pop off, losing all the coolant. Has been a tsb mod fitting a jubilee clip, but very hard to get at and sometimes not properly fixed.
Automatic transmission failure rate on 2.5s and 3.0s more than 4 years old increasing. If low mileage and Jaguar serviced, Jaguar usually contributes. JATCO advises owners not to carry out AUTOMATIC transmission fluid changes hemselves because it's difficult to ensure the correct amount is added (the gearbox needs to be run to a specific temperature - This requires diagnostic equipment) and probably they will use the wrong oil, e.g. Land Rover Discovery ATF is different from a Land Rover Freelander, and Jaguar X-Type (Jatco) uses different ATF to a Land Rover Freelander (Jatco).
On early cars (6 - 7 years old) outer CV joints may need replacing at a cost of £332 at a Jaguar dealer because both reluctor rings can break causing the ABS to stop working. Expanding corrosion of the cast iron under the alloy rings breaks them off.
If ABS and DSC warnings light up on the dash then check whether or not the rear brake lights are working. If not the problem may be nothing more than a blown fuse.
Late X-Types on 2008-2009/59 reg best avoided as quality went down because a lot of the workforce was working notice and because a lot of the cars sat in compounds for extended periods before being sold.
16-08-2011:On 2.5 and 3.0 V6, a rumble from the front may mean that the bottom crank pulley damper assembly 4659709 is starting to separate around the rubber insert in the middle of the flat dinner plate sized wheel. Costs £83.23 + vat. Pulley Assy £25.47 +vat and the V-Belt £17.86+vat Total Labour £82.00. Separation is usuallly more marked on the inside than the side one can observe. If it fails completely then engine is written off.
22-08-2011:2.0D can go sluggish due to a faulty heat sensor in the cylinder block, which can be difficult to trace as may not register in ECU.
07-01-2012:Tip if 2.0 or 2.2 diesel will start, but refuses to tick over in cold weather. Probably caused by engine fuel pump valve sensor sticking. Withdraw dip stick, remove oil filler cap, and remove plastic engine cover which is only held by simple rubber grommets. The unit is located beside the radiator just behind the offside headlamp.a slight tap should release it.
21-02-2012:Apparently 2009 X Type diesels were fitted with clutches manufactured by either Borg & Beck or AP. Some have repeatedly failed and been replced by a more reliable LUK clutch.
07-11-2013:Difficulty of engaging 1st on a 2004 2.5 AWD was due to failing DMF and clutch. Replacement, togeter with new sump and oil cooler an=mounted to £1,400.
04-08-2015:Report of sudden surging of 2004 Jaguar X-Type 2.2 diesel while decellerating. On braking hard, dash indicated "cruise control cancelled". This is the subject of a 2011 Recall: R/2011/108.
