JAGUAR XJL SUPERCHARGED: WHERE POWER MEETS VALUE

March 3, 2023

In 2011, Jaguar took their flagship model, the XJ, and gave it a ground up makeover. At the time, the freshly revamped XJ looked like nothing Jaguar currently offered. The historic manufacture, responsible for classics such as the E-Type and XJ220, was suffering from an aging lineup and desperately needed something to excite customers and attract a new base. The new design threw the dated, and frankly decrepit, old look out and replaced it with a sleek, super yacht design. 

This new approach was necessary because Jaguar was stepping into the fiercest battlefields in the car industry, the executive saloon. This space was dominated by the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and the iconic Mercedes S-Class. Each offered an extended wheelbase version, and a souped up more powerful version. What Jaguar did differently, was offer an extended wheelbase model that was also souped up and more powerful. The XJL Supercharged. 

Nowadays, the XJs can be had for between $23,000-$34,000 depending on the mileage, spec and of course model year. In my case, since I like over the top and unnecessary, I opted for a Supercharged XJL with every optional extra. Go big or go home. In my case, the price landed right in the middle of the range for a 2011 with only 32,000 miles. 

The value that’s available for these cars is astounding, and it’s something more people need to take advantage of. Why on earth would you spend double the money on a new car (of any “affordable” make), made entirely of plastic, has no power and looks dismal inside out? 

The new Supercharged XJ was immediately featured in an episode of Top Gear (Season 16, Episode 6). Jeremy Clarkson raced the sun across England…and won. The moment I saw that episode I knew I had to have one. Being that the starting price for a XJL Supercharged was $92,000 and I was still in college, that wasn’t necessarily realistic at the time. But, fast forward 11 years and that wild Top Gear dream became a reality. 

Visually the XJL is a masterpiece. Both inside and out. From the elegant leaper Jaguar hood ornament to the beefy dual exhaust that sounds like an enraged… well, Jaguar. Which is quite fitting since the rear taillights are made to mimic a Jaguar’s claw. One of my favorite pieces of design, is what Jaguar called the “flying bridge.” A lot of the design influence on the XJL is from a super yacht. The A-Pillars connect to a body color panel on the roof, between the massive sunroof and rear windshield which is modeled after the flying bridge that can be found on most super yachts. At 207” long, one can be forgiven for mistaking the XJL for a limo. Especially since it can often be found in the motorcade of the royal family. 

The interior is certainly fit for a royal. Everything is wrapped in luxurious leather, and exquisite wooden inlays. I was extremely lucky and found one with the Navy blue interior (as a Spurs fan this is extremely fitting), and to this day I have never seen another one. When it was first released, the XJL was one of the first cars to feature an all digital dashboard, and one of my favorite details is the where the dial illuminates the number it’s indicating. In fact, this effect is still featured on all Land Rover Jaguar vehicles. 

I wish I could tell you how it is to sit in the back as a passenger with 44” of legroom, but I’ve never been the passenger so you’ll have to ask the other contributors to this fine publication since they have been wafted about like foreign dignitaries in it. Let’s be honest, stepping out of this vehicle makes you feel important whether you’re the driver or passenger, and that’s one of the most quintessential things a car like this is supposed to do. I’ll take you back to the price again. What else can you spend that kind of money on to get this level of luxury and performance? 

Speaking of performance, let’s move under the bonnet shall we? The supercharged 5.0L V8 produces a whopping 470bhp and 424 ft lbs of torque. Given that the XJL is made of aluminum, the acceleration is mind boggling for a car of its size. Keep in mind, the XJL is 5 inches longer than a GMC Yukon, and can achieve a sub 5 second 0-60 time. Putting your foot down is like being catapulted off the deck of a Nimitz Class aircraft carrier in an F-18 Hornet. 

A party piece of the XJL Supercharged is Dynamic Mode. When engage, the seatbelts pull back, the suspension stiffens for sharper cornering, and my personal favorite, the dial cluster glows red. Perhaps the most surprising aspect is mpg. I find that I regularly get around 20mpg, which for a car with that power and that size is really respectable. 

For all the praise I’m giving my car (I’m obviously biased), there are of course some flaws albeit minor. The most annoying isn’t exactly the car’s fault. Living in Pittsburgh, the roads are shit, adequate at best and the 20” rims don’t leave much room for tire profile. I’ve already hit potholes that have knocked the wheels out of alignment and caused bubbles in the tires. But I blame that more on the city than the car, because when you’re on a good road the ride is just sublime. 

With that said, you do have to be careful and really pay attention to the road surface when driving. Another gripe is the touch screen isn’t as responsive as I’d like it to be. I get it’s not an iPad, but I wish it was a bit quicker. 

When it’s all said and done, if you’re looking for an executive sports saloon and don’t want to pay $100,000, look no further than the XJL Supercharged. For the money, I cannot think of a better option. The others may match the luxury, or the performance, but they cannot match the value or the exclusivity. People are always astounded to find out my car is a 2011. The design is absolutely timeless, inside and out, and will turn heads everywhere you go. 

The XJL makes you feel special as the driver and as a passenger. You really feel like you’re connected to the car, and how it feels the road. When you’re a person that cares about cars, that connection and bond makes all the difference in the world. And if after all that you still need convincing, remember, it’s faster than the sun. 

Spec your own!

Written by Theo Caloyer