The 2008 Jaguar XJ is available with a normally aspirated or supercharged 4.2-liter V8, and a short or long wheelbase. All five XJ models seat five, and all are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The standard XJ8 ($63,835) is powered by the 300-hp, normally aspirated V8, and it's comprehensively equipped. Standard features include leather seats with contrasting piping, heated front and rear seats, Bluetooth cell-phone interface, automatic xenon headlights with power washers. The 140-watt audio system features eight speakers and a single-CD player. Other features include dual-zone automatic climate control; interior air filter; power tilt/telescoping wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; cruise control; 16-way power front seats with lumbar adjustment; power-adjustable pedals; memory for the driver's seat, mirrors, steering wheel, and pedals; heated power mirrors with auto-dimming; power windows and locks; remote keyless entry; sunroof; auto-dimming rearview mirror; universal garage door opener; rain-sensing variable-intermittent wipers; theft-deterrent system; front and rear fog lights; self-leveling suspension; and P235/50R18 tires on alloy wheels.
The XJ8 L ($67,335) is equipped like the XJ8, but its wheelbase is five inches longer, which means considerably more legroom in the back seat.
The Vanden Plas ($76,085) is the quintessential luxury Jaguar, adding British niceties such as a twin-stitched leather dashboard, Peruvian boxwood inlays in the standard burl walnut trim, rear-seat picnic trays and deep-pile lamb's wool rugs. Like the XJ8 L, Vanden Plas is built on the long wheelbase. It comes standard with a DVD-based navigation system, 320-watt Alpine stereo with 12 speakers and a 6CD changer, front park assist, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, power-folding mirrors, navigation system, power rear sunshade, and P255/40R19 tires.
The XJR ($83,585) is the high-performance model, built on the short wheelbase and powered by the 400-hp, supercharged version of the V8. The XJR also gets a firmer suspension with steel springs, rather than air springs, larger Brembo brakes, R Performance sport seats and special trim inside and out. It also has adaptive cruise control, and Z-rated P255/35R20 tires.
The Super V8 ($94,085) is the luxo-hot rod of the line, sort of a long-wheelbase Vanden Plas XJR, with the 400-hp V8 and Brembo brakes. It also features four-zone climate control, adjustable rear-seats, a front passenger's seat that can be adjusted from the rear, manual side sunshades, and a DVD-based rear seat entertainment system with two 6.5-inch display screens.
Options are few, given the level of standard equipment. A Warm Climate package ($1,350) for XJR and Vanden Plas includes four-zone climate control and rear sunblinds. The Multimedia rear DVD package ($2,950), touch-screen navigation ($2,300) and Alpine audio ($1,200) are offered for models that do not include them. Standalone options include Front Park Assist ($250), heated steering wheel ($400), heated and cooled front seats ($550), high-definition radio ($500), Sirius satellite radio hardware ($450) and a 19-inch wheels ($1400).
Safety features match the class baseline: dual front airbags, front occupant side-impact airbags, curtain-style head protection airbags front and rear, rear park assist, tire-pressure monitor, advanced four-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist, traction control, and electronic stability control. Some other full-size luxury sedans offer driver's knee airbags and rear side-impact airbags. Front park assist is optional; we recommend getting it because it's handy when parking. The XJ's tire-pressure monitor is one of the most sophisticated available, measuring absolute pressure in each tire. Most systems rely on the ABS system to measure tire pressure, which means they measure each tire relative to the other. Theoretically, if all four tire