2004 JAGUAR X-TYPE NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Jaguar X-Type?
In order to stay competitive, Jaguar has dropped the base price of its baby cat by about $3,000. This year, opting for the Sport package on the Jaguar X-Type 3.0 will get you 18-inch wheels and an upgraded stereo. The 2004 Jaguar X-Type also gets new alloy wheel designs, and a new color scheme debuts for the exterior and interior.

Advantages of the 2004 Jaguar X-Type:

• Standard all-wheel drive
• Low starting price for base models
• Surprisingly good comfort levels front and rear

Objections to the 2004 Jaguar X-Type:

• Downmarket materials quality
• Low resale values
• Reputation for stranding owners at the side of the road
• Price quickly escalates with the addition of a few options

Editor's Advice:
It seems to our staff that there are two primary rationales for buying the 2004 Jaguar X-Type: 1.) “I want a Jaguar!” and 2.) “It’s pretty!” Dynamically, the Jaguar X-Type has difficulty competing on equal footing with a standard-issue Honda Accord EX much less the best entry-luxury sedans from Europe and Japan. Neither of its engines, the 2.5-liter 192-horsepower V6 nor the 3.0-liter 227-horsepower V6, stacks up to its competitors in terms of refinement. The ride is smooth and the X-Type is stable under a wide variety of road conditions, thanks in part to its standard all-wheel drive, but it lacks the raw athletic prowess of its German and Japanese competitors even when endowed with the optional Sport package. Like the exterior, the interior looks upscale and classy, with its wide expanse of lustrous wood and creamy optional leather, but the switchgear and other materials are primarily Ford-sourced and feel cheap. This Jag’s new-car smell even recalls a Ford product. But what most concerns us is the high percentage of X-Type owners who have reported reliability trouble with this car. We’ve seen several stuck on the side of Southern California highways with the flashers going and the hood open, testament to the build quality problems that Jaguar has been experiencing with this vehicle since it debuted. Resale values are likewise dismal. For those jonesing for a Jag, a lightly equipped X-Type 2.5 presents the best value. With the X-Type 3.0’s bigger engine and expensive options ladled on, you may wonder why you’re not considering more competent luxury sport sedans more closely.