Jaguar X-Type 2004 Review

It was not and could not be a real Jag, detractors argued, not with drive transmitted to the road through the front wheels.

While the 2.1-litre entry level model remains front wheel drive, all wheel drive is available with the 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre V6s.

It has gone a long way to answering many of the jibes and in doing so has elevated the car to an entirely different plain.

Front wheel drive is one thing, rear wheel drive is highly prized, but all-wheel drive...well that's something else again.

Jaguar has been pushing the sporting and safety aspects of its four-paw "Cats" in recent print and television advertising campaigns.

And, late last year, it released a Limited Edition X Type Sport.

The Limited Edition carries a small plaque at the bottom right hand corner of the driver's door, with the name of F1 driver Mark Webber on it.

It is powered by a 2.5-litre V6 with an output of 145kW and maximum 244Nm of torque at 3000rpm, with 90 per cent of torque is available between 2500 and 6000rpm.

In terms of performance it is not going to move your world but as a total package the car has a certain intrinsic appeal.

Guess it must be the X factor?

Our test vehicle was finished in Jag's new Ultraviolet colour, a finish that looks blue in some light and almost mauve at other times.

It's a good looking thing with huge, guard filling 18 inch BBS alloys and low profile rubber.

In keeping with tradition twin pipes occupy the space below the rear bumper.

The interior of the car is distinguished by a spotted, grey silky oak wood finish, not the kind of wood that you normally associate with Jags and sure not to be to everyone's taste.

Leather is standard and the sports seats are trimmed in full leather too.

The 2.5-litre engine is an enthusiastic performer and can match it with similar-sized Euros but high powered Japanese performers will leave it in their wake.

Standard on the Limited Edition is five-speed automatic transmission which unfortunately reduces acceleration times from 8.3 seconds to 8.9 seconds.

The gated shift is okay for normal driving, but does not lend itself to quick, hard changes where it is easy to leapfrog a gear.

The full time Traction-4 all wheel drive system is biased towards the rear wheels which take 60 per cent of torque.

Sport suspension is standard and handling is above average but the car has a tendency to oversteer on the limit and moves around under hard braking.

Fuel economy is rated at 11.0L/100km city cycle and 7.4L/100km on the highway.

During the test period we achieved an average of 11.2L/100km from the 61-litre tank.

Standard equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags, climate air, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats and a steering wheel with cruise and audio controls.

The Limited Edition X-Type Sport is priced from $79,990.