Jaguar has a history of making some of the finest cars such as the XK120, which was the fastest production car the world had ever seen at the time. Many Jaguars were driven in rallies and races across America and even Europe. However, over time, the brand that was once known for producing "aircraft on wheels” entered its dark ages when it featured the electrical components of the infamous Joe Lucas in its lineup.
However, Jaguar managed to redeem its lost glory by making some of the most comfortable high-performance cars on the planet. So, while there are shoddy Jaguars out there, the brand has also produced a few exceptionally reliable and competent cars.
In this list, we look at five used Jaguars we'd actually get right now and five that are actually not worth their price.
10 Best: 2007 Jaguar S-Type
At first glance, you may feel like dismissing the 2007 S-Type for its retro styling, but that would be a great mistake. The S-Type has three engine offerings: a 3.0-liter V6 (235 hp), a 4.2-liter V8 (300 hp), and a 4.2-liter V8 supercharged (400 hp). The impressive powertrain capabilities of the Jaguar with the "olde-worlde" look made it outsell competitors like the Buick LaCrosse and Audi A6.
Although discontinued, you can still find a used 2007 Jaguar S-Type for roughly between $5,700 - $7,800 with great mileage.
9 Money Pit: 2008 Jaguar X-Type
Jaguar introduced the X-Type in 2001 to compete with the BMW 3 Series, but it failed miserably. The X-Type has the same mechanicals as the Ford Mondeo, and this is both a blessing and a curse. The X-Type has sharp handling but lacks rear-wheel drive.
Build quality is another issue owners of the Jaguar X-Type have to contend with, as the cabin is a bit too tight and there's no diesel engine available. There are over 10 complaints about the 2008 X-Type from owners according to NHTSA.
8 Best: 2009 Jaguar XK
The 2009 Jaguar XK is comfortable, sporty, and muscular. The 420-hp 4.2-liter AJ V8 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission allow you to cruise on 16 mpg around the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The stitched leather interior is well insulated to block out external noise as you ride in the two-seater performance car.
The tech features of the 2009 XK make it hard to ignore. The seven-inch color touchscreen on the dashboard helps for seamless Bluetooth connectivity and climate audio navigation management by leveraging on the Macromedia Flash software.
7 Money Pit: 2013 Jaguar XF
The 2013 Jaguar XF is a midsize luxury sedan that comes with three engine options: a turbocharged inline-four, a supercharged gas V6, and a supercharged gas V8. While the power outputs of the engines are impressive, they are plagued with issues that cannot be overlooked.
One-fourth of the complaints about the 2013 Jaguar XF has to do with the engine, which has been recalled two times due to CAC hose detachment and unexpected engine stalling. For a used 2013 XF that costs as much as $21,995, you'd expect it to come with a better reliability rating.
6 Best: 2014 Jaguar XJ
Jaguar took the definition of muscular to a whole new level with the introduction of the 2014 XJ that has two engine offerings: an inter-cooled supercharged V6 and a supercharged V8 that pump out 340 hp and 550 hp respectively.
If you are big on acceleration, it would interest you to know that the Jaguar XJ hits 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. To stay one step ahead on the road, the Jaguar XJ features a blind-spot monitor and an instinctive all-wheel drive.
5 Money Pit: 2017 Jaguar F-Pace
The 2017 F-Pace is fun to drive, with spacious cabin and cargo areas, but that's just about what you get from it. The 2.0-liter diesel engine is subpar to provide the kind of acceleration you would have wished for.
There's also the issue of excessive CO2 emission of the diesel engine of the F-Pace. This does not conform with the set emission standards for passenger cars, so a number of F-Pace SUVs were recalled. Other recalls were due to issues with the electrical system, driveshaft, and fuel pump.
4 Best: 2016 Jaguar F-Type
The powerful engines of the 2016 F-Type luxury sports cars are capable of delivering between 340 and 550 hp, while the nimble handling makes driving, even on bumpy roads exhilarating. The two-seater F-Type navigates around sharp corners seamlessly while exhibiting little body lean.
If you want a luxury daily driver, with cutting-edge technologies and neat styling, the 2016 F-Type is a better choice than the Alfa Romeo 4C, which is more suitable for track events.
3 Money Pit: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace
When it comes to style, the 2018 E-Pace is enticing enough, if you don't mind its rather short and heavy build. Under the hood, you will find a 2.0-liter engine that's pretty slow to respond on the road, even though on paper Jaguar claims that it's a 9-speed automatic. This can pose a big problem when you are at a junction or roundabout.
What's more, the Jaguar E-Pace isn't exactly the firmest SUV out there, so expect some jostling over potholes and severely beaten-up urban roads. The handling of the E-Pace isn't also the best, as the steering tends to squirm under the hands if you swiftly accelerate through sharp corners. There are two recalls on the 2018 E-Pace due to a brake fluid leak and fuel leaks.
2 Best: 2017 Jaguar XE
Jaguar's 2017 XE sports sedan boasts of sharp handling and lightning-fast acceleration would definitely appeal to every performance-minded used car buyer. It's a cheaper, nimbler, and lighter alternative to the BMW 3 Series.
The base engine of the 2017 XE is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with a power rating of 240 hp and 251 lb-ft. But the top-of-the-line engine in the 5-passenger sports sedan is the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that churns out 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. You will also find a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine for the 2017 XE with an output of 180 hp and 318 lb-ft.
1 Money Pit: 2019 Jaguar I-Pace
Don't get it twisted: the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace is a good production electric vehicle that hits 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, with a 124-mph top speed. But as a performance car, you expect all moving parts of the 2019 I-Pace to function properly. Otherwise, things can turn out pretty badly for the driver.
In 2019, Jaguar announced that it will be recalling 3,083 units of the I-Pace due to brake failure. Investigations revealed that there's an increased delay between the interval a driver hits the brakes and when the car starts coming to a halt.