The Jaguar S-Type is a midsize car built from 2000 to 2008 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United Kingdom — 100% of those on record. Between 2000 and 2008 it grew 2 cm longer and gained 72 kg. Engines offered: V6, V8. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the S-Type is
The Jaguar S-Type is a midsize car that Jaguar built from 2000 to 2008 — 9 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2006. It has been offered with V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Jaguar range: XF, Vanden Plas.
Where the S-Type is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 385 S-Types on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United Kingdom | SAJ | 2000-2008 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Jaguar VIN decide which of these 2 lines your S-Type belongs to. What every character in a S-Type VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Jaguar S-Type adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
S-Type generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the S-Type's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the S-Type that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-2005 | 486 cm | 291 cm | 1683 kg | - | - |
| 2006-2008 | 488 cm | 291 cm | 1755 kg | +2 cm | +72 kg |
Between 2000 and 2008 the S-Type gained 2 cm in length (+0.4%) and 72 kg in weight (+4.3%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the S-Type that is 72 kg against 2 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Jaguar S-Type tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment S-Type owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Jaguar S-Type have? Power & range
The Jaguar S-Type is offered with 2 powertrains — 3L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Jaguar S-Type, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | RWD | Premium |
| V8 | 4.2L · 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The S-Type by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Jaguar S-Type. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | S-Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 25 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 521 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,455/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 160 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Jaguar S-Type?
The S-Type is a midsize car, built from 2000 to 2008 across 2 generations. Engines offered: V6, V8.
Where is the Jaguar S-Type made?
Across 385 cars in our records the split is: the United Kingdom (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the S-Type have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2006. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the S-Type grew 2 cm longer and gained 72 kg.
What is the Jaguar S-Type warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the S-Type reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific S-Type?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Jaguar
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar F-TYPE | 2014–2026 | 25 | 26 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Jaguar F-PACE | 2017–2026 | 31 | 29 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Jaguar XJ | 2002–2019 | 44 | 21 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Jaguar XF | 2009–2026 | 63 | 35 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Jaguar XK | 2000–2015 | 29 | 19 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Jaguar E-PACE | 2018–2026 | 21 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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