The Jaguar XJ is a full-size car built from 2002 to 2019 over 5 generations. Most were assembled in the United Kingdom — 100% of those on record. Between 2002 and 2019 it grew 10 cm longer and gained 52 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 XJ is
The Jaguar XJ is a full-size car that Jaguar built from 2002 to 2019 — 18 model years. Our measurements put it at 5 generations, the current one starting in 2019. It has been offered with V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Jaguar range: F-TYPE, F-PACE, XF.
Where the XJ 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 49 XJs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United Kingdom | SAJ | 2003-2011 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Jaguar VIN decide which of these 5 lines your XJ belongs to. What every character in a XJ VIN means →
XJ generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the XJ'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 XJ that gives 5 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 502 cm | 287 cm | 1813 kg | - | - |
| 2004-2007 | 509 cm | 303 cm | 1708 kg | +7 cm | -105 kg |
| 2010-2013 | 512 cm | 303 cm | 1755 kg | +3 cm | +47 kg |
| 2016 | 525 cm | 316 cm | 1884 kg | +13 cm | +129 kg |
| 2019 | 512 cm | 303 cm | 1865 kg | -13 cm | -19 kg |
Between 2002 and 2019 the XJ gained 10 cm in length (+2.0%) and 52 kg in weight (+2.9%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the XJ that is 52 kg against 10 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Jaguar XJ tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment XJ 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 XJ have? Power & range
The Jaguar XJ is offered with 2 powertrains — 3L 6-cyl, 5L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Jaguar XJ, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | RWD | Premium |
| V8 | 5.0L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S8) | 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 XJ by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Jaguar XJ. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | XJ | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 44 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 132 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $2,902/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 131 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Jaguar XJ?
The XJ is a full-size car, built from 2002 to 2019 across 5 generations. Engines offered: V6, V8.
Where is the Jaguar XJ made?
Across 49 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 XJ have?
5 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2019. 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 XJ grew 10 cm longer and gained 52 kg.
What is the Jaguar XJ 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 XJ 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 XJ?
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 | 27 | 29 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Jaguar XF | 2009–2026 | 61 | 35 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Jaguar XK | 2000–2015 | 29 | 19 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Jaguar S-Type | 2000–2008 | 25 | 20 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Jaguar E-PACE | 2018–2026 | 17 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |