The Jaguar XJ12 is a compact car built from 1991 to 1997 over 8 generations. Most were assembled in the United Kingdom — 100% of those on record. Between 1973 and 1996 it grew 33 cm longer and gained 364 kg. Engines offered: 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 XJ12 is
The Jaguar XJ12 is a compact car that Jaguar built from 1991 to 1997 — 7 model years. Our measurements put it at 8 generations, the current one starting in 1996. It has been offered with V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Jaguar range: XE, XJ6, XJR.
Where the XJ12 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 8 XJ12s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United Kingdom | SAJ | 1994-1996 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Jaguar VIN decide which of these 8 lines your XJ12 belongs to. What every character in a XJ12 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Jaguar XJ12 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
XJ12 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the XJ12'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 XJ12 that gives 8 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 482 cm | 277 cm | 1650 kg | - | - |
| 1974 | 505 cm | 287 cm | 1909 kg | +23 cm | +259 kg |
| 1975-1976 | 500 cm | 282 cm | 1879 kg | -5 cm | -30 kg |
| 1977-1978 | 509 cm | 287 cm | 1950 kg | +9 cm | +71 kg |
| 1983-1985 | 496 cm | 287 cm | 1930 kg | -13 cm | -20 kg |
| 1986-1987 | 510 cm | 287 cm | 1930 kg | +14 cm | +0 kg |
| 1994-1995 | 499 cm | 287 cm | 2016 kg | -11 cm | +86 kg |
| 1996 | 515 cm | 300 cm | 2014 kg | +16 cm | -2 kg |
Between 1973 and 1996 the XJ12 gained 33 cm in length (+6.8%) and 364 kg in weight (+22.1%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the XJ12 that is 364 kg against 33 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Jaguar XJ12 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment XJ12 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 XJ12 have? Power & range
The Jaguar XJ12 is offered with 1 powertrain — 6L 12-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Jaguar XJ12, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 6.0L · 12-cyl | Automatic 4-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 XJ12 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Jaguar XJ12. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | XJ12 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 5 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 18 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $2,902/yr | Estimated full coverage |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Jaguar XJ12?
The XJ12 is a compact car, built from 1991 to 1997 across 8 generations. Engines offered: V8.
Where is the Jaguar XJ12 made?
Across 8 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 XJ12 have?
8 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1996. 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 XJ12 grew 33 cm longer and gained 364 kg.
What is the Jaguar XJ12 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 XJ12 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 XJ12?
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 XJ | 2002–2019 | 44 | 21 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 |