The Jaguar XJS is a compact car built from 1981 to 1997 over 6 generations. Most were assembled in the United Kingdom — 100% of those on record. Between 1971 and 2020 it grew 30 cm longer and gained 222 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 XJS is
The Jaguar XJS is a compact car that Jaguar built from 1981 to 1997 — 17 model years. Our measurements put it at 6 generations, the current one starting in 2015. It has been offered with V6, V8 power. Its closest sibling in the Jaguar range: XK8.
Where the XJS 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 72 XJSs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United Kingdom | SAJ | 1982-2011 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Jaguar VIN decide which of these 6 lines your XJS belongs to. What every character in a XJS VIN means →
XJS generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the XJS'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 XJS that gives 6 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-1972 | 482 cm | 277 cm | 1540 kg | - | - |
| 1976-1978 | 488 cm | 259 cm | 1785 kg | +6 cm | +245 kg |
| 1983-1985 | 474 cm | 259 cm | 1770 kg | -14 cm | -15 kg |
| 1986-1996 | 489 cm | 259 cm | 1805 kg | +15 cm | +35 kg |
| 2008-2009 | 524 cm | 315 cm | 1815 kg | +35 cm | +10 kg |
| 2015-2020 | 512 cm | 303 cm | 1762 kg | -12 cm | -53 kg |
Between 1971 and 2020 the XJS gained 30 cm in length (+6.2%) and 222 kg in weight (+14.4%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the XJS that is 222 kg against 30 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Jaguar XJS tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment XJS 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 XJS have? Power & range
The Jaguar XJS is offered with 2 powertrains — 4L 6-cyl, 6L 12-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Jaguar XJS, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 4.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium |
| 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 XJS by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Jaguar XJS. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | XJS | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 46 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 93 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,569/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 44 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Jaguar XJS?
The XJS is a compact car, built from 1981 to 1997 across 6 generations. Engines offered: V6, V8.
Where is the Jaguar XJS made?
Across 72 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 XJS have?
6 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2015. 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 XJS grew 30 cm longer and gained 222 kg.
What is the Jaguar XJS 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 XJS 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 XJS?
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 |