The Jaguar XK8 is a compact car built from 1997 to 2004. Most were assembled in the United Kingdom — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the XK8 is
The Jaguar XK8 is a compact car that Jaguar built from 1997 to 2004 — 8 model years. It has been offered with V8 power. Its closest sibling in the Jaguar range: XJS.
Where the XK8 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 98 XK8s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United Kingdom | SAJ | 1997-2003 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Jaguar VIN decide which of these 1 lines your XK8 belongs to. What every character in a XK8 VIN means →
Jaguar XK8 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment XK8 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 XK8 have? Power & range
The Jaguar XK8 is offered with 1 powertrain — 4.2L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Jaguar XK8, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 XK8 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Jaguar XK8. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | XK8 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 11 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 107 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $2,056/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 100 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Jaguar XK8?
The XK8 is a compact car, built from 1997 to 2004. Engines offered: V8.
Where is the Jaguar XK8 made?
Across 98 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.
What is the Jaguar XK8 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 XK8 reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 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 XK8?
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 |