Which Jaguar XJR Version Should You Buy?
Choosing a Jaguar XJR from the catalogue data comes down to four distinct propositions. The 1994–1997 Sedan is the only generation listed with a choice between Manual and Automatic transmissions. The 1997–2003 restyled Sedan introduces a V-shaped 8-cylinder engine. The 2003–2009 generation combines 395 hp with a lower kerb weight than every other listed XJR.
Choosing a Jaguar XJR from the catalogue data comes down to four distinct propositions. The 1994–1997 Sedan is the only generation listed with a choice between Manual and Automatic transmissions. The 1997–2003 restyled Sedan introduces a V-shaped 8-cylinder engine. The 2003–2009 generation combines 395 hp with a lower kerb weight than every other listed XJR. The 2013–2019 generation raises output to 550 hp or 575 hp and delivers the quickest acceleration and highest top speed in the range. Across all six catalogue periods, every XJR is Gasoline-powered and RWD.
Jaguar XJR generations: what changed?
The second-generation Jaguar XJR, produced from November 1994 through October 1997, is a Sedan with two versions. Both are named 4.0: the 4.0 MT, 326 hp and 4.0 AT, 326 hp. Each uses a 3,980 cc Inline 6-cylinder Compressor engine. The 4.0 MT has a 5-speed Manual transmission, while the 4.0 AT has a 4-speed Automatic. This is therefore the clear choice for buyers who specifically want a Manual XJR.
The restyled second generation, available from November 1997 through March 2003, is also a Sedan with two versions: 4.0 AT, 363 hp and 4.0 AT, 375 hp. Both move to a 3,996 cc V-shaped 8-cylinder Compressor engine, a 5-speed Automatic transmission and RWD. Compared with the earlier 326 hp versions, these produce 37 hp and 49 hp more respectively. The 363 hp car weighs 1,776 kg, whereas the 375 hp car weighs 1,848 kg.
The third-generation Sedan ran from June 2003 through February 2007 and contains two catalogue entries, both named 4.2 AT, 395 hp. They share a 4,196 cc V-shaped 8-cylinder Compressor engine, a 6-speed Automatic and RWD. Both weigh 1,728 kg and use independent pneumatic suspension at the front and rear. Their listed economy figures differ: one records 17.9/8.7/12.1 l/100 km for city/highway/combined driving, while the other records 18.5/9.0/12.3 l/100 km.
The restyled third generation covers March 2007 through October 2009. It remains a Sedan with two entries named 4.2 AT, 395 hp, retaining the 4,196 cc V-shaped 8-cylinder Compressor engine, 6-speed Automatic and RWD. Kerb weight falls from 1,728 kg in the earlier third generation to 1,659 kg, a reduction of 69 kg. The suspension also changes in the listed specifications: the restyled cars have independent spring suspension at both ends.
The fourth-generation Sedan was offered from January 2013 through July 2015 with two entries named 5.0 AT, 550 hp. Both use a 5,000 cc V-shaped 8-cylinder Compressor engine, an 8-speed Automatic and RWD. One has a kerb weight of 1,873 kg and gross weight of 2,400 kg; the other weighs 1,881 kg and has a gross weight of 2,430 kg. Their performance and consumption figures are otherwise the same in the supplied data.
The restyled fourth generation, listed from August 2015 through December 2019, presents the decisive high-performance comparison: 5.0 AT, 550 hp versus 5.0 AT, 575 hp. Both are Sedans with 5,000 cc V-shaped 8-cylinder Turbo engines, direct injection, an 8-speed Automatic and RWD. The 575 hp version adds 25 hp and 20 Nm without increasing the listed 1,875 kg kerb weight.
Jaguar XJR engine and specs comparison
| Generation and version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second generation, 4.0 MT | 326 hp | 512 Nm | 3,980 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 6, Inline | Compressor | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| Second generation, 4.0 AT | 326 hp | 512 Nm | 3,980 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 6, Inline | Compressor | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Restyled second generation, 4.0 AT | 363 hp | 525 Nm | 3,996 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Compressor | 5-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Restyled second generation, 4.0 AT | 375 hp | 525 Nm | 3,996 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Compressor | 5-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Third generation, 4.2 AT | 395 hp | 541 Nm | 4,196 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Compressor | 6-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Restyled third generation, 4.2 AT | 395 hp | 541 Nm | 4,196 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Compressor | 6-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Fourth generation, 4.2 AT | 550 hp | 680 Nm | 5,000 cc | Gasoline, 98 | 8, V-shaped | Compressor | 8-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Restyled fourth generation, 5.0 AT | 550 hp | 680 Nm | 5,000 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | 8-speed Automatic | RWD |
| Restyled fourth generation, 5.0 AT | 575 hp | 700 Nm | 5,000 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | 8-speed Automatic | RWD |
The output per litre rises noticeably through the range. The 326 hp 3,980 cc engine produces approximately 81.9 hp per litre. The 363 hp and 375 hp 3,996 cc engines deliver approximately 90.8 and 93.8 hp per litre. The 395 hp 4,196 cc engine reaches approximately 94.1 hp per litre. The 5,000 cc engines provide 110 hp per litre at 550 hp and 115 hp per litre at 575 hp.
Jaguar XJR performance, mpg and fuel economy
The 4.0 MT, 326 hp reaches 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h. Its city, highway and combined fuel consumption figures are not measured. The 4.0 AT, 326 hp takes 7.0 seconds to reach 100 km/h, making it 0.7 seconds slower than the Manual, while retaining the same 250 km/h top speed. Its consumption is 16.7 l/100 km city, 8.6 l/100 km highway and 12.0 l/100 km combined.
Both restyled second-generation 4.0 AT versions reach 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and 250 km/h. The 363 hp version records 18.5/10.0/13.1 l/100 km, while the 375 hp version records 14.7/11.2/13.1 l/100 km. Their combined consumption is identical despite the 12 hp difference.
Every third-generation 4.2 AT, 395 hp reaches 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and has a 250 km/h maximum speed. Depending on the catalogue entry, the pre-restyling cars consume either 17.9/8.7/12.1 or 18.5/9.0/12.3 l/100 km. The restyled cars record either 17.8/8.7/12.1 or 18.5/9.0/12.3 l/100 km. At the lowest listed combined figure, the 4.2 AT uses 1.0 l/100 km less than either restyled second-generation 4.0 AT.
The fourth-generation 5.0 AT, 550 hp reaches 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and 280 km/h, with consumption of 16.9/8.6/11.6 l/100 km. After restyling, the 5.0 AT, 550 hp retains the 4.6-second acceleration time and 280 km/h top speed, while its consumption falls to 16.2/8.2/11.1 l/100 km. That is a reduction of 0.7 l/100 km in the city, 0.4 l/100 km on the highway and 0.5 l/100 km combined.
The restyled 5.0 AT, 575 hp reaches 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and 300 km/h. Relative to the 550 hp version of the same period, it is 0.2 seconds quicker and its top speed is 20 km/h higher. City, highway and combined consumption are not measured for the 575 hp version.
Jaguar XJR weight, ground clearance, tank and wheel sizes
The 1994–1997 4.0 MT, 326 hp weighs 1,775 kg, while the 4.0 AT, 326 hp weighs 1,875 kg. Both have a 2,295 kg gross weight and an 81-litre tank. Ground clearance is 120 mm for the Manual and 119 mm for the Automatic; wheel sizes are not measured.
The restyled second-generation 4.0 AT, 363 hp weighs 1,776 kg, and the 4.0 AT, 375 hp weighs 1,848 kg. Both have a 2,260 kg gross weight, 110 mm of clearance, an 81-litre tank and listed wheel sizes of 235/50 R17 and 255/40 R18.
The third-generation 4.2 AT, 395 hp weighs 1,728 kg before restyling and 1,659 kg after restyling. Both periods specify a 2,263 kg gross weight, 130 mm of clearance, an 85-litre tank and 235/50 R18 or 255/40 R19 wheel sizes.
The fourth-generation 5.0 AT, 550 hp weighs either 1,873 or 1,881 kg, with respective gross weights of 2,400 and 2,430 kg. Clearance is 127 mm, tank capacity is 85 litres and wheel sizes are not measured. Both restyled 5.0 AT versions weigh 1,875 kg and have a 2,400 kg gross weight, 127 mm of clearance and a 77-litre tank; wheel sizes are not measured.
Weight per horsepower favors the later and more powerful cars. The 1994–1997 Manual carries approximately 5.44 kg per hp, compared with approximately 5.75 kg per hp for the Automatic. The 1,659 kg restyled 4.2 AT, 395 hp achieves approximately 4.20 kg per hp. The restyled 5.0 AT, 550 hp records approximately 3.41 kg per hp, while the 5.0 AT, 575 hp improves this to approximately 3.26 kg per hp.
Which Jaguar XJR version should you buy?
Choose the 4.0 MT, 326 hp if a Manual transmission is the priority. It accelerates to 100 km/h 0.7 seconds faster than the same-generation Automatic, weighs 100 kg less and has the same 326 hp, 512 Nm and 250 km/h top speed. Its fuel consumption, however, is not measured.
Choose the restyled 4.0 AT, 375 hp if you want the more powerful of the two 1997–2003 entries. It adds 12 hp over the 363 hp version with the same 525 Nm, 5.6-second acceleration, 250 km/h top speed and 13.1 l/100 km combined consumption. The trade-off is 72 kg of additional kerb weight.
Choose the restyled 4.2 AT, 395 hp for the strongest balance between lower weight and performance among the earlier cars. At 1,659 kg, it is 69 kg lighter than the pre-restyling 4.2 AT and at least 116 kg lighter than any second-generation version. It retains the same 395 hp, 541 Nm, 5.3-second acceleration time and 250 km/h top speed as the pre-restyling car.
Choose the restyled 5.0 AT, 550 hp when recorded fuel economy matters alongside high performance. It reaches 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, runs to 280 km/h and has the lowest listed combined consumption at 11.1 l/100 km. It also uses Gasoline, 95, whereas the earlier fourth-generation 550 hp entry specifies Gasoline, 98.
Choose the restyled 5.0 AT, 575 hp when maximum performance is the deciding factor. Against the contemporary 550 hp version, the same 1,875 kg kerb weight is paired with 25 hp more power and 20 Nm more torque. The result is 4.4 seconds to 100 km/h instead of 4.6 seconds and 300 km/h instead of 280 km/h. Its fuel consumption is not measured, so the data cannot establish whether that extra performance changes running economy.
The catalogue contains no prices, sale listings, problem records or reliability measurements. Consequently, it cannot determine which Jaguar XJR offers the lowest purchase cost or best reliability. On measurable specifications alone, the Manual choice is the 4.0 MT, 326 hp, the lower-weight earlier choice is the restyled 4.2 AT, 395 hp, the economy-and-performance choice is the restyled 5.0 AT, 550 hp, and the outright performance choice is the restyled 5.0 AT, 575 hp.