Category: Convertibles 
Price Range: No data available
Effortless, creamy performance make this the subtle powerhouse a Jaguar should be. Style ageing well, and reliability excellent.
A bit dated compared with the Mercedes SL, and cramped too. Less of a sports car than a Porsche, even with the R handling kit.
Ageing well - it was a good design to start with, and subtle but worthwhile updates have kept it competitive. The Mercedes SL is the better car, though.
Both models are automatic only, so what could be easier? Just point the XK in the right direction and it will do the rest. It's especially good at long-distance cruising, especially when fitted with radar cruise control, which automatically maintains your distance from the car in front. Parking is less easy - you sit low, and the tapered nose and tail make parking guesswork, unless you order parking radar. If the XK has a weakness, it's here. More memorable for the comfort of its ride than its ability to slice through bends, the XK can get about very smartly indeed, but never really encourages you to drive it hard. Keen drivers will always prefer a Porsche 911, even if the XKR is more than competent. Instead, the Jag delivers satisfaction through the subtleties of quiet potency, indomitable stability and supreme cruising capability.
Supercharged or not, these are fast cars, and even more potent now that the 4.0 V8 has been upgraded to a 4.2 litre. The standard coupe hits 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, the supercharged car in 5.2, but the point is the sheer effortlessness of delivery via the smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. The supercharger overlays a distinctive - and dramatic - whine to the proceedings, but either way, these powerpacks are very sophisticated.
