Jaguar's S-Type is a sleek, thoroughly modern luxury car. But it has heritage. Jaguar resurrected an old nameplate from the mid-1960s for this car and took many styling cues from the original S-Type and Mark II.
It's a beautiful car, arguably the prettiest in this class. It's equally beautiful inside, finished in light-colored woods and fine leather. It rides well and gets strong power from the available V8 engine. Though it shares basic underpinnings with the highly rated Lincoln LS, careful tuning and fine engineering work make this car feel like a true Jaguar.
It comes fully equipped with Connolly leather upholstery and all the other features associated with a premium luxury car. It also comes with the moonroof and memory system, a six-disc CD changer in the trunk, a premium radio/cassette, and an integrated garage door opener. Communications Package includes voice activation for the radio and telephone along with a navigation system.
The beautiful light colors and details of the birds-eye maple create an elegant, inviting ambiance. Sumptuous Connolly leather is used on the surfaces of all seats and door panels. The steering wheel is made in a combination of matching wood and leather and feels good. A well-designed toggle on the left side of the steering column quickly, easily and precisely controls the power tilt and telescopic adjustments for the steering wheel.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with a nice firm seat bottom that minimizes fatigue on long trips. There is a decent amount of space for rear-seat passengers. Rear legroom is on par with other similar sized cars and is actually better than in the standard wheelbase XJ sedan.
Jaguar engineers have reverted to swan-neck hinges that intrude in the cargo space; their advantage is that the trunk lid will conveniently pop up when opened. For greater trunk storage, the rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split.
Driving the S-Type along twisty mountain roads is wonderful. The steering is very precise and provides good feel at speed. At the same time, the steering remains light to the touch at low speeds, making driving around town and in parking lots a bit easier.
S-Type comes standard with a traction control system that operates at all speeds; it limits rear wheel spin by cutting power to the engine and applying the brakes. Another system, Dynamic Stability Control, or DSC, links the brakes, steering, and traction control system and analyzes information from on-board sensors to determine when the car is deviating from the driver's intended path. It then applies brake force to each individual wheel to readjust the car's course. This system helps the driver avoid losing control of the car, by preventing oversteer (skidding of the rear wheels).
With its sensuous looks, Jaguar's S-Type makes a statement when it rolls onto the scene. It is one of the prettiest cars on the road. It might not be the "ultimate driving machine," but driving it is a satisfying experience. Handling is superb and, with the V8, it offers excellent acceleration performance.
