Car reviews

Introduction

The Jaguar S-Type is worth considering when looking for a large saloon. It may not have the fresh and young looks of it's counterparts, but its handling, ride and comfort are all pretty much on par a its German rivals.

Exterior & Interior

From the outside, the S-Type looks as if it belongs in 1970s and the interior gives the same impression with its leather and wood trim. The dashboard is covered with an array of buttons that control the stereo and air conditioning and are fairly straight forward to use. The top of the range models come with a touch screen console in the dash which provides a good quality screen with an easy to use interface, however, the interior is just not as modern as their rivals. The cabin does feel a little cramped despite its size from the outside and it might be difficult to get three people in the back comfortably due to rear seats not giving enough headroom and the transmission tunnel takes up vital legroom. The boot is also not very big only giving 400 litres of space which is smaller than most of its rivals but the back seats can fold flat increasing this space if needs be. Even the storage space inside the cabin is limited with very small door pockets for a saloon. There is a large middle console between the driver and front passenger though to put small possessions in and doubles as an arm rest. The seats are extremely comfortable and supportive making them excellent for long drives. The driving position is perfect with any driver being able to find their optimum driving position.

Drive

The S-Type is a great car to drive with a chassis that is superior to their German rivals which gives excellent handling and poise and world class damping. It is just at home on a motorway or narrow countryside lanes taking everything in its stride. The steering is outstanding with plenty of feel and sharp handling. The sports versions and ones with the optional CATS suspension have even further improved handling through the corners. The driving position is perfect with the steering column having plenty of adjustments along with the drivers' seat.

Faults & Repairs

The face lifted 2004 models are more reliable than the previous models which suffered from faulty ignition coils, engine wear and electrical problems. There have also been a substantial amount of recalls so just make sure that any car you are looking at has undergone any recalls it may have needed. There have been other reports of the automatic gearboxes playing up by slipping into reverse whilst driving along as well as the three point seat belts coming loose. Service and repair costs by Jaguar are astronomical so you would be better off finding a specialist garage.