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Driving Impressions
Motivating our 2005 Jaguar S-Type was a 4.2-liter V8 engine capable of generating 293 horsepower and 303 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s a velvety smooth powerplant, rushing to speed with urgency and refinement. Jaguar claims zero to 60 acceleration runs of 6.2 seconds, impressive for this rather ponderous 3,826-pound sedan. Distributing the power to the rear wheels is a six-speed automatic transmission, with a “Sport” mode to hold gears longer for greater revving potential. It delivers smooth shifts out of the gates and for passing traffic, but often becomes confused when faced with the abrupt throttle changes that accompany a run down a twisty portion of road. And Jaguar has remained stubbornly loyal to its fussy J-gate manually interactive shifter. No, it’s not the most efficient setup for changing gears on your own terms, but we’ve come to accept it as an endearing, quirky British trait. Kind of like bad teeth and warm beer.
So the Jaguar is speedy, complementing its real-world feline namesake. But does the S-Type also mimic its sinewy grace? Not quite. Think overweight indoor housecat, and you’ll have a good idea of how the S-Type handles. It’s still balanced and light on its feet in most applications, but its tame domesticity becomes quickly apparent when asked to show its more aggressive side.
When pushed on the winding roads of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Jaguar exhibited plenty of side-to-side body roll, and weight transitions generated an unpleasant pendulum effect in the cabin. This is not a vehicle that makes you seek the long, curvy route home to test performance potential; look into the available sport-tuned suspension package if you’d prefer more dynamism.
On the other hand, Jaguar’s CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension) setup was effective at controlling dive-and-squat motions when accelerating and braking, and the stability control system kept the car on its intended path without being overly obtrusive. Road adhesion presented no problems thanks to chubby Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 235/50 R17 tires, which offer plenty of grip and little tire squeal. Around town, occupants enjoy a smooth, comfortably dampened ride, albeit one with more road noise than expected for this type of vehicle.
Piloting the Jaguar S-Type is pleasurable, thanks to its sublime, fluid Servotronic steering rack. Communicative steering is a very good thing when testing the handling limits of any car, and the Jaguar did not disappoint, transmitting every nuance of the road both tactilely and aurally. Over uneven surfaces in the middle of high-speed sweeping curves, however, bump steer makes itself known. Halting the S-Type are fade-resistant front and rear ventilated discs with ABS, however, pedal feel could be improved, as its mushy progression lacked linearity and precision.
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