Jaguar XJ: driven - Don't mention the environment

Sadly, your first name will have to be ‘Sheik’ if you plan to use this engine in anger, because even when you are just cruising around you’ll be lucky to exceed 20mpg.

It’s a shame that more customers won’t specify the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre. It’s extremely smooth, more than powerful enough for most tastes and is actually the most sweetly balanced car in the line up.

Even so, most customers are expected to plump for the 3.0-litre diesel. It returns 40.1mpg on the combined cycle, and it’ll still haul the XJ to 60mph in just 6.0sec.

Yes, there’s some gentle engine chatter at idle but when you accelerate hard there’s not much more than a low grumble from the twin exhaust pipes. Once you’re settled into a cruise, there is no way to tell it apart from the petrol cars, apart from the lower redline on the rev-counter.

Of course, this standard of excellence doesn’t come cheap. You’ll need to find £53,775 for a short wheel base diesel while a top-spec Supersport long wheelbase car will lighten your bank balance to the tune of £90,455

Even so, any XJ is guaranteed to lighten your mood whenever you climb aboard; which makes it the perfect way to enrich your motoring life.

What car? says
Give the chauffeur the day off and enjoy