Before Hellcats skulked the Earth, the Jaguar XJR was the ultimate supercharged kitty. It offered continent-devouring speed, devilish good looks, and enough blower whine to put a massive grin on your face. But it has probably been quite some time since you last thought about the XJR. That's because the outgoing X351 generation was last redesigned in 2010 when Jaguar left its stodgy old design language behind and never looked back.

An all-new, all-electric XJ is just around the corner and will take Jaguar in an entirely new direction. But before it arrives, we thought we should take a look at the outgoing XJ, specifically the high-performance XJR model, because it is now an amazing bargain on the used market.

Why You Should Buy One

Jaguar sold the XJ with a variety of engines ranging from frugal diesels up to supercharged V8s. But if you wanted the greatest performance, the XJR model was always the one to get. Not only was the XJR fast, but it was also supremely comfortable and agile. This agility is mainly due to curb weight.

The XJR weighs around 4,100 pounds, which is on the featherlight end of the full-size luxury sedan spectrum. By comparison, at 4,800 pounds a 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 is significantly heavier than the Jag. This lighter weight allowed Jaguar to design a car that felt more involving than its competitors from behind the wheel. If you want the best driver's car in the full-size sedan segment, it's the XJR.

The Price

Prices for a used XJR range drastically depending on year and mileage. When it was new, Jaguar charged $116,895 for an XJR or $119,895 if you wanted a long-wheelbase model. Today, the cheapest example we could find with a clean title was priced at just $35,000 with around 48,000 miles on the odometer. Examples with under 15,000 miles tend to cost over $60,000 and if you want one with a certified pre-owned warranty, you can expect to pay over $80,000.

We highly suggest buying an XJR with a CPO warranty if you can afford it because Jaguar's program gives you seven years and 100,000 miles of coverage from the original in-service date. The main reason why these CPO cars are so expensive is because the examples we found are all the rarified XJR 575 model.

The Performance

Early XJR models are powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 producing 550 horsepower and 502 lb-ft of torque that's sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic. In 2018, Jaguar introduced the XJR 575, the most powerful variant of the XJR there has ever been. It bumped the power up to 575 hp, as the name suggests, and the torque figure up to 516 lb-ft. The XJR 575 could hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 189 mph.

The Interior

Jaguar didn't do much to update the XJ's interior over its decade-long life cycle, so parts of it do look slightly dated by 2020 standards. 2015 models saw the introduction of Jaguar's InControl Touch Pro infotainment, updating the aging touchscreen system formerly found in the dashboard. The XJR's cabin is filled with expensive veneers, leathers, and metals, giving it a luxurious feel that stands out next to its German competitors. Since Jaguar decided to use digital gauges from the get-go, the XJ hasn't aged as poorly as some of its contemporaries.

The Practicality

Back seat occupants in the XJR are presented with a spacious 38.9 inches of rear legroom. Long wheelbase models did even better with a whopping 44.1 inches of space (more than an S-Class) and optional picnic tables with entertainment screens hinged on the seatbacks. The trunk is also quite large with 15.2 cubic feet of storage space. If there is one major downside to the XJR, it's fuel economy. That supercharged V8 drinks fuel at a rate of 15/23 mpg city/highway.

Verdict

Buying a used Jaguar is a bit of a dice roll but if you get a pre-purchase inspection or a CPO warranty, we think an XJR could be an interesting bargain. This is one of the prettiest luxury sedans ever created and it is more engaging to drive than many modern full-sizers sold today. As this class of car becomes more powerful, more insulated, and more electric, we feel there may never be another vehicle quite like the XJR ever again. Now is the time to buy one before they become too old and too unreliable.