Because the X-Type shares ancestry with Ford of Europe's front-wheel-drive Mondeo, Jaguar endowed the X-Type with all-wheel drive as a standard feature. This helps set it apart not only from the Ford, but from most other near-luxury models where such a feature is optional, and usually only offered on a handful of models.
The X-Type is nearly 10 inches shorter than Jaguar's mid-range S-Type. It is not, however, the smallest car Jaguar has yet manufactured. Compared to the 1960 Mark II, which inspired the curvy styling of the current S-Type, the X-Type is only a fraction of an inch shorter in wheelbase and actually measures almost 4 inches longer overall. It is also 4 inches wider and about 1-1/2 inches lower than the beloved classic.
Still, Jaguar chose to tie the X-Type's identity with that of the sleek flagship XJ, rather than the buxom mid-range S, and that meant making a relatively short car look low and long. They did it using lots of horizontal lines and body sculpting. The illusion is generally successful and the X-Type looks bigger on the road than its dimensions suggest.
The design of the grille and headlights, with fluting that sweeps back over the hood, emphasizes the baby-XJ image. The front view is broadened with two sets of side-by-side round lights flanking Jaguar's traditional horizontal split grille. This makes the X-Type look more conservative than the S-Type, which features a unique round grille (inspired by the old Mark II). Like the S-Type, however, the X-Type's grille texture was changed to a fine chrome mesh last year, and this look continues for 2007. Riding the hood of the X-Type is the traditional bounding Jaguar known as the bonnet leaper.
All in all, this is a ground-loving vehicle that makes the eye believe it is longer and lower than it is, and bigger as well. What at first blush seems to be busy-ness about the indents, horizontal lines and visual cues of Jaguarness fades with on-going exposure, evolving into acceptance and even appreciation. Anyway, the car looks better on the road than it does in pictures, or even in the showroom. And its overall visual stance seems unaffected by the all-wheel-drive system.
The Sportwagon is identical to the sedan up to the B-pillar. From there back it has different side doors and obviously a longer side profile. Its overall length is less than two inches greater than the sedan so there is little extra overhang in the rear; although (counting the roof rails) it stands about 3-1/2 inches taller. The tailgate slopes forward, appropriately giving it a sleeker look than most station wagons. The window in the tailgate can be opened independently, a long-standing feature of Ford wagons that's very handy when loading lightweight items. For securing heavier cargo, Jaguar has thoughtfully supplied four spring-loaded D-ring tie-downs in rear load area.
