Around the world the name Jaguar is one synonymous with luxury class and style, but for those familiar with the marque, the addition of just two more letters makes everything that bit more special. The letters in question, XJ. 

Always the flagship of the Jaguar lineup, the XJ is the longest running model created by the company, with the first XJ coming to market in 1968 in the form of the series 1 XJ6, which stayed in production for the following 24 years. The XJ found many redesigns and new variants throughout its lifetime, but always stayed true to the classic Jag styling and quality. 

Skip forward to 2003 and we find Jaguar launching the all new redesigned, reengineered XJ, now with the model designation X350. The all new XJ boasted an all aluminium body, far lighter than its predecessors, and far more incapable of rusting. 

It also sported updated technology fitted as standard, made in collaboration with Ford, who at this point had ownership of the Jaguar brand, as well as air suspension and a new six speed automatic gearbox. The car was offered with a series of V8 and v6 engines including the 2.7d v6 fitted to the car we see here. 

In 2007, the model was given a minor facelift and provided with the new model designation X358. 

The all new XJ was a true hit for Jaguar as it lacked the poorer quality more unreliable mechanical and electrical features seen on former Jags but kept the all important quality and style they had always been so heavily praised for.

It was therefore no surprise to see several XJ’s make their into the fleet of the British government and many of its officials, including one often used by the Prime Minister of the time.

WIth the benefit of low ownership throughout its time on the road, we are able to paint quite a vivid picture of the car's lifetime from its first registration in June of 2008. 

The car was first purchased from Jaguar intertechnic LTD, also known as Jaguar Middlewich. We believe the car then moved to the Sevenoaks area of Kent around 2009 as this is where the car has spent the following being serviced. 

Around the year 2019 the Husband of the Jaguar’s current registered keeper unfortunately passed away, at which point the Jag had to be transferred into the wife’s name. 

The car has been well stored, well maintained and amassed incredibly low mileage since 2008, hence we see it in the incredible shape it sits in today.

Stacked neatly in a smart leather folder, we find the XJ accompanied by the full comprehensive Jaguar book pack, consisting of the various operating manuals for the different components on the car alongside the all important service booklet. 

The service book boasts not only the original selling dealer stamp, but also multiple services stamped on a near annual basis by Jaguar main dealers, primarily Jaguar Sevenoaks. The most recent service indicated was around 3,000 miles ago. 

Alongside the leather book pack sits a hoard of MOT certificates dating right the way back into the car’s early life. Front and centre is the XJ’s current MOT which is valid until December of 2022.

Always a statement piece on Jaguars, the cabin of this XJ sticks true to form, the ocean of sumptuous leather and wood trim is an utter feast for the eyes. In such remarkable unmarred condition, one could easily be tricked into thinking the car had never left the factory in 2008.

The marvellous seating both front and rear, coated in rich cream leather with contrasting black piping is in wonderful order, lacking in the wear so commonly found on the bolsters and cushioning on the higher mileage examples of these super cruisers. 

The seat bases and chrome finished switchgear used to operate the electric seat functions are in equally great order, with the electronic functions all working fully. 

The cream leather motif continues its way up to the front, where, paired with a contrasting black leather top piece, sits the excellently crafted dash piece. The dashboard appears in great condition, with nothing to be seen in the way of fading to the leather’s colour. 

The plastics surrounding the climate vents and controls are of a great standard as is the stylish central analogue clock. The real eye catcher in the front of the cabin is of course the vast wood finish trim piece slotted into the dashboard, a true sign that one is in a quality automobile, the wood veneer has a truly excellent shine to it and looks perfect nestled within the car. 

The central control panel is, rather unsurprisingly, in great clean shape, the various switchgear dotted around the well sized radio and satellite navigation screen still appear as fresh as they were back in 2008, with very little in the way of wear. 

It is great to see the icons and text printed on the buttons still bold and not faded and blank as a result of years of hard usage.

The other pieces of wood trim and switchgear dotted around the cabin naturally conform to the same high standard, as does the contrasting black leather steering wheel and wheel mounted buttons for the in-car phone system and cruise control, both of which work well. 

Up top sits a clean well trimmed roof liner, and at the bottom we find a plush black carpet draping its way across the cabin floor. At the sides are four smart door panels, with clean cream leather, excellent wood veneer, and notably factory fitted alpine speakers.

The well upholstered boot is clean and holds the space saver spare wheel and toolkit. We also find the CD multichanger stowed away in a separate compartment in the rear storage section.

There’s a certain level of envy exuded from others on the road when they see an XJ wafting past them on the road, and looking at the car from the outside it’s clear to see why. 

The brilliant design, with its classic styling cues and iconic twin headlight front end oozes class without being brash, there is always a subtle knowledge that whoever is behind the wheel of an XJ knows a thing or two about style and quality. 

Finished in an excellent metallic grey hue, this specific XJ is no exception to that notion. The car has undergone a beyond extensive detailing process and thus presents in near concours condition, quite possibly it's one of the finest examples out there. 

The paintwork has a brilliant mile deep quality to it, with a brilliant shine exuding from all angles of the paintwork. The subtle chrome trim pieces and badging is all of an equally excellent standard, as is the imposing mesh style front grille piece. 

The car sits on four recently refurbished 19” Jaguar alloy wheels, which are in exquisite shape. At the front, the wheels are housed within two new Pirelli P-Zero tyres. 

The car is currently on a private registration C7 RDC, which the current owner informs will accompany the car with the sale.

Opening the bonnet, one would be forgiven for questioning whether the car had done 3 thousand miles let alone the 38 thousand miles it actually has done.

We find an incredibly clean example of Jaguar’s 2.7 litre diesel v6 shoehorned into the front of the XJ, boasting clean plastics and ancillaries, the car, courtesy of its consistent regular maintenance fires into life almost instantaneously, a subtle tone bellowing from the rear mounted exhausts. 

On the road the Jag is reported to provide the refined luxurious ride the marque has always been so famed for, whilst simultaneously having bundles of power on tap should the driver and their right foot require, with Jaguar claiming a very respectable 7.8 second 0-60 time for the mighty 2.7d.

Yet from inside the cabin a near silent experience is provided, making this an excellent long distance motorway cruiser.

In the XJ one finds a rather unique car, this is a car so quintessentially Jaguar from a styling and performance perspective. Classic lines, everything made beautifully to the absolute highest standards, but this is paired with genuine usability and reliability more commonly associated with the Jag’s German counterparts. 

This is an ideal motorway cruiser that stands out from the crowd, or a car for the discerning Jaguar enthusiast who wants to use their Jag with confidence. 

Benefitting from a long MOT, and fully stamped service history, this is one ready to go right from the first minute of ownership.