2015 Jaguar XJL: Here There Be Dragons

Years ago, brave mariners would set sail across the sea on ships made of the finest, strongest wood, lashing themselves to the mast with straps of leather to resist the fabled, and deadly, call of the sirens. Modern motorists need not concern themselves with the temptations of mythological man-eating beasts, but models like the 2015 Jaguar XJL prove that when it comes to boats, our flair for oak and tannery has yet to fade into the mists of time.

The Jaguar XJL's long-wheelbase design certainly places it within the dimensional realm of land-going luxury yachts, yet a few key moments behind the wheel on the right roads quickly dispels the notion that this elegant sedan shares any dynamics with its sea-going predecessors. What's more, the XJL walks it's own unique path as compared to other premium models with similarly-large rear seats, offering the well-heeled a distinctly British escape hatch from the glass-and-steel tesseracts of its relentlessly German rivals.

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No Identity Crisis

One of the most refreshing aspects of the 2015 Jaguar XJL is that it is absolute certain as to its own identity. The XJL's buff, swelling bodywork borrows nothing from the blueprints of its Continental segment-mates, preferring instead to accentuate the individuality that has long been a pull-point for Jaguar automobiles. The sedan's snarling chrome grille and legato roofline existing in contrapuntal harmony, while its expansive cabin's blend of walnut burl and soft, dark leather are more country manor than airport VIP lounge.

That the Jaguar XJL would be reminiscent of an ancestral estate is fitting given the acres of real estate located behind the driver's seat. With four inches of additional legroom as compared to the standard XJ, the long-wheelbase model is more than ready to swallow the contents of a small office inside its library-quiet confines - a welcome assist to the executives whose salaries can support the car's not-insubstantial monthly payment. My Portfolio AWD model offered a massage feature for the driver and front passenger only, but the XJL also offers similarly decadent relaxation options for the rear-seat riders the car is aimed at.

Future Shock

It's unfortunate that Jaguar's palatial XJL interior is let down by a more limited investment in advanced safety technologies and infotainment. Unlike other big-buck saloons - or even a long list of more pedestrian fare - the automaker's flagship doesn't offer a lane departure warning system, collision mitigation system, surround-view camera setup, or indeed any active safety gear other than a standard blind spot monitoring feature (and the availability of a forward collision warning system when optional adaptive cruise control is added to the equipment list). This omission stands in stark relief against the current crop of luxo-cruisers, and will certainly give a percentage of premium shoppers pause before placing their order.

The XJL's centre stack-mounted LCD infotainment system doesn't neglect any needed functionality, but it does obscure its access somewhat behind a curtain of slow-responding touchscreen commands as well as non-linear menu systems that are a bit more convoluted than they need to be. Everything works - and I have to admit the navigation system was quite good at handling Quebec's often-unusual place-names - but the system doesn't feel as modern as more recent efforts from even non-premium brands.

Six Or Eight?

Jaguar has divided the XJL's engine options along two distinct lines. If you are seeking the four-season security of all-wheel drive, then you are required to order the sedan with its entry-level supercharged V6, a 340 horsepower unit that also develops 332 lb-ft of torque. If rear-wheel drive performance is more your bag, then there are both 470 horsepower (XJL Supercharged) and 550 horsepower (XJR LWB) editions of Jaguar's blown 5.0-litre V8 to choose from. All three engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

My six-cylinder Portfolio AWD model wasn't nearly as rambunctious with the pedal down as its V8 cousins, and while there's no fault to be found with this version of the XJL's straight-line speed it doesn't have the 'wow' factor one might expect from an executive-level automobile. Aim the car at the squiggly lines on the nav display, however, and things take a turn for the better. In 'Dynamic' driving mode the supercharged six certainly doesn't gain any extra moxie, but the XJL reveals an unusually fluid character linked to its light-for-its-class platform and expertly-tuned chassis. Chauffeur-oriented automobiles have no business being fun to drive, but the long-and-lean Jaguar surprised me by putting a smile on my face as I ran its excellent eight-speed autobox through the lower gears on twisty country two-lanes.

Choose Your Destiny

Are you a technocrat or a sea captain? Do you thrill to the digitally-precise appeal of hermetically-sealed luxury domes closed off from the outside world, or would you prefer to feel the waves crash against the bow as you steer your schooner against the prevailing winds? While BMW and Mercedes-Benz have convinced a contingent of affluent drivers to transfer more and more trust to the AI brains that manage the suite of systems keeping the 7 Series and S-Class on the straight and narrow, and Lexus and Audi continue to battle it out for the rest of the newly-minted money, Jaguar has instead positioned the XJL as a model whose heritage informs not just its individualistic design but also its approach to the ultimate in road-going luxury.

There might be fewer bells and whistles in the Jaguar vying for a driver's attention, but it's impossible to ignore that the connection with the road - and with a lineage of exquisite interior craftsmanship - provided by the XJL is on a different wavelength from the rest of the class. This will no doubt prove simpatico to any number of luxury buyers looking to occasionally give the chauffeur the night off.