2008 Jaguar XK Convertible
Not Yet Ranked
Jaguar XK Convertible - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible offers a lovely shape that calls to mind high-performance supercars, and a luxurious, stylish interior. However, in its base trim, it's engine can't keep the performance promise its body makes, and its back seat is merely a gesture.
The 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible is one of the prettiest cars you can buy, reviewers almost universally say. A few take issue with the car's nose, which is lengthened a bit to accommodate European regulations on pedestrian safety. But when they complain about the nose, they do so in the context of praising a beautiful car. "When I ran down the list of vehicles that compete with the new XK, it included everything from the Porsche 911 and the BMW 6-Series to the Chevrolet Corvette," wrote a Detroit News reviewer. That's a varied list, but a good one to be on. Several reviewers tell us that Jaguar engineers even worked hard on tuning the exact exhaust note of the XK, which Jaguar playfully calls the "exhaust song." But the car is not without faults. The backseat is so small and useless that it's not really clear why Jaguar didn't just make this a two-seater, and in base XK trim, some were underwhelmed by the car's acceleration. Above all, with Jaguars, there is this caution: Ford recently sold the brand to India's Tata motors. No one knows what that will do to Jaguar's quality and service. Jaguars have always been quirky machines, some very unreliable. Tata may fix that, or may make it worse. But no one knows what kind of long-term commitment to expect from Jaguar going forward.
For 2008, two trim levels are offered -- XK and XKR. The XK is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 putting out 300 horsepower, and sends power to the rear-wheels through what the Los Angeles Times' reviewer calls "the quickest, smoothest manual-shifting automatic I've seen." Some reviewers, however, feel the XK's engine offers disappointing acceleration. There is no such problem with the performance-oriented XKR trim. It gets its power from a supercharged version of the same engine, this time making 420 horsepower.
- "The Jag is a powerful and masculine form, with tensed and back-loaded energy like an arm cocked to throw a punch. .... It is, in other words, tumescent. If your XK lasts more than four hours, see your doctor." -- Los Angeles Times
- "The XK brought a smile and an eagerness to slip behind the wheel, hit the button to hide the top in 18 seconds and motor down the pavement." -- Chicago Tribune
- "A two-for-one, almost perfect blend of luxury cruiser and hot rod." -- Washington Post
- "Combines the best of Jaguars past and present -- fabulous styling that is simultaneously elegant and sporty, muscular performance dished up in silky smooth doses, feline nimbleness that lives up to its namesake and spoil-me-to-the-max luxury amenities and comfort (in the front seats, at least)." -- Sacramento Bee
- "The automatic transmission -- it perfectly rev-matches downshifts; how cool is that? -- is as smooth as Miami Vice-era Don Johnson, and the ride-and-handling balance puts most other sports and luxury cars to shame. Because this car handles and rides so brilliantly, you can shrug off potholes that would swallow a '69 Coupe de Ville while sliding sideways through a bumpy mess of a 90-degree right-hander, all while sipping a cup of Earl Grey, picking the raisins out of your scone, and tightening your ascot." -- Car and Driver
- "The new XK is faster, lighter, roomier, quicker, better-handling and civilized as ever on the open road. Still a great GT car, just sportier. And modern." -- Road and Track
XK-Convertible Performance - NA
The 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible is made mostly of lightweight aluminum alloys, making the car light and nimble. The Los Angeles Times calls it "Light and handy and predictable…capable of big, carving corners and tail-waggling hairpin exits." Its base XK trim is not exceptionally quick, which disappoints some reviewers, since the car looks like it should keep up with the fastest cars in the world. In XKR trim, it comes much closer to doing just that. A full 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible Performance Review is coming soon. continue
XK-Convertible Exterior - NA
The 2008 Jaguar XK is one of the most dramatic looking cars on the road. The Chicago Tribune says it "looks a tad like an Aston Martin," and if that's not a compliment, then we don't know what is. A few reviewers, however, complain about the first few inches of the car. The Los Angeles Times says the XK convertible is "an absolutely stunning and stirring sports coupe/convertible design, an ensorceling work of animal appetite and biomechanical grace except, alas, for the first few inches -- which look like hell." The front is designed to lessen the impact forces on a pedestrian's lower legs in an accident, and a few reviewers hate the "big lipped" look. Others are so taken by the rest of the car that they don't bother to mention this. A full 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible Exterior Review is coming soon. continue
XK-Convertible Interior - NA
The passenger cabin of the 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible is dramatic, distinctly aiming for a modern look instead of the stodgy traditional look Jaguar is known for. Not leather and wood, this one is leather and brushed aluminum. It's not for everyone, but those reviewers who like it tend to love it. A few find fault with some hard plastic trim you wouldn’t expect to see at this price range. Without fail, all reviewers find fault with the tiny backseat and trunk. "Because the front-row seat backs nearly touch the back-row seat fronts, best to use those seats to store all the stuff that won't fit in the 'trunk,'" Chicago Tribune suggests. A full Jaguar XK Convertible Interior Review is coming soon. continue
XK-Convertible Safety - NA
Neither the federal government nor the insurance industry has crash tested the 2008 Jaguar XK Convertible. A full Safety Review is coming soon. continue
XK-Convertible Reliability - NA
The XK is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty continue