MotorMouths

Hugely civilized, desperately fast, drenched in high-tech amenities and executed with the kind of spirit and joie de vivre than makes the competitive German products look positively Amish, the new Jag is now the presumptive favorite in the full-size premium sedan category.

Despite being the bargain in the main-line full-size luxury sedan line-up, the 2011 Jaguar XJ’s unique personality, brand cachet and driving experience are more akin to what you expect from a Maserati, Panamera, or dare I say it: an entry level Bentley.

The 2012 Jaguar XJ beautifully blends eye-catching style with dynamic poise. It’s also a bargain.

The Jaguar XJ does everything you expect in a luxury sedan, with room, amenities, quiet and thrust, with a sporty side always in the background that offers more driver interaction but one that never changes the car’s personality.

The Jaguar XJ is luxury without the excess plush. It’s performance without being abrasive. Elegant without being derivative. Modern without being ostentatious. Sinful without being illegal. And now, it’s wrapped in a cover that tells exactly what’s inside.

Fast, elegant and comfortable, the new 2011 Jaguar XJ might just steal your heart away…from Bentley. Get ready to love this new generation of Jaguars.

Although bigger in stature, the new Jaguar XJ feels sleeker and sexier than the XF sedan, and is nearly as hot as the XK sports car. Welcome to the cool crowd, Jag.

For a long time I have placed these big Jaguar sedans in third place behind the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The 2011 XJ and XJL change that.

In a world dominated by variations on the same theme, the 2011 XJL is as close to shrugging off the bland, conservative lines of the luxury sedan as you’re apt to find. It satisfies all of the prerequisites for a high-dollar automobile while still striking its own chord.

The thing I like about the Jaguar XJ is how well it lives in both the performance and the luxury realm at the same time. It uses technology to enhance the driving experience without ever feeling over the top.

The 2011 Jaguar XJ is certainly a sportier driver than the Lexus LS 460 and the Mercedes S and CLS-class sedans and has looks that rival the Maserati Quattroporte and even the Aston Martin Rapide. Compared with some in this stratospheric class, you could even call it “affordable.”