2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test and Review

by Lyndon Bell

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March 21, 2013

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7 min. Reading Time

Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar, coined the phrase “space, pace and grace” to define the characteristics of the sedans (saloons, for those of you well versed in English-English) his company built. With the emergence of the Jaguar XJ Supersport, his successors have taken that phrase and expanded upon it in a most magnificent fashion.

The top performing Jaguar XJ model, there is but one other car on the Jaguar roster more exclusive; the new for 2013 Jaguar XJ Ultimate (only 30 of which will be offered in the U.S.). This model takes all of the amenities you’re about to learn about from the Supersport and adds to them interior accoutrements fit for a luxurious corporate jet. Which, is not to say the interior of the XJ Supersport is lacking by any stretch of the imagination.

Reimagined as an all-new product for the 2011 model year, the Jaguar XJ Supersport offers luxury almost on par with a Rolls Royce and performance approaching that of a Bentley. However it does so in a package sized to blend with mainstream automotive offerings — rather than towering above them the way Rolls and Bentley does.

In other words, the gracefully stylish Jaguar XJ Supersport gives the luxury buyer the automotive equivalent of having their cake, eating it too, and having others nod in polite respect as they do so.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Models & Prices

For model year 2013, Jaguar XJ Supersport pricing starts at $112,600 for the standard wheelbase model and $119,100 for the long wheelbase iteration of Jaguar’s flagship.

Available in both standard and long wheelbase configurations, the Jaguar XJ Supersport is today’s ultimate iteration of Sir William’s philosophy. The entire model line in the 2013 Jaguar XJ range includes:

XJ:

$73,200

3.0-liter supercharged V6, 340hp

XJ AWD (All-Wheel Drive):

$76,700

3.0-liter supercharged V6, 340hp

XJL Portfolio (Long Wheelbase):

$81,200

5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8, 385hp

XJL Portfolio AWD:

$83,700

3.0-liter supercharged V6, 340hp

XJ Supercharged:

$89,600

5.0-liter supercharged V8, 470hp

XJL Supercharged:

$92,600

5.0-liter supercharged V8, 470hp

XJ Supersport:

$112,600

5.0-liter supercharged V8, 510hp

XJL Supersport:

$119,100

5.0-liter supercharged V8, 510hp

XJL Ultimate:

$155,000

5.0-liter supercharged V8, 510hp

Add $875 for Jaguar’s destination and delivery charges to each price.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Design

The XJ was restyled for the 2011 model year to bring it more into line with the rest of the Jaguar line. Its bold face is characterized by a dynamic mesh grille, which is precisely contrasted by a pair of slender Xenon headlamp housings. Seen from straight on, the shape of the headlights combine with the grille’s form, the exterior rearview mirrors, the lower air intake, and the brake cooling intake ducts to create a feline visage.

Also in semblance to the cat for which it is named, the Jaguar’s exterior design exudes both power and grace. Seen in profile, the muscular lower half of the car serves as a counterpoint to the sleek roofline, which delicately and gracefully curves above the car. Ensuring the airiness of the interior, the roof is comprised of a panoramic glass panel.

Befitting the regality of its status among automobile manufacturers, Jaguar does little to overtly inform passersby of the amazing potential of this most powerful iteration of its flagship. Subtle Supersport badges on the trailing edge of the XJ’s wings (that’s front fenders Yanks) and 20-inch wheels are the only visual “Supersport” cues. By the way, those huge 20-inch wheels are nicely inserted into the subtly flared wheel wells so they quietly hint at the power the big cat is capable of unleashing.

The optional Speed Pack kit for the Supersport ($4,900) adds a revised front splitter to the front of the XJ as well as a suitably diminutive spoiler to the trailing edge of the boot’s lid (OK, the trunk). These subtle modifications help the XJ glue itself to the ground more securely. You’ll find this to be quite useful when you take advantage of the Speed Pack’s willingness hit 174 miles per hour rather than the 155 miles per hour “lesser” XJ Supersports are limited to. Purely cosmetic details of the Speed Pack are a glossy black grille and lower air intake, a Jet-black interior treatment with red contrasting stitching, and red brake calipers behind the 20-inch wheels.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Comfort & Cargo

The English clubroom atmosphere of the XJ Supersport’s interior is absolutely intoxicating. In fact, were it not in a motorcar (a bit more English-English there blokes) the XJ’s cabin would be an ideal place to enjoy a brandy, a cigar, and jovial conversation with a few mates.

The leather-wrapped instrument panel arcs gracefully across the interior of the Jaguar. The cabin is grandly accented by a bold swath of wood sweeping forward from the rear doors through the front doors, meeting at the center of the upper dash. The de rigueur analog clock resides resolutely in the center of the lower dashboard.

All four of the divinely upholstered seats are both heated and cooled. Additionally, the front seats adjust twenty ways. The driver controls the Jaguar via a heated wood and leather steering wheel. Meanwhile, the automatic climate control system assuages any remaining temperate discomfort for four different people—individually and simultaneously.

Despite the rearward tapering design, the XJ Supersport offers some 15.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Features & Controls

Standard amenities on all XJ models include a power trunk lid with adjustable opening height; auto-dimming side mirrors with heat and power-folding; a power-adjustable steering column; Jaguar Smart Key system for keyless entry and start; rain-sensing windshield wipers, and approach illumination.

Everything in the Supersport is either wrapped in leather or accented with aluminum and the finest woods available. We’re talking semi-aniline leather so smooth and soft it makes a baby’s butt feel like Keith Richard's face looks. Even the headliner is leather.

Commanding a place of honor in the center stack, an eight-inch touchscreen monitor controls the audio, navigation, climate, and communications systems. And while we appreciate the convenience it confers, we do find it a tad slow to respond. Instead of reacting to a brief touch, it prefers your finger to linger on the screen before it responds. Given the alacrity with which the rest of the Supersport reacts to inputs, waiting for a touch to register can be a bit trying. Happily, the system also responds to voice commands for all of those functions.

A 30-gig hard disc drive and a media hub—supporting every imaginable audio source—feeds a new for 2013 825-watt Meridian audio system emphasizing ultra-low distortion, natural detail and realism.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Safety & Ratings

With this much performance potential, it would be irresponsible to outfit the car with anything less than the state of the art in safety kit. Active safety technologies collected within the Jaguar XJ include Anti-lock Braking, Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Brake Control, Understeer Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Electronic Traction Control, and Engine Drag Torque Control.

The Supersport’s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) informs Jaguar’s Advanced Emergency Brake Assist. The system uses the ACC’s radar to calculate the Supersport’s proximity and closing speed relative to a vehicle traveling ahead of it. If it’s looking like a collision is imminent, the system pre-charges brake-line pressure to improve braking performance and help reduce impact speed. An audible warning is also provided to the driver.

Two-stage driver and front passenger airbags, along with front side and full curtain airbags are complemented by anti-whiplash front seat structures.

Further, the XJ’s standard radar-based blind-spot monitoring system uses the Jaguar’s standard front and rear parking sensors to alert the XJ driver to vehicles traveling in close proximity on either side of the car. The sensors are paired with a backup camera as standard equipment to aid parking.

The Supersport’s Xenon headlamps can be had with the optional Visibility Package. This system automatically adjusts the high beams in response to oncoming traffic and prevailing lighting conditions. It also includes adaptive lighting, which swivels the headlamps to follow the road when cornering.

Neither NHTSA nor the IIHS crash tested the 2013 Jaguar XJ.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Engine/Fuel Economy

Jaguar’s top performing five-passenger four-door sedan features a 510-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 461 ft-lbs of torque. High compression, direct fuel injection and dual independent variable cam timing are employed to generate the V8’s prodigious output.

Smooth in operation and delivering its power relentlessly, the engine is paired with a new for 2013 eight-speed automatic transmission programmable for both comfort and sport operation. Jaguar quotes a 4.7-second 60 with this combination.

Fuel economy is estimated at 15 miles per gallon in the city, 23 on the highway and 18 combined.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Driving Impressions

Graced with aluminum architecture, the XJ is simultaneously light and stiff. This enables the car to be remarkably agile while returning a comfortably sophisticated ride. The Jaguar XJ also benefits from a forged aluminum double wishbone front suspension system and a multi-link rear setup with self-leveling air springs. Both are part of subframes attached directly to the body of the Jaguar. The XJ Supersport’s ride—while admittedly tauter than that of the standard Jaguar XJ’s—is altogether supple and comfortable. However, on winding roads, the XJ Supersport takes to corners with the same verve exhibited by its XK GT car sibling.

Driven hard, the duality of the nature of the Jaguar comes into sharp focus. A flick of the paddle shifter behind the steering wheel commands the transmission to downshift. The engine control computer blips the throttle to precisely match revs before the downshift is executed. Releasing a gloriously sonorous blat from the Jaguar's cavernous tailpipes, the engine infuses your nervous system with a healthy dose of adrenalin. The XJ Supersport can set your blood to flowing just as readily as it cossets you with all of its luxury features.

Immaculately balanced, the XJ claws into corners, holds on tight and screams toward the exit, emitting a deep guttural baritone growl from the V8 you’ll have to hear to believe. You can absolutely fling this big luxurious Jaguar around like it is half its size.

Accelerating off the corner, the big cat scats (you had to know that one was coming) toward the next apex as if being chased by a pack of snarling Dobermans. But this cat has more than enough scratch to send those hounds howling home to their mothers. While this is an experience one expects from a sportster whose rough ride and minimal comfort and convenience features are accepted as the price of its abilities, we’re talking about one of the world’s foremost luxury sedans here.

At the opposite end of the motoring spectrum, gliding gracefully through city streets, the XJ Supersport is as well mannered as an English butler. There specifically to ease your way through your day, the Jaguar delivers luxurious comfort superior to nearly every other car in its class.

2013 Jaguar XJ Supersport Road Test & Review: Final Thoughts

That the Supersport conveys such grand surroundings with absolutely outstanding performance potential is wholly reflective of Sir William’s dictum. In their quest for outsized pace, Jaguar’s engineers handily kept the grace and space firmly in place, while simultaneously infusing them with 21st century sensibilities.

From its virtual instrument panel to its palatial comfort and convenience appurtenances to its outsized performance potential, the Jaguar XJ Supersport easily deserves to be ranked among the world’s most desirable cars. That one really can have it all in such an attractive package is a clear demonstration of what is possible when individuals with determined minds and great heaping gobs of talent exert themselves.

But, is it enough?

For years Jaguars have been appreciated for their beauty and their performance capabilities. They have also been dogged by a less than stellar reputation for reliability. The company’s tenure under the stewardship of the Ford Motor Company was very good in that the developmental dollars Ford lavished on the brand served to exorcise the reliability demons.

Still, the market’s memory being what it is, the resale value of Jaguar’s cars has a tendency to be rather soft. As much as we love the XJ Supersport, we’re reluctant to recommend buying a new one when a pre-owned one represents a highly significant bargain — if you can find one.