Jaguar S-Type 2.7 Diesel Business Users View
All too often, the main reason for business users choosing a non-German executive car is precisely because its not German. Its understandable that some hard-working executives want a touch of individuality when pulling into an overwhelmingly Teutonic company car park but it doesnt really say much for the various executive car manufacturers who dont hail form the land of bierkellers and bratwurst. Cant they get their products selected on the basis that they are better than the German alternatives? For a long time, the answer was a painfully despondent no but times have changed and Jaguars S-TYPE 2.7D is one car that can take the fight to Audi, BMW and Mercedes on objective grounds.
Lets not discount the subjective completely. Jaguar has profited over the years from its British roots and its old-school, wood and leather, pipe and slippers pedigree. Its not the sort of image that beguiles younger buyers but its something altogether different from the clinical efficiency purveyed by Germanic rivals. In more recent times, the brand has been seeking to inject a touch of youthful sportiness in a bid to appeal to a wider demographic.
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Forget about brand engineering, this is the real thing a model that can stand objective comparison with the best that Ingolstadt, Munich and Stuttgart have to offer. Packing 206bhp at 4,000rpm and 320Nm of torque at just 1,900rpm, the 2.7D 6-cylinder twin turbo engine stacks up very nicely. Audis 2.
7-litre TDI A6 has only 175bhp and 280Nm while Mercedes E280 CDI manages 190bhp and 325Nm. The BMW 3.0-litre diesel engine is a big hitter that out classes the Jag but its significantly more expensive. In fact, only the markedly less powerful Audi is comparable on price.
"The refinement of the 2.7D engine is arguably its stand-out feature"
Weve been living with the 2.7D S-TYPE for a good three months and it is a genuinely impressive vehicle. Performance is strong for such a substantial piece of machinery with the 0-60mph sprint clocked at 8.1s and a 143mph top speed but neither of these figures convey the cars key characteristics.
The pick up at very low revs is actually rather lethargic and when pulling out of T-junctions, you soon learn to let the revs built before releasing the clutch. Once youre operating at around 1,000rpm, however, theres huge wave of torque waiting to be released under the right foot. This S-TYPE feels at its strongest when overtaking or accelerating up to motorway speeds and theres great flexibility in almost any gear. It all encourages a relaxed driving style and the automatic gearbox is highly adept.
This is a diesel car and this may not be the last time that youll need to be reminded of that fact. The refinement of the 2.7D engine is arguably its stand-out feature and certainly in a different league from oil-burning models of old. The powerplant remains remarkably hushed when cruising with hints of wind and road noise the only things that really disturb the tranquillity in the heavily-leathered cabin.
Even when you floor the throttle, the engines audible response is a distant and muted one, its easy to end up travelling a whole lot faster than you realise in the deceptively quick S-TYPE. Business users will be keenly interested in the S-TYPE 2.7Ds running costs and the choice of gearbox has a major input here. Weve established that the automatic is the preferred choice from a driving perspective but if your prime concern is cutting costs, the manual starts to look tempting.
The manual cars 179g/km CO2 emissions figure rises to 208g/km with the auto enough to increase that Benefit In Kind taxation bill by a pretty penny. Then theres the average fuel economy which goes from an excellent 41.5mpg in the manual car to a less attractive 36mpg. With the auto option also commanding a £1,350 premium, theres a tough decision to be made.
The S-TYPE suspension is tuned for comfort rather than truly sharp handling but comfort is what most executive saloon buyers want for 90% of the time and what traditional Jaguar buyers want for 100% of the time. Thats not to say that the S-TYPE isnt fun to hustle along a contorting B-road. It is, the steering is accurate and body control is good, its just that the finely-honed responses of models like the 5-Series make the Jag feel just a little soft by comparison. Thats even true with of our model which had the sports suspension pack fitted - it stiffed up the ride and made fast cornering more enjoyable but still retained the all-important comfort levels.
The S-TYPEs interior is an impressive piece of work. Theres the classy Jaguar ambience but the designers have managed to integrate the technology that is no essential in a top-line executive saloon without overcomplicating the control interface. The basic controls are at your fingertips rather than buried in the depths of some labyrinthine computer menu system and that will appeal to company car users who have still to master the intricacies their VCR. The electronic parking brake takes some getting used to but otherwise, the controls are intuitive and the build quality is strong.
The S-TYPEs role in the grand scheme of the executive car market will remain one of an alternative choice to the mainstream German brands. Business users who dont want to join the massed ranks of Audi, BMW and Merc drivers will love the Jags image and individuality. The great thing about the 2.7D S-TYPE as far as Jaguar are concerned is that it can also compete with the sectors best on more prosaic grounds.
Fuel economy, refinement, emissions, price or performance, they all stack up. Drivers wholl be choosing their next model with a calculator will also find much to like about this Jaguar.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Jaguar S-TYPE 2.7 diesel range
PRICES: £30,005-£34,505 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 189g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.1s / Max Speed 143mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 40mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, ARTS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4861/1819/1444
