I’ve run with this Popeye’s Mild or Spice unicorn theme twice, with this kickoff in August 2023 comparing six pairs of enthusiast and enthusiast-plus cars, and again in December with a couple of Mercedes SL’s. No idea if it’s of interest to you all but I’ll keep winging it. Not going to chicken out. Heh-heh-heh.
Just going with one pair this time, a (relatively) mild and beautiful 2013 Jaguar XK, and a spicier 2015 Jaguar XKR – the last year for the XK’s. Jaguar produced this car from 1996 to 2006 as the XK8 (X100 series), and until 2015 as the XK (X150 model). The second generation XK debuted an all aluminum chassis and body panels, dropping weight by 200 pounds. The second gen also eliminated wood trim in the cockpit. Heresy.
Most of the XK’s I’ve blogged about have been black or silver, with the exception of this green one I transferred in and declined. Surprised me to see a red one. More interesting, the car was local to me – a one owner car that spent its whole life in Vienna, Virginia, 15 miles away from my home.
In my humble opinion, both cars are gorgeous. If you’ve been here before, you know I’ve flirted again and again with buying an XK. Transferred several into my CarMax over the years and couldn’t make the commitment in the end. No sunroof the first time (the ad said it did – turns out none of them have sunroofs!), and the last time I felt squeezed in the leg room – and later found the sales rep left the key box from the window jammed behind the driver’s seat, reducing leg room considerably. By then I was out.
Normally the obligatory motor photos go at the end of the blog, since I’m not convinced most folks care to see modern engine bays that are mostly plastic shields hiding the important stuff. I do. And the motors are what mostly set these two cars apart. The XK hosts a 5.0 liter aluminum V-8 with 385 hp and 380 ft-lbs of torque. The XKR has a supercharged variant of the same motor, making 510 hp and 461 ft-lbs of torque. Both have six speed ZF automatics. The XKR hits 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, not supercar fast but respectable, and the XK in just over five seconds. Both are governed at 155 mph. The XKR gets more performance upgrades in the chassis and suspension. Having driven both, I’d agree the XKR is a bit more stiff. It should be. It’s spicier.
But in the words of Hawkeye, the owner of the dealership where I bought my first car, “why you wanna look under the hood anyway? Nuthin’ under there but a dirty ol’ motor!” Let’s go inside the cabin of these luxury touring machines, shall we?
The 2013 XK (above) and 2015 XKR (below) are identically equipped inside, mostly, with heated and air conditioned seats, heated steering wheel, and Bowers & Wilkins audio. The XKR has the “bespoke” stitching option that I’ve not seen before. The cars are 2+2 seating, meaning two adults in the front and two gym bags in the back. Or two cases of John Smiths’ Newcastle Brown Ale.
The Jaguar XK’s are hatchbacks, I guess, although not as spacious in the boot as say, an Audi S7 due to the slope of the rear. But it’s not nothing and should hold some luggage or golf clubs just fine.
Of all the reviews I read, nobody liked the infotainment controls so I left them out. My wife hated the PRNDL (PRNDS?) knob and refused to drive it, so I left her out too. As we all know, with electronically controlled transmissions, there is no longer a need for a lever of any kind. Rotary knob should do just fine once you get used to it.
The 2013 Jaguar XK sold for maybe $90,000 new and has less than 20,000 miles on it. Pristine. The 2015 XKR was maybe $110,000 and still only 39,000 miles. Both are eligible for MaxCare for 60 months, and up to 125,000 miles. I’d buy the warranty.
The 2013 Jaguar XK is here in Newport News, Virginia. It’s a one owner car, accident free beauty.
Stock No: 25749435 VIN: SAJWA4FB1DLB49808
The 2015 Jaguar XKR below is “Coming Soon” to Austin, Texas. It’s a two owner car, Florida and Texas, and appears to have rear ended someone in Pompano Beach in 2018. Bummer. Here’s the link to the car so you can track when it becomes available.
Stock No: 25870059 VIN: SAJWA4DC4FMB55272
I bought a Red 2013 XKR with blackout package from CarMax about a year ago. It is a fabulous car and worry free with the CarMax warranty. There is not a better looking car on the road (except maybe the Aston Martin which Jaguar copied.) I’ve had about $2000 of work done at the Jaguar dealer so far with no trouble from the warranty.
Buy it already! You won’t be sorry.
Good to hear, Stewart. I went with the M3 to have a hardtop convertible. Maybe in two years when it’s time to refresh. The XK is soooo sleek though. Sigh.
My 2013 Jaguar XJL has the same engine as the XK. That naturally aspirated V8 rumble puts a smile on my face every time I hit the Start button.
Tata has not been a good steward of the Jaguar brand, but that XKR is a sleek beast. If you’ve ever seen the diamond stitching up close, it’s really quite fetching. One thing that I will warn you about though is that piano black finish that’s all over the place… it tends to turn a decidedly purpleish hue after several years of exposure to sunlight.
I still have no regrets almost 6 years later with the XJL, and plan to keep it for at least another four. Well, maybe one regret, but it’s not the Jaguar’s fault that it won’t fit in my micro-sized condo garage!
I recognized I went out on a limb on the horsepower thing and the XK/XJ. It’s plenty good enough. Not sure how I ended up needing 500…and then 600!. My M3 sports 380 for everyday driving and 425 in M mode, which I rarely use. Good luck with keeping the car beyond MaxCare. I’m too chicken. The M3 goes in 2026 and the GLE63 in 2027!