As well there's TV, telephone satellite navigation and voice activation for many of the controls to keep the driver and passengers amused. It does feel like a big car, though, and while the driver side of the car can easily be seen, care needs to be taken when threading the far side through confined spaces.
The range starts with a new 'small' V8, just 3.5-litres, a goes on to a regular 4.2-litre V8 and the XJR's stonking 298kW supercharged version. All engines come with a ZF six-speed automatic box that has Jaguar's quirky J-gate set up to provide manual over-ride. On the freeway space is not a problem and the XJ positively glides along, progress is suitably quiet and serene. Air suspension and Jaguar's Computer Active Technology Suspension, CATS, are fitted as standard to all models.
There's a sportiness and a firmness to the ride that might surprise some traditional customers. Some of the Queensland roads we sampled were a little less than smooth and while there was a minor amount of kickback through the steering wheel, the overall ride was excellent. We were somewhat spoilt starting the driving section, which was admirably challenging to say the least, in the XJR and after a couple of hundred kilometres at full throttle on some very challenging roads it was hard to move down the 'lesser' Jaguars.
The XJR handled everything that was thrown at it with consummate ease, and undulating roads, taken at extreme speed had the big jaguar rising and thumping on its suspensions but never losing its composure, and impressing considerably. Many of the roads we covered, some twisty and narrow, would not have been the happiest of hunting grounds for the outgoing XJ, but this car just lapped it up. Whether the Dynamic Stability Control was switched on or off, progress (and for much of the morning we were subject to some heavy rainsqualls) was smooth and unflustered.
At the heart of the XJ's driving characteristics is a ZF Servotronic power-assisted, tuned for speed sensitivity, steering system. While 'tuned for speed sensitivity' often means 'tuned for no feel at all', in the case of the Jaguar this is not so. Jaguar says the steering is calibrated for each engine and suspension combination, and that's how it feels.
Ride comfort and body control feel up to scratch and the long bonnet turns into corners with surprising relish, rather than reluctance. It's so much more fun to drive than the old car, that you soon find yourself throwing it around in a most undignified manner. Another great change with the new XJ is added interior space, especially in the rear seat and while that's not such a great place to be when this car is being thrown about on the roadway, at a more leisurely pace it is a comfortable ride. The other old grizzle, a lack of boot space in such a big car, has also been addressed and you can now get more than a soft pack in the boot!
After a couple of days with the Jaguar XJ the list of plus points is long and a full comparison with its rivals could well show that they have a serious challenger on their hands.