In late 2024, when Jaguar previewed its new all-electric future, a publicity storm followed. Was it the last roll of the dice from a brand in its death throes, or marketing genius? Whatever, the “copy nothing” relaunch featuring a pink-hued concept car is now estimated to have been seen by a billion pairs of eyes.
Those images of the proposed car were also accompanied by news that Jaguar was stopping building cars as it regroups. With only used Jaguars available currently, we thought it timely to ask six experts for the models they would advise buying – those that might even appreciate in value over time. It’s also a reminder that while it might have struggled to sell cars profitably, Jaguar still has a healthy back catalogue of fantastic machines.
Jaguar E-Type Series 3
Years: 1961-1974
Price: £50,000-£80,000
Think Jaguar, and if you’re of a certain age, you probably think E-Type. Launched in 1961 with coupé and convertible body shapes, Enzo Ferrari is said to have called it “the most beautiful car ever made”.
Despite that, E-Type prices have been depressed more recently. And that makes the less aesthetically desirable Series 3, with its 5.3-litre V12 engine and a bonnet so big it needs its own postcode, relatively affordable.
Nathan Stride at classic car specialist Team Virtus in Pulborough, West Sussex, said: “E-Types are currently towards the bottom of the value curve. I have a Series 3, which I sold three years ago for £110,000, and I’m now putting it in an auction and might get £75,000.
“They are cheap, relatively speaking, now, but they will go up. Choose one with a service history and use that to check that the mileage hasn’t been tampered with.”
Jaguar XJR (X358)
Years: 2007-2009
Price: £15,000-£30,000
Jaguar has a storied history of fast saloons, and none more so than the XJ body shape. First launched in 1968, the XJ spawned four generations. The X358 is the final version of the third generation and, like other X350 models, has an aluminium body.
Matthew Priddy, the head of auctions at Historics Auctioneers, said: “I could mention E-Types and classic XKs, but based on recent results, my pick would be the supercharged XJR version of the X358.
“We recently sold a low-mileage example for double my expectations, so if I was to find another for what I thought was market value (£15,000), I would be snapping it up. A great engine, improved performance and luxury, I liken it to when Mk2 prices shot up to £50,000… A modern classic choice with space for you and three friends, ready for a trip to the Le Mans Classic.”
Jaguar XK (X150)
Years: 2006-2014
Price: £13,000-£20,000
When the first generation of XJS-replacing XK models was launched in 1996, its clumsy looks were a let-down. Its successor, first shown to the public in 2005, was a far sleeker offering.
With its aluminium chassis and available with either a coupe or convertible body, the XK now represents a great used buy, according to Matthew Sweeney from Chiltern Jaguar and Land Rover Specialists in High Wycombe, Bucks. “With the XK, you get so much car for your pound,” he said.
“I really believe the XK is a modern-day classic. It’s cheaper than a Porsche 911 Turbo, but the XKR-S has almost comparable performance. And you can get a 4.2-litre for well under £20,000. But as with any high-performance car, you need to be sure that they’ve been looked after.”
Jaguar XE
Years: 2015-2024
Price: £8,000-£10,000
Recent versions of small Jaguar saloons haven’t been rip-roaring sales successes; think X-Type and more recently the XE in the UK. But that’s not to say the latter is a bad car.
When it was launched, it was the first in its class to have an aluminium structure. And it was the first car to be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s then-new Solihull factory. With a choice of 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engines, it was a direct rival to the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.
“As a used car, you get a lot more for the money with the XE compared with the equivalent BMW or Audi,” said Gary Stubbs from car dealership Westwell Jones in Farnborough, Hants. “There are some models out there with a really nice spec. Ideally, you want a low-mileage example, but early (and therefore cheaper) models are increasingly hard to come by. The petrol 2.0-litre is the one to go for.”
Jaguar XJS Convertible
Years: 1992-1996
Price: £20,000-£30,000
The XJ-S (Ford dropped the hyphen when it bought Jaguar in 1989) had big E-Type-shaped boots to fill when launched by British Leyland in 1975. It didn’t grab performance car lovers’ imagination as the E-Type had, and production was even halted briefly in 1981 to shift surplus stock.
Initially a V12-only, a 3.6-litre straight six-cylinder joined the XJ-S line-up in 1983. Ford replaced this with a 4.0-litre six-cylinder unit in 1992 and added a convertible to the range at the same time. It’s this that classic Jag specialist Peter Thurston in Herne Bay, Kent recommends.
He said: “The 4.0-litre XJS is cheaper to run than the V12. It’s a very reliable engine, very robust, and the car is nicely built; better than the Leyland XJ-S. I think the XJS will be the next E-Type. They haven’t peaked yet, so if you buy one now and hang onto it for a bit, you’re unlikely to lose money on it.”
Jaguar XJ (X300)
Years: 1994-1997
Price: £1,000-£8,000
Astonishingly, it took 18 years for a second-generation XJ to hit showrooms in 1986. Eight years later, under Ford’s stewardship, this XJ40 was then facelifted into the model codenamed X300.
Richard Gunn from Anglia Car Auctions believes the X300 XJ makes a great buy: “By this stage, they were well built and pretty reliable. There’s a choice of some quite potent engines and values are still pretty reasonable.
“X300 XJs are bargains at the moment. You can probably pick up one for a few thousand, but be wary: like most luxury cars, if a Jaguar has been run on a budget, they don’t like it. If you find a cheap, high-mileage car that hasn’t been properly maintained, you could be looking at a whole world of trouble.”