Petrol cars may be making a comeback in the Indian market, but the luxury car segments are still heavily skewed towards diesel. For the most discerning of luxury car buyers though, there’s just no substitute for the refinement and smoothness of a petrol motor, and that’s why in this rung of big limousines, every contender comes with at least one petrol engine option. However, while BMW, Audi and Mercedes offer flagship petrol cars with motors larger than their diesel counterparts, Jaguar has decided to offer a four-cylinder petrol motor to sit at the base of its range. You might have baulked at this idea in the past, but the numbers reveal that you won’t be so badly off. The 1,999cc, direct-injection, turbocharged motor (also used in the XF and the upcoming XE) produces a decent 237bhp and 35kgm, and at 2,265kg, it weighs a full 185kg less than the V6 diesel version. What’s more, Jaguar offers it in the fully loaded Portfolio spec with all the bells and whistles, so you won’t feel shortchanged on that front either. The idea, then, is to offer a proper luxury experience, with the refinement of a petrol engine and lower running costs – doesn’t sound too bad, right?
This being an XJ Portfolio, it comes with all the luxury trappings. All four seats are heated, cooled, massaging and recline electrically (you can accommodate a fifth passenger by flipping up the rear armrest), there’s a superb Meridian hi-fi audio system, a pair of screens and sturdy fold-out tables at the rear, a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen at the front, four-zone climate control, a TV tuner and dual sunroofs. The seats are some of the best in the segment, with thick, soft, sofa-like cushioning and a wide range of adjustment.
Even in everyday usage, you will feel the pinch of Jaguar’s downsizing efforts. Sure, when you’re in traffic and just ambling along slowly, the four-cylinder motor will do just fine. Even holding moderate speeds steadily is not an issue, provided you feed in the power gently. However, the moment you ask for a sudden change in pace, even just to slip into a gap in traffic, is when you’ll feel a little underwhelmed. This only gets worse at higher speeds, and should you want to overtake that 18-wheeler on the expressway, the 2.0-litre motor won’t do it as effortlessly as a bigger engine. Though it’s refined at low revs, and can’t be called loud when you wring it out, there’s a bit of a buzz at higher rpms, which is just not a sound you want to hear in your Rs 1 crore limousine. There’s a Dynamic mode that tightens up the air suspension (though never to the point of discomfort) and, strangely, lightens the steering rather than firming it up. For all its comfort, this is still a very engaging car from behind the wheel, one that belies its huge dimensions with its agility.
The XJ is one of the oldest cars in this segment and it’s not hard to see the signs. The screens aren’t of a very high resolution, the infotainment system and some of the controls in the cabin feel dated. What it has in spades, however, is proper old-school British luxury with a bucket-load of charm thrown in as well. But lets that appeal down is the motor. Yes, for most chauffeur-driven owners, this seems like it won’t be much of a concern – let the driver deal with the weaker responses and turbo lag. True as that may be, it simply feels like a compromise that you don’t need to make, and that’s because of the excellent V6 diesel alternative. Not only is it amply more effortless and efficient than the petrol, it’s not too bad on refinement either. And though, at Rs 97.73 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Portfolio petrol costs over Rs 6 lakh less than the Portfolio diesel, you can sacrifice a bit of equipment and get the same diesel engine in ‘Premium Luxury’ trim for Rs 1.17 lakh less than the petrol. All things considered, we’d say the XJ 2.0 petrol could work for you, but we have a hard time recommending it over its superb oil-burning sibling.
