Body panels fit more closely together. Overall, quality has improved dramatically in recent years. In 1989, Jaguar ranked at the bottom of the list in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, one rung above Yugo. Jaguar is now third from the top, according to the 2003 and 2004 surveys, just below Lexus and Cadillac. That's even more impressive given that the quality bar is moving up: The top of that list represents a much higher standard of quality than what was found at the top of the list a decade ago. Recent S-Type buyers appear to be happy with more than just the quality of their cars. The S-Type placed second in its class in J.D. Power's APEAL survey, which measures owners' delight with the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicles, placing the Jag above the Mercedes E-Class and below the Lexus GS.
Based on customer feedback, Jaguar redesigned the S-Type's interior for 2005, adding or improving features while eliminating those not needed. All models come with rich leather upholstery, with stitching that gives it a high-quality appearance. Warm birds-eye maple veneer stained bronze is the standard trim, but a new aluminum trim option is available for a more technical-looking finish.
Material quality has been enhanced and there's a whole new palette of interior colors and trims. Trim choices now include classic leather, perforated leather, and R leather. There are four trim color options: Champagne, Charcoal, Dove and Ivory. And there are three new two-tone color combinations, depending on model: Granite and Dove on the aluminum Sport package, Charcoal and Light Sand, and Charcoal and Dove for the R. There are also three wood veneer choices depending on the model or package: Bronze Madrona (standard on all models except R), Grey Birds Eye Maple (R Only) and classic Burl Walnut (Highline package on 4.2-liter only). Topping the list is the High-line pack, with extensive use of classic walnut veneers (including a half-walnut, half-leather steering wheel), softgrain leather, premium floor mats, heated seats with subtle chrome highlights on the headrest bezels. Don't want wood? A sporty aluminum dash finish is available for the Sport and R, harking back to some of Jaguar's greatest sports cars.
Three seat styles are available. Comfort, Sport, and R respectively offer increasingly aggressive bolstering for spirited driving. The driver's seat is narrower in R models.
Sumptuous leather is used on the surfaces of all seats and door panels. The steering wheel looks and feels good. A well-designed toggle on the left side of the steering column quickly, easily and precisely controls the power tilt and telescopic adjustments for the steering wheel. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with a nice firm seat bottom that minimizes fatigue on long trips.
There is a decent amount of space for rear-seat passengers. Rear legroom is on par with other similar sized cars.
For 2003, Jaguar added more storage to the S-Type interior. Two glove boxes are provided in addition to the center console storage. Sunglasses can be stashed in an overhead console case lined with soft rubber. Dual cupholders are provided, but are mounted far enough to the rear as to be a bit awkward to reach while driving.
Trunk space is only average at 14.1 cubic feet due to the curvy rear end; swan?neck hinges are used that intrude in the cargo space, but their advantage is that the trunk lid will conveniently pop up when opened. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split for 28.6 cubic feet of cargo space.
Climate controls and sound system buttons are big, easy to discern and easy to operate. The instrument pod contains just a fuel gauge and water temperature gauge besides the speedometer and tachometer. All told it is a pleasant design.
The electronically controlled parking brake has been refined for 2005. It is designed to work intuitively and will automatically release in certain circumstances: Switch on the parking brake with the car in Drive at an intersection and it switches off when you accelerate, handy when stopping for traffic lights on steep hills.
Driving the S-Type cars is satisfying. It imparts a feeling of class and sophistication to passengers.
The S-Type comes with a great transmission, perhaps the best available. The six-speed automatic ZF is the same transmission used in the new BMW 7 Series. This transmission is extremely responsive and silky smooth. With more gears to choose from, it offers excellent drivability around town. It delivers both better performance and improved fuel economy. A Sport mode allows the driver to shift manually. Select this mode and the transmission will not shift above the highest gear selected, though as needed it will shift down and back up below this gear. The transmission has two overdrive ratios. Sport mode stays in fifth unless the driver maintains a steady state for 30 seconds. But most of the time we preferred to simply leave it in Drive and let it do its thing, as it does it so well. It's a smart transmission: lift off the throttle for a corner and it senses the steering angle and holds it in gear. It also holds a gear on hills, eliminating hunting between gears.
