AS downsizing continues to sweep through the car market, the latest Jaguar X Type diesel automatic has arrived at the right time.
There has long been a choice between petrol and diesel engines, but until this year you could not get a diesel automatic and its arrival together with the latest 2.2-litre oil-burner has truly transformed the car and given it a new life.
The fact is many drivers probably ignored the baby Jag because it did not offer automatic transmission attached to a diesel so loved by high mileage motorists.
Now there is no reason why you should consider any other compact executive, because the newest Jaguar is extremely good.
I tested the more versatile estate version (although the powertrain is available in the saloon) and this gives a useful 1,415 litres of space but can still take 455 litres when used for four and deliver passengers and baggage in cushioned comfort over long distances.
The powertrain provides a superb blend of performance and economy, acceleration and flexibility and is utterly effortless yet does so much. The six-speed automatic gearbox is an additional £1,450 but well worth it for the added refinement it brings to the X-Type.
The engine is an instant starter, pulls very strongly and is so smooth it could be mistaken for a petrol unit except when you realise how miserly this car is in covering the miles.
The new six-speed automatic is a perfect match giving instant pick-up from standstill, silken selection up the gears and utterly composed character when cruising at the legal maximum. It can also be stirred along as a semi-automatic in the sporting mode.
I used the test car to cover the Paris Motor Show and over nearly 900 miles in three days it proved very capable of continental travel, untiring and only needed one refill.
City driving was easy with the on-board navigation taking me door to door in comfort thanks to an equipment list which also includes climate control, powered windows and mirrors, leather seats, parking sensors and refined sound system. Mine also had the £900 optional sunroof.
The mechanical refinement of the powertrain is matched by the sophistication of the steering and stopping ability of the brakes which make the X Type a very agile and reassuring car in any situation.
Handling has always been a virtue of Jaguar and the X Type estate is no exception. It sticks to the road, turns in sharply and exhibits a mild understeer through a bend. Road bumps and potholes are absorbed without complaint or discomfort while the big seats soak up the last remnants of any roughness.
I did well not to encounter much stationary traffic on my journey but if you do, the cabin is beautifully trimmed in leather and wood to relieve your senses. It is also a very relaxing environment for long journeys.
Room is good in the front, tighter in the back but the luggage space is useful and oddments room is reasonable. If you do need to fully set back the front pair of seats the legroom is short in the bac, however.
Visibility is slightly restricted over the shoulder but surprisingly clear through the back window. Lights and wipers cope well with bad conditions.
All noise levels are very low, the most noticeable being that of tyres and the road when cruising.
You can always tell a well designed big car because it feels and behaves like a smaller model but in the Jaguar X Type diesel estate you have a compact that exudes large car luxury but which has economy closer to a city car. Downsizing was never so justifiable or rewarding.
FAST FACTS
Jaguar X-Type 2.2 Diesel Sovereign Estate
Price: £31,850
Mechanical: 152bhp, 2,198cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 125mph
0-62mph: 10.3 secs
Combined mpg: 41
Insurance group: 15
C02 emissions: 184g/km
BiK rating: 26%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage, 3yrs paint, 6yrs anti-rust