Since I was a little child I have been impressed by the cars produced by the Jaguar<\/a> brand. Why? Because they have something special: the classic style, combined with British luxury and high performance. Today, I present to you a review of the Jaguar that I have always dreamed of and which is now part of the family. It is the Jaguar XJ 4.0 V8 Sovereign manufactured in 1998.<\/p>\n As I said at the beginning of this review, I have been passionate about Jaguar cars since I was a child, but especially the XJ model X308 generation which was produced between 1997 and 2002.<\/p>\n I brought the car in 2025 from Germany, it was parked in a garage for 2 years. It saw the light of day only after 2 years, and it needed to be washed because it was full of cobwebs, and even a small beehive was present near the fuel tank. What I can say is that I was extremely lucky when I found this gem, and I managed to bring it home in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n It is a very rare model because it is in the top equipment version \u201cSovereign<\/strong>\u201d and it was produced in a very rare color palette. The car is gold champagne in color, and the interior is made of light white-cream Ivory leather, combined with walnut veneer \u201cBurr Walnut\u201d elements and chrome elements, which make this car look very luxurious.<\/p>\n It is a car that impressed me from the first sight. I remember when I was a child, I first saw this model on the street, I didn\u2019t have the internet, I didn\u2019t know what kind of car it was exactly. Can you imagine how impressed I was from the first sight, and I kept telling myself that the time would come to own such a model when I grew up. That\u2019s how my dream came true!<\/p>\n In this car, the color is one of the first things that catches your eye. It is an elegant and very rare gold champagne, as I mentioned above. The car has an aristocratic air. It doesn\u2019t try to be aggressive. It doesn\u2019t need to.<\/p>\n For me, this is one of those cars that has personality even after almost 30 years. It is not just a means of transportation<\/a>. It is a masterpiece of art, and we must preserve these cars as best we can, because we will never meet them again.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s move on to the design. The design is probably the strongest argument of this Jaguar. From my point of view, it is one of the most beautiful cars in the world. Everyone turns their heads after it. What I can say is that in the first 10 km driven behind the wheel of this Jaguar, several people took pictures of the car, which is a sign that the car is something very special.<\/p>\n The Jaguar XJ from this period has an elegant silhouette. It has long lines and classic proportions. The hood is long. The passenger compartment is set back. The rear is well proportioned. It is the perfect car!<\/p>\n The gold champagne color matches the design of the car very well. It has a discreet appearance. At the same time, it attracts attention. Being very few copies in the world, and also having an eye-catching design, it is clear that it attracts everyone\u2019s attention. It is precisely this rarity that gives it additional charm.<\/p>\n The car turns heads. This happens every time I drive it. In my opinion, the design has not aged badly. On the contrary. Today it looks like a classic, elegant, and luxurious car.<\/p>\n Jaguar did not aim to copy other German models. The XJ<\/a> has its own identity. This is immediately visible. What do you think about the design of this car?<\/p>\n As for the interior, it is one that impressed me a lot. When you enter it, you have the impression that you have entered an elegant salon, not an ordinary car.<\/p>\n The interior is made of light leather. The leather is in impeccable condition. It is in impeccable condition even after almost 30 years since it left the factory gate. The seats are large and comfortable. The driving position is very good.<\/p>\n Then there is the wood. Wood is present almost everywhere. It is everywhere. On the dashboard. On the center console. On the doors. It has that look specific to classic Jaguar.<\/p>\n The combination of leather, wood and elegant finishes creates a very special atmosphere. This combination explains very well why this car has that classic British luxury look. The very light leather contrasts superbly with the dark and shiny wood.<\/p>\n And the steering wheel<\/a> is very interesting, dressed in Ivory leather and wood, matching the dashboard and center console.<\/p>\n Today, many cars use plastic with imitation wood or carbon fiber, eco-leather instead of natural leather, aluminum or imitation, or black elements to create a sporty atmosphere. Jaguar goes in the opposite direction. My Jaguar has the highest quality materials, real wood, natural leather, chrome elements that look like new after almost 30 years, etc. It is elegant. It is warm. It is aristocratic.<\/p>\n The back seat is very comfortable. Passengers also benefit from seat heating. There are curtains for the rear window, a detail that emphasizes the premium character of the car. There are also ashtrays for the rear passengers, located on the doors.<\/p>\n Other features include electric seats with memories, electric windows, cruise control, electric adjustable steering wheel, glasses holder located above the driver (ceiling).<\/p>\n As for the sound system, the car is equipped with the Alpine car system, which sounds quite good, but does not excel in this regard. The sound is refined, but it is not a car to turn up the volume to the maximum, because it is a luxury car designed for peace, comfort, and relaxation while driving. I like the antenna near the trunk that rises when I turn on the radio, and when it stops, it retracts gently and smoothly back.<\/p>\n An important thing is the silence in the cabin. The car was built for comfort. I can say that the comfort is at the level of Rolls-Royce from the 90s to the 2000s, and the driving sensation is also similar. The feeling when you get behind the wheel and see the long hood with the vertical \u201cJaguar\u201d ornament is sensational.<\/p>\n The same sensation as with Rolls-Royce<\/a> or Mercedes-Benz<\/a>, the models with the logo ornament present vertically on the hood. Too bad that nowadays, new cars no longer come from the factory with these vertical logo ornaments, they are being eliminated by car manufacturers for reasons of aerodynamics, pedestrian safety, cost reduction, etc.<\/p>\n For a 1998 car, the features are impressive:<\/strong><\/p>\n I especially like the combination of technology and classic design.<\/p>\n The features are not just added to impress on paper. They are integrated into the driving experience.<\/p>\n The Alpine audio system<\/a> is another important element.<\/p>\n For a car that is almost three decades old, the level of equipment is very good.<\/p>\n The 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine is one of the main technical features of this Jaguar XJ. It is the first XJ in Jaguar history to be equipped with a V8 engine (engine code AJ-V8), eliminating the V6 engines. This engine develops approximately 290 horsepower and is sufficient for a car of this type, neither too little nor too much.<\/p>\n This car is not built for brutal acceleration. The philosophy is different.<\/p>\n The engine delivers power in a linear way. The 5-speed ZF automatic gearbox changes gears without spoiling the comfortable character of the car. On a long road, the engine is relaxed.<\/p>\n It has enough power reserve for overtaking. You don\u2019t have to force the car.<\/p>\n The V8 also has that specific sound. It is discreet when driving normally. When accelerating, however, it reminds you that you have a 4.0-liter engine in front of you that purrs like a Jaguar animal, its torque being 375Nm. It\u2019s one of the things that makes this Jaguar so enjoyable.<\/p>\n \nSpecs<\/h2>\n
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Introduction<\/h2>\n
![\"1998](\"https:\/\/www.automotorblog.com\/storage\/2026\/08\/1998-Jaguar-XJ-Sovereign-Gold-4.0-V8-106-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nDesign<\/h2>\n
![\"1998](\"https:\/\/www.automotorblog.com\/storage\/2026\/08\/1998-Jaguar-XJ-Sovereign-Gold-4.0-V8-71-1024x768.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nInterior<\/h2>\n
![\"1998](\"https:\/\/www.automotorblog.com\/storage\/2026\/08\/1998-Jaguar-XJ-Sovereign-Gold-4.0-V8-Interior-1-1024x768.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/figure>\nFeatures<\/h2>\n
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Performance<\/h2>\n
![\"1998](\"https:\/\/www.automotorblog.com\/storage\/2026\/08\/1998-Jaguar-XJ-Sovereign-Gold-4.0-V8-Engine-1024x768.jpg\")
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