When someone thinks of a modern day Jaguar, car enthusiasts are quick to picture an F-Type or an XF. However, their flagship sedan, the XJ, rarely appears as a popular Canadian choice, as it accounts for only a quarter of the company’s sales in 2015. At a price tag starting from $99,000 and loaded with a battalion of features, the four-door sedan should have all the style, speed and grace to grasp a lion’s share of the market. So I requested a drive to see if there’s something in the sales figures that I’m missing.

In a week with the 2016 Jaguar XJL Portfolio, the luxury sedan introduces a variety of knick-knacks that remain competitive with its equivalent wolf pack: the Audi A8, the BMW 7 and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. For the test drive, I neatly prepared the unique features in the Jaguar XJL that compete with its class. A big, mean grille can be a dime a dozen these days, especially when a certain knockoff Bentley hits the opening track on Drake’s new album, Views. What makes the XJL’s front grille distinct is the slightly taller design with a new, wide mesh pattern, adding depth on the front lines. It is also complimented by a rounded front bumper design and LED headlights.
Similar to how a slim pair of pants subconsciously adds height, a long wheelbase adds length. A long body can create a visually seductive side profile, and adds functional spaciousness on the inside. While some may worry about parallel parking a long car, automate...