Mercedes-Benz offers an extremely classy looking C-Class wagon, while Volvo is just releasing its all-new 2005 compact
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| Price and favor aren't on this Jag's side. In order to succeed, it's going to have to bank heavily on heritage. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
V50, a real value leader in the compact wagon class. The brand also offers the V70, that while larger than Jaguar's X-Type wagon, is priced similarly depending on trim. Saab has its new Subaru Impreza-based 9-2X wagon joining its 9-5 Wagon soon, and while it's a bit on the small size it's priced very well. The 9-5 wagon, while larger than Jaguar's X-Type wagon, starts at a lower based price of $41,000. Even when topped out at $57,000 in Aero trim, the 9-5 wagon is priced lower than the Jag at its top trim level. What's more, at this price it offers a 250 horsepower turbocharged engine with 258 lb-ft of torque. Volkswagen offers up a couple of alternatives too, the Jetta Wagon and Passat Wagon. While the former obviously couldn't come close to the Jaguar's level of prestige, the latter offers an interior that would make some premium brand designer's blush in embarrassment
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| It will be exclusive, no doubt, but potentially runs the risk of being too exclusive for Jaguar's sake. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
if trapped inside. What's more, it offers 4-cylinder, V6 and W8 powertrains that obliterate the competition. Even in its top trim at $55,820, the Passat is quite a bit less expensive than the hardly equivalent X-Type wagon. How much is that? Try $59,595. Even at its $43,195 base sticker the X-Type wagon isn't exactly priced to fly out the doors. It will be exclusive, no doubt, but potentially runs the risk of being too exclusive for Jaguar's sake. The brand had to dramatically reduce the price of its X-Type sedan in order to motivate buyers into the showroom and push cars off the lot, a strategy that has had its rewards, but at great cost to the automaker's bottom line.
