CAR REVIEW: Sure-footed Jaguar XJL looking to make hay in mile-high climates

Automotively speaking, Jaguar is the best hot mess. It makes the world’s most beautiful cars (with a below average reliability rating) with some of the most exciting engines (in rear-wheel drive, mainly). The name is gorgeous, even if the previous owners have dragged it through the mud from time to time. In short, Jag is a pretty face but a whole lot of work.

To their credit, they know. Since spinning off of Ford years ago, the brand has gone to great lengths to reinvent themselves under new owners, the Indian car company Tata. Starting with the XK, Jaguar’s range now includes two superb sedans, one unbelievable coupe and an even better roadster. They’re still hot, just not messy.

But that’s all fine and well when you’re below the 40th parallel. But up here, we get the wet cold stuff. You know, the word that starts with “S” and ends with your back hurting in the driveway.

For that reason, Jaguar has answered with their first all-wheel drive powertrain since the X-type. Specifically, that answer is an all-wheel drive 2013 Jaguar XJL sitting in the parking lot.

Now, metaphorically speaking, this car is more intriguing and ecologically important than a pair of reproducing pandas who can mate on command. Stick with me for a second. First, the Jaguar XJL is the long wheelbase version of the full-size sedan that Jag has been making for decades. It becomes more interesting because the longer wheelbase version is targeted toward more Asian buyers who, compared to American buyers, are being driven more than driving. (Although, in fairness, I haven’t seen an XJ in the wild in the States either. Every version is the long wheelbase version here too.)

Second, this particular model is fitted with Jaguar’s supercharged six, an engine that made its debut a year ago and aims to bring models like the smaller XF and XJ to the masses. Which currently they don’t.

Last, let’s talk all-wheel drive. In Colorado, it’s a must for a sedan like this. A big heavy galoot can only get so far with snow tires (and that’s a ways, honestly) which means that this XJL was built with you in mind.

To be fair, I’ve driven one of these in Canada, on a mountain with plenty of snow. The Magna all-wheel drive system there was brilliant; gripping and grinding around a Canadian ice track like their hockey team. Back here in Denver, it was boring old fall. Sure the leaves are golden and amber, but where’s my fun. Where are my power slides.

But it was a good measure of what Jaguar claimed up in Canada: that the XJL AWD would perform just like a Jag when it wasn’t barreling up snowy mountains. The smaller mill, a supercharged six that makes 340 horsepower instead of the base V8’s 385. The loss isn’t really noticeable up here at altitude, especially considering the forced induction nixes any high-country power sapping.

Off the line and around the corners, the XJL is exactly what you’d expect a big, soft British sedan to be. That is to say, it’s mum on just about everything. The suspension and eight-speed automatic transmission keep this particular Jag at a quiet roar when pushing the car through its cogs, which I imagine is exactly what engineers were looking for.

It’s worth noting that there are cheaper ways of getting a full-size sedan with all-wheel drive, our tester clocked in at $83,700 to start with only $1,700 in optional packages tacked on. The options were only illuminated door sills and air vents, which for the cost of most people’s average monthly salary, could qualify as a bit too much. Welcome to the one percent, sir!

But for Jaguar, this is more than a car that can crawl up snowy slopes or coddle your wealthy rear in the back seat for dinner in Aspen. It means they don’t want to be a hot mess any more, they’re listening to you.