What engine does the Jaguar S-Type use?

[VonKeegan]

The Jaguar S-Type was equipped with two engines: a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated engine and a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated engine. The Jaguar S-Type is a mid-size luxury sedan under the Jaguar brand, with a wheelbase of 2909 mm, and dimensions of 4905 mm in length, 2060 mm in width, and 1447 mm in height. The 3.0-liter naturally aspirated engine in the Jaguar S-Type delivers 244 horsepower and a maximum torque of 300 Nm, featuring multi-point fuel injection technology and an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The front suspension of the Jaguar S-Type uses a double-wishbone independent suspension, and the rear suspension also employs a double-wishbone independent suspension.

[Richard]

I remember driving my friend's 2006 Jaguar S-Type in my younger days. The powertrain configurations of that generation were particularly interesting. The base model came with a 3.0L V6 engine producing 237 horsepower—enough for daily driving but not exactly fierce. The real thrill was the 4.2L V8 version, where 300 horsepower made the car feel exceptionally nimble. The most outrageous was the supercharged S-Type R, squeezing 400 horsepower out of the V8—overtaking on highways back then felt like tearing through paper. After the 2003 facelift, they even introduced a 2.7L diesel variant, which was fuel-efficient but noticeably slower off the line. By today's standards, these engines might not seem cutting-edge technologically, but back then, it was rare to see luxury brands fitting a V8 into a sedan's engine bay.

[DelDeclan]

Old-school Jaguar enthusiasts often mention the 'heart transplant' when discussing the S-Type. The early models (1998-2002) used Jaguar's in-house developed AJ-V6 and V8 engines, with the V6 delivering smooth power delivery but suffering from high fuel consumption. After the 2003 facelift, all models were equipped with Ford co-developed engines. The new 3.0-liter V6 only gained 7 horsepower, but paired with the 6AT transmission, it felt noticeably more responsive. I've test-driven the later diesel version - that 2.7-liter V6 diesel engine felt like someone kicked you in the back when the turbo kicked in, though cold starts sounded like a tractor, requiring half a minute of warm-up in winter before daring to drive.

[EloiseDella]

Last week at the repair shop, I saw an '04 S-Type R. Popping the hood revealed that legendary supercharged V8. A 4.2-liter displacement with a Roots-type supercharger, factory-rated at 400 horsepower but with massive tuning potential. The mechanic said the engine bay was packed like a tin can - changing spark plugs requires removing half an hour's worth of piping. The standard 3.0L V6 version has simpler architecture, but that V6 has a common issue - the water pump is guaranteed to leak coolant by 100,000 km, and it's much more troublesome to fix than BMW's straight-six engines.

[LilyLee]

After flipping through the S-Type technical manual, I discovered its engine history is more complex than imagined. At its 1999 debut, it offered a 4.0L V8 (290hp) and 3.0L V6 (240hp), but the V8 was upgraded to 4.2L in 2001. Interestingly, post-2005 all V8 models shared components with Aston Martin under the same corporate umbrella, even down to identical cylinder head bolt specifications. However, be cautious with pre-facelift V6 versions in the used car market - those AJ25 engines are prone to cylinder scoring after 150,000km, making repairs particularly costly.

[LeCamille]

The driving experience of the S-Type largely depends on the engine choice. Those who have driven the base 3.0L V6 know that it’s exceptionally quiet at 80km/h cruising with just 1500 rpm, but you’ll need to wait for the transmission to downshift two gears when flooring the throttle. The S-Type R is a whole different world—the distinctive whine of the supercharger echoes from the firewall, and the V8’s torque suddenly erupts at 3500 rpm, pushing you forward by the back of your head. However, mastering this car now requires some know-how: opt for the later Ford-engine versions of the V6 for reliability, and if you’re into the V8, avoid the early 4.0L models due to their susceptibility to oil passage blockages.