Jaguar and its owner, Ford Motor Co., have worked hard to keep the Jaguar cachet alive: the feline look, the sporty sounding motor, luxurious interior, not too harsh ride and reasonable handling. But Jaguar’s brilliant designers from the early days might be disappointed to note that the X type has lost some of the Jaguar distinctive looks and has partially dropped into the jelly bean style of so many cars in all price ranges.

The Jaguar X can take on competition and won’t be outclassed.

The front, however, remains unmistakably Jaguar and the general lines of the body look sleek. It’s a little hard to believe but the X type shares a platform with the Ford Contour and the European Ford Mondeo. Even the engines are derivations of the Contour and Taurus V-6 with performance heads and some other changes.

The interior is nicely done with fine leather and wood. The instruments are pleasant and precise looking. The driver’s seat in the sport model feels a little hard and stiff at first, but is equipped with a number of adjustments, including a lumbar button, that make this seat one of the most comfortable and supportive out there. On lengthy journeys, drivers won’t have to stop for a back break.

As with all European cars, cupholders are scarce and inadequate. “You must not drink coffee while driving!” can almost be heard in various European accents when you look at the single cupholder in the front. The car has ample room for four people and their luggage, and an occasional fifth person.

The 3.0 liter, 231 hp, 24-valve V-6 engine sounds gorgeous on acceleration, although the numbers don’t show a tire-ripping performance. It’s plenty of thrust for most of us. We can have fun driving the five-speed with the 2.5 liter, 195 hp, 24-valve V-6 engine, or a little less with the 3.0 and the five-speed automatic with overdrive. The all-wheel-drive handling is better than any of the other members of the Jag stable, including the XK8 sports car.

The ride is flat and mostly secure, with a little harshness over rough spots in the road. This car feels taut, tight and sinuous on the road — just like what is expected from a Jaguar. All-wheel-drive is standard on all four X type models. This system biases drive to the rear wheels under normal driving, and in slippery conditions directs drive away from slipping wheels and toward wheels with grip. You really notice the extra grip this system gives under normal driving conditions.

The four models offered are the 2.5 and 3.0 standard models and 2.5 and 3.0 sport models. Prices range from $29,950 for the base 2.5 liter to $37,950 for the 3.0 liter sport.

Standard equipment for the 2.5 liter basic model includes alarm system with engine immobilizer, four wheel antilock disc brakes, all-wheel-drive, keyless remote control, fog lights, dual heated power mirrors, dual front side impact air bags and front and side curtains, power driver’s seat, leather bucket seats, cruise control, leather wrapped telescoping steering wheel with touch controls, heated windshield wipers and cast aluminum wheels.

The top of the line 3.0 sport model also includes a sport suspension and dynamic stability control.

Options include an automatic transmission for the 2.5 liter models for $1,275, and for all models $2,500 for a premium package with moon roof, auto headlamps, automatic day/night mirror, trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, reverse park control, power passenger seat and garage door opener. Another package with heated front seats, headlamp washers and Dynamic Stability Control costs $1,200. High density headlamps are $675, navigation system $2,200, Alpine radio $1,200 and integrated cellular phone $1,500. Metallic paint costs $550.

The warranty is four years or 50,000 miles and the EPA fuel consumption estimates are 19/28 mpg for city/highway (2.5 liters with five-speed manual transmission) and 18/25 for city/highway (3.0 liters with automatic).

This car will allow the many Jaguar aficionados who are economically constrained and forced to drive other cars, finally to own and drive a Jaguar.

If you are interested drop into Cush Jaguar in Kearny Mesa and ask the friendly people there for a test drive.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 54 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at osten@aol.com.