Three new seat styles are available for 2003. Comfort, sport, and R respectively offer increasingly aggressive bolstering for spirited driving. The driver's seat is narrower in R models.

Sumptuous leather is used on the surfaces of all seats and door panels. The steering wheel is made in a combination of matching wood and leather and feels good. A well-designed toggle on the left side of the steering column quickly, easily and precisely controls the power tilt and telescopic adjustments for the steering wheel. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, with a nice firm seat bottom that minimizes fatigue on long trips.

S-Type is close in interior dimensions to the standard-wheelbase XJ models. Actually, there's a tad more room rear-seat legroom than in the standard XJ. There is a decent amount of space for rear-seat passengers. Rear legroom is on par with other similar sized cars and is actually better than in the standard wheelbase XJ sedan.

For 2003, Jaguar added more storage to the S-Type interior. Two glove boxes are provided in addition to the center console storage. Sunglasses can be stashed in an overhead console case lined with soft rubber. Dual cupholders are provided, but are mounted far enough to the rear as to be a bit awkward to reach while driving.

Trunk space is only average due to the curvy rear end. What's more, Jaguar engineers use swan+ó??neck hinges that intrude in the cargo space; their advantage is that the trunk lid will conveniently pop up when opened. For greater trunk storage, the rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split.

The S-Type interior offers a unique character that separates it from its closest competitors. It starts with the dashboard that stretches across the width of the car rather than wrapping the driver in a cockpit-type environment. The lower center of the dash is arranged in a distinctive semi-circular panel; it is a bold design element that draws mixed reactions: Some love it, others don't. We love it. This panel, which is finished in a smooth glossy metallic-looking finish, contains the automatic climate controls, sound system and optional navigational system display. The buttons are big, easy to discern and easy to operate. The instrument pod contains just a fuel gauge and water temperature gauge besides the speedometer and tachometer. All told it is a pleasant design, but not as exotic as Jaguars of the past.

New for 2003 is an electronically controlled parking brake. It is designed to work intuitively and will automatically release in certain circumstances: Switch on the parking brake with the car in Drive at an intersection and it switches off when you accelerate, handy when stopping for traffic lights on steep hills.