The seats are quite good, supportive and comfortable, and they can be adjusted every which way. And they offer reasonable side support as well; we had no trouble staying in them while flinging the car around.

The cabin has a spacious feel, and outward visibility is enhanced by the slimness of the roof pillars. With the elevation of the driver's seat easily adjustable, drivers of varying heights have an excellent forward view over the hood. The outside mirrors are particularly generous in size, a welcome safety feature at a time when mirrors on some cars are getting smaller.

All the switchgear operates intuitively. Controls fall within easy reach, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes, allowing any driver to adjust perfectly to the car. People of all body types will find a comfortable home in the X-Type.

Lots of stowage inside the X-Type adds to the convenience. The doors have a handy tray near the door handle, as well as a large main pocket. There are dozens of nooks to stow phones, cassettes, CDs, pens, maps, or tissues; even ice scrapers and an umbrella. There's a retractable hook in the glovebox release to hold a handbag, small shopping bag or take-out. The center console is small, however, and there is only one cupholder.

The design of the X-Type isn't all about style. The sedan's trunk is big, something that can't be said for all Jaguars. With 16 cubic feet of cargo space, the X-Type beats the impressive trunk of the Audi A4 (13.4 cubic feet) and the relatively dinky boots in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (12.2) and BMW 3 Series (12.0) sedans. Further, if you pull one or both of the small handles in the X-Type trunk you can easily flip the rear seats forward for carrying longer items. That makes this a practical Jaguar.

Even more practical is the Sportwagon. With the seats folded down it boasts a cargo capacity of 50 cubic feet, which puts it ahead of the Audi A4 Avant or Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagons, if slightly behind the 61 cubic feet of the BMW 3 Series wagon. However, the official dimensions do not include the Jaguar's very useful hidden storage area under the rear floor, which can be used to stash cameras and other valuables in a molded compartment with dividers. Even more forward-looking is the 12-volt outlet inside the compartment. It allows recharging of a laptop computer or digital camera while totally hidden from prying eyes.

The Sportwagon also offers a bit more headroom, front and rear, than the sedan.