This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1998 Jaguar XJR. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

  • Returns 24% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Compact Cars class for the 1998 model year (22.5 MPG class average).
  • The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1998 model year is the Honda EV Plus at 48 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $9,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
  • Subject to the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, which applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG.
  • Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1998 Jaguar XJR. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 17 MPG
City MPG 15 MPG
Highway MPG 20 MPG
Annual fuel cost $4,050
Tailpipe CO₂ 523 g/mi
Fuel type Premium

How the 1998 Jaguar XJR compares

The 1998 Jaguar XJR returns 17 combined MPG. Cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year average 22.5 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 24%.

The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1998 model year is the Honda EV Plus at 48 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Jaguar XJR alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 1998 model year (across all classes) returns 19.2 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 1998 model year is on its own page.

1998 Jaguar XJR
17 MPG
Class average, 1998
22.5 MPG
Class best, 1998
48 MPG
Average new car, 1998
19.2 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 882.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $2,025
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $4,050
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $6,750

Year-over-year MPG for the Jaguar XJR

The EPA has rated the Jaguar XJR across 12 model years, from 1995 Jaguar XJR through 2009 Jaguar XJR. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 2006 Jaguar XJR at 18 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2009 18 MPG 2009 Jaguar XJR
2008 18 MPG 2008 Jaguar XJR
2007 18 MPG 2007 Jaguar XJR
2006 18 MPG 2006 Jaguar XJR
2003 16 MPG 2003 Jaguar XJR
2002 16 MPG 2002 Jaguar XJR
2001 16 MPG 2001 Jaguar XJR
2000 16 MPG 2000 Jaguar XJR
1999 17 MPG 1999 Jaguar XJR
1998 17 MPG this page
1996 14 MPG 1996 Jaguar XJR
1995 15 MPG 1995 Jaguar XJR

Compare against other Compact Cars for 1998

If you are cross-shopping the 1998 Jaguar XJR, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Compact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Honda EV Plus leads this group at 48 MPG, 31 MPG ahead of the 1998 Jaguar XJR.

Specifications

The 1998 Jaguar XJR runs a 4-liter 8-cylinder supercharged engine paired with a automatic 5-spd, sending power through rear-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Compact Cars
Engine
4L 8-cylinder supercharged
Transmission
Automatic 5-spd
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Premium
Annual petroleum use
17.5 barrels per year
Gas guzzler tax
Applies (federal)

Common questions about the 1998 Jaguar XJR

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1998 Jaguar XJR.

  • Is the 1998 Jaguar XJR fuel efficient?
    Not particularly. The 1998 Jaguar XJR returns 17 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Compact Cars class for the same model year by about 24%.
  • What MPG does the 1998 Jaguar XJR get?
    The EPA rates the 1998 Jaguar XJR at 17 combined MPG, 15 MPG in city driving, and 20 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Jaguar XJR per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,050 for the 1998 Jaguar XJR. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • Does the 1998 Jaguar XJR require premium gas?
    Yes. The EPA lists the 1998 Jaguar XJR as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.
  • Has the Jaguar XJR become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (1995 Jaguar XJR, 15 MPG) and most recent (2009 Jaguar XJR, 18 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 1998 Jaguar XJR emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 523 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,841 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1998 Jaguar XJR?
    City driving returns 15 MPG and highway driving returns 20 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns.
  • What engine is in the 1998 Jaguar XJR?
    The 1998 Jaguar XJR has a 4-liter 8-cylinder supercharged engine.
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 1998 Jaguar XJR have?
    The 1998 Jaguar XJR comes with a automatic 5-spd transmission and rear-wheel drive.
  • How does the 1998 Jaguar XJR compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Compact Cars class for the 1998 model year is the Honda EV Plus at 48 combined MPG. The Jaguar XJR returns 17 MPG, a gap of 31 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.