Jaguar XJ Diesel is a lean machine that does 40 to the gallon

21/07/2008 01:47. Everybody, including me, wants to cut down on fuel use. But doing an osteopath-inducing 300-mile stint twice a week in a tiny ecomotor can push environmental sensibilities to their furthest limits.

So if you need the mile-munching comfort of a big car without big fuel bills, I think I have the answer. The lightweight, aluminium Jaguar XJ Diesel.

I've been running a 2.7TDVi for 13,000 miles and am routinely staggered at the mpg I see on the trip computer. Thirty-seven is quite normal and, with some judicious lifting off of the right pedal, 40 is perfectly possible.

Even if you drive like a complete nutter, you won't see less than 32, numbers that comfortably beat virtually all other big derv-drinkers. And there's very little compromise in performance.

The twin-turbocharged V6 can... // Sunday Mirror