Skip advert
Advertisement

Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

We hit British roads to see if the sensational new supercharged soft-top is worth the £103k price

Find your Jaguar XKR
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The XKR-S Convertible looks fantastic and delivers great performance, but it’s very similar in character to the standard XKR. The relaxed power delivery and subtle suspension tweaks make it a more potent GT than before, and its more aggressive looks and sound will be enough to convince some buyers, but we think it’s an expensive choice. Then again, the Aston Martin DBS Volante and Mercedes SLS-AMG Roadster cost a lot more...

Advertisement - Article continues below

If you want to banish the winter blues and have £103,000 burning a hole in your pocket, Jaguar has the perfect answer. The XKR-S Convertible is the fastest drop-top the company has ever produced and can hit an incredible 186mph, but is it worth its eye-watering price tag?

You could argue that Jaguar has timed the launch of its new cabriolet to perfection: it coincided with the onset of some proper winter weather, which was the perfect way to demonstrate the quality of the car’s fabric hood. On the wintry Welsh roads of our test drive we had the roof up for much of the time, and it makes the cabin as quiet and cosy as the coupe’s.

Video: watch our video review of the Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

2

2023 Polestar

2

37,533 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £19,197
View 2
Kuga

2020 Ford

Kuga

6,583 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £17,697
View Kuga
Fabia

2017 Skoda

Fabia

41,138 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £9,197
View Fabia
A-Class Saloon

2021 Mercedes

A-Class Saloon

16,602 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £19,897
View A-Class Saloon

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68806","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

Still, it’s only when you drop the hood that you really begin to understand the appeal of the XKR-S Convertible, because retracting the fully automated roof puts you even closer to the elements... and the car’s intoxicating exhaust note.

The distinctive low-end burble of its supercharged 542bhp 5.0-litre V8 erupts into a roar as the revs rise. And as the scenery blurs, the noise – which ricochets off roadside walls and bounces off bridges – adds another layer of enjoyment to the XKR-S driving experience. Performance is identical to the Coupé’s, even though the roof mechanism adds 42kg to the kerbweight.

Advertisement - Article continues below

From a standing start, it sprints to 60mph in 4.2 seconds and has the same quoted top speed as its tin-top cousin. Better still, the Jag was designed from the outset to be a convertible so it feels incredibly stiff, with no sign of scuttle shake.

Reworked electrics and a new exhaust system account for the extra 39bhp the flagship has over the regular XKR, but the engine isn’t the only thing to have changed. Its new nose and bold rear spoiler are designed to improve the aerodynamics, and they give the XKR-S a more aggressive look into the bargain.

The chassis settings have also been given a rethink, with tweaks to the design of the suspension, stiffer springs and dampers, plus lighter alloy wheels and improvements to the steering.

If that list suggests the XKR-S Convertible has morphed into a tautly sprung track car, think again. Instead, it stays true to Jaguar’s roots, providing effortless acceleration and impressive comfort for a sports car with this much performance. Think of it as a faster, slightly  more focused XKR Convertible and you won’t be far wrong.

Sharper body control, plus changes to the steering, make the Jaguar more accurate and precise than ever. You can thread it along narrow and twisty country lanes with real confidence.

So it’s very fast and a lot of fun – but is it worth £18,450 more than the XKR Convertible? As an extension of the XK range, the car doesn’t offer enough on top of the standard version to justify the extra. If you can afford a roadster with pace to match the XKR-S, you may want to dig deeper into your pockets for a more luxurious rival.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £39,025Avg. savings £3,033 off RRP*Used from £11,900
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £9,908
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,921 off RRP*Used from £6,795
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £38,030Avg. savings £3,183 off RRP*Used from £26,500
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Volkswagen T-Roc ride review: small SUV shows plenty of promise
Volkswagen T-Roc prototype - front

New Volkswagen T-Roc ride review: small SUV shows plenty of promise

We ride shotgun in the latest Volkswagen T-Roc, giving us a taste of what’s shaping up to be next year’s hottest small SUV
Road tests
16 Oct 2025
400bhp family SUVs have become common in the EV era, but they're completely pointless
Opinion - Volvo XC40 Recharge

400bhp family SUVs have become common in the EV era, but they're completely pointless

Editor Paul Barker thinks new car firms don't have heritage behind them, so power figures and straight line speed are an easy way to grab headlines
Opinion
15 Oct 2025
New Genesis GV60 Pure 2025 review: a capable EV that’s often overlooked
Genesis GV60 Pure - front tracking

New Genesis GV60 Pure 2025 review: a capable EV that’s often overlooked

The GV60 isn’t quite as popular as its Ioniq 5 and EV6 siblings, but perhaps it should be
Road tests
16 Oct 2025