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| Plenty of nice details in cabin and an elegant exterior to match the likes of Audi and BMW |
IT’S no exaggeration to say that the original XF transformed Jaguar out of all recognition.
When the executive saloon was introduced in 2007 the Coventry manufacturer was in a pretty poor state of health.
Having said that you shouldn’t rule out hotter R versions or another Sportbrake estate. While the load-lugger accounted for just 20 per cent of sales of the outgoing XF its popularity elsewhere in the world makes it highly likely to join the range eventually. On the road the XF certainly feels refined enough but a lot depends on which model you choose. The standard suspension feels a little fidgety at times and is too often disturbed by expansion strips and undulations. It’s not that it’s especially bad, only that you feel and hear a lot that you wouldn’t expect to in a Jaguar. This might be attributed to the large 20in wheels fitted to our test cars but the message is clear: make your choices and combinations carefully. By comparison the higher-spec cars fitted with the new Adaptive Damping system feel exactly how a Jaguar should. Here everything is kept under tight control: road imperfections soaked up without trace, increasing your confidence in the car. That’s just as well too because the XF proves to be a good driving partner. Jaguar claims that it wanted it to be “the best driver’s car in the sector” and if it isn’t that then it’s not far off. On the downside the steering could do with a little more feedback and we wouldn’t mind a slightly lighter feel to the car overall (despite the fact that the XF is a hefty 29 stone lighter than before) but otherwise it acquits itself well on the road with a good balance of refinement and involvement. Instead of four-wheel drive Jaguar is offering All-Surface Progress Control, a kind of low-speed version of traction control that kicks in on slippery road surfaces. WHILE there are some nice touches inside the cabin (the pulsing starter button, rising rotary gear-selector and rotating vents remain as per the original) there are a couple of oversights. The steering column gearshift paddles are matt black plastic and feel a bit out of place with the rest of the cabin and the moulding surrounding the gear-selector felt a bit cheap and loose on some of the cars that we drove. Combine that with some odd positioning of the electric window switches (further forward on the door panel than is ideally comfortable) and an overly small storage box on the central tunnel, it’s by no means perfect. While it can’t quite offer the same level of occasion as the larger XJ the XF remains a nice place to be. Aside from a slightly slow satnav system the new In Control system on the central 10in touchscreen works well. Perhaps crucially there’s lots of space in the cabin. There’s more head and legroom for those in the back seats (a known weak point for the old XF) and there’s a substantial 540-litre boot. But while there’s unquestionably a lot going for the XF there is a slight underlying feeling that it’s good but not necessarily great. Yes it matches and in some places exceeds the current crop of executive saloons but then so it should. When Audi, BMW and Mercedes introduce their next A6, 5-Series and E-Class models over the next few years you can guarantee that few stones will be left unturned in their quest to be the best in class. As it is you can’t help but feel that this new Jaguar is a step forward rather than the leap that one might have expected, as happened with the 2007 original. As an 80th birthday present there’s no question that Jaguar has produced a fine car in the form of the XF and it’s definitely a contender for the best in its class. Its real test though will come with the next generation of those aforementioned rivals. Expect a forthcoming scrap in executive car parks. LOGBOOK LOWDOWN Model: Jaguar XF On sale: Next month Price range: £32,300-£49,945 Engine range: Petrol – 3.0-litre supercharged; Turbo-diesel – 2.0, 2.0 180bhp, 3.0-litre Power: 0 to 60mph in 5.1 seconds, 155mph top speed (3.0) Average fuel economy: 70.6mpg(2.0TD) CO2 emissions range: 104 -19 8g /k m Rivals: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series,Lexus GS, Mercedes E-Class
In the intervening eight years we’ve seen the successful launch of the entry-level XE and the F-Type sports car.
Now we’re on the brink of the arrival of the F-Pace: Jaguar’s first foray into the crossover market.
Some 250,000 worldwide XF sales later, this newest version has a lot riding on its shoulders, more so because this is the year in which Jaguar celebrates its 80th anniversary.
More people than ever are downsizing to smaller cars such as the XE, while many family buyers are flocking towards large 4x4s.
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| The Jaguar XF is a good driver’s partner with great balance of refinement and involvement |
As such the XF is increasingly under pressure in the sales stakes.
That said the executive saloon has a top-drawer reputation.
Having won 145 awards during its lifetime (more than any other Jaguar) the outgoing model also accounted for 18 per cent of its market share despite its age, showing that its appeal has remained strong throughout its life even in the face of some talented competition.
But with new Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class models due over the next couple of years the replacement car can’t afford to be anything but excellent.
Overall we like the latest shape to emerge from Jaguar design chief Ian Callum’s pen although the twin-dip LED rear lights could be a little more distinctive.
With a clear family link to the F-Type their overall shape looks a bit too like those on an Audi A4 for our liking.
That said, Ian Callum refers to the car as being “elegant” and “handsome” and it’s hard not to agree, especially alongside its more conservative German rivals.
The good news continues under the bonnet. Unsurprisingly the most sales will be dominated by the three turbo-diesel engines: Jaguar’s new 2.0-litre Ingenium powerplant in 163bhp and 180bhp forms as already seen in the XE and a 3.0-litre boasting 300bhp.
While the entry-level model will certainly tempt some company car drivers with 70.6mpg and 104g/km it’s the more powerful 180bhp version that is expected to be the best seller.
With still respectable economy and emissions (65.7mpg and 114g/km), a 0 to 60mph time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 136mph it’s not hard to understand the attraction.
Despite petrol engines starting to have more of a resurgence of late the XF will be offered with only one: a 380bhp supercharged 3.0-litre capable of the 0 to 60mph sprint in just 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 155mph.
Unfortunately, while four-wheel drive is gaining popularity, Jaguar has yet to decide whether to offer it on UK versions of the XF.
With the A6 already offering it and the next generation 5-Series and E-Class highly likely to offer it as an option, Jaguar’s indecision seems to be something of an oversight in our view.
Yes it might be pricey but why not give buyers the choice?
The manufacturer is similarly tight-lipped on future versions of the XF.
The Jaguar XF is a good driver’s partner with great balance of refinement and involvement
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