Some cars are an instant hit when they launch – and the Jaguar XF was certainly one of them. Introduced back in 2007, the XF went toe-to-toe with German big guns like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, flying the British flag for luxury and style in the saloon segment.
Bookended by the smaller XE and the lavish XJ, the new second-generation XF has been given a subtle redesign, with a shorter front overhang and some reworked body lines. These differences undoubtedly make it look sportier than the last model. One thing is for sure, it certainly looks more rogue than its competition.
Some of the key construction stats include a wheelbase increase of 51mm, reduced height of 3mm and a reduced overall length of 7mm. It has also shed 190kg of weight, thanks to a new aluminium-intensive architecture. So what is the pay off? Well, jump in the back and there is a noticeable improvement in rear passenger space.
Ultimately, as the wheelbase is longer, Jag has reduced the imposition of the rear axle, resulting in more leg (15mm), knee (24mm) and head room (27mm). The addition of a small window near the C-pillar gives the rear an airier feel as well, adding to its luxurious aura.
Up front the XF continues to impress with a systematic layout of buttons and an entertaining ignition sequence. Like the previous model, this sequence sees the air vents roll out and the gear selector raise out of the centre console.
The centre console has actually been raised slightly in the new model, hugging you into the driver’s seat. This is all part of Jag’s attempt to give the impression that you are ‘sat in the car and not on it.’
The R-Sport adds some aesthetic niceties over the standard kit of the Prestige trim, like aluminium highlights and contrasting stitching for the leather seats. Potential buyers will want to sift through the options list no doubt, and there is plenty to choose from. Highlights include the Black Pack, adding cool black highlights to its exterior, Parking Pack, which adds a reversing camera and parking sensors, and the InControl Touch Pro pack – which adds a larger touch screen and greater connectivity.
Overall, the interior is a great place to spend time. A few little nuisances (maybe it is just me) are the slightly outdated buttons on the F-TYPE-borrowed steering-wheel and the fact that the indicator noise doesn’t seem to suite the car.
The new 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel is expected to be the bestselling derivative in the XF. With CO2 emissions as low as 104g/km, if you go for the lower-powered 161bhp variant, you are laughing when it comes to its £20 annual road tax.
We tested the slightly punchier 178bhp variant mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. A six-speed manual is offered as standard, but the auto is very tempting.
The auto riffles through the gears with ease, allowing for smooth acceleration at cruising speeds or rapid changing when you slam your foot on the accelerator. These driving styles can be tailored for when it comes to ride and handling as well.
The combination of a double wishbone suspension at the front and a new integral link system at the rear means that the XF is smarter than ever when it comes to adapting to the road. Cruise on the motorway and the XF is brilliantly comfortable. Thrash it around a winding road and its Torque Vectoring by Braking system will keep the understeer wolves away from the door. Its steering is arguably the most impressive aspect though.
The electrically power-assisted steering weights up appropriately when needed and is razor sharp in its responsiveness, offering excellent levels of feedback, filling you with confidence when taking it into a bend. Agility has been noticeably increased as well over the last model, thanks in part to its weight loss and increase in torsional rigidity.
Although I spent several hours traversing what might be considered tedious hairpins, it was rather entertaining. BMW is always the benchmark when it comes to driving pleasure and Jaguar can be proudly say that they have exceeded its German rivals, or at bare minimum, matched them.
Jaguar already had a solid platform to build on with the XF, but it has decided to completely reinvent it when it comes to construction and yet retain everything that made it Jag’s most awarded motor ever. Basically, Jag did exactly what you hoped they would. What more can you ask for?
