Despite some difficult years for Jaguar recently, they now have a line-up of highly attractive cars with powerful, efficient engines and great designs.
The Jaguar XF is the brand’s best seller and competes with other midsize luxury sedans such as the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The Jaguar XF is rarer and therefore provides more exclusivity, making it appealing to younger buyers or those wanting to stand out from the crowd.
The XF doesn’t see many changes for 2015, but Jaguar added some standard features to spice up the lineup. The 2015 model is available in seven different flavours ranging from the mild-mannered XF 2.0T to the high-performance XFR-S.
Design
The Jaguar XF is possibly the best-looking executive sedan. It features an aggressive stance with sleek and aerodynamic bodywork.
The classic Jaguar rectangular grille is centred between the modern headlights with “J-blade” LED daytime running lights. The smooth shoulders flow into the sloping, coupe-like roofline. The side power vents hint at the XF’s sporting potential yet are tastefully restrained.
Those looking to stand out further from the crowd can consider several appearance packages. Available styling features include a black grille with black surround, 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, red brake calipers, a front bumper aero splitter and rear spoiler.
Inside, the 2015 Jaguar XF offers a superb level of comfort and a cabin that feels special. Customers can create their ideal environment with a wide selection of available colour themes and veneers.
Performance
The Jaguar XF’s engine line-up ranges from small and efficient to large and powerful. The middle option offers a nice blend of both.
The base engine in the XF 2.0T is a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four cylinder. Power is rated at 240 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque.
Powering the XF 3.0 AWD models is a 3.0-litre supercharged V6. Output is increased to 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque.
Moving up to the performance models, the XFR and XFR-S, motivation is provided by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8. The motor in the XFR puts out 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the XFR-S bumps output to 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque.
Regardless of which powerplant is under the hood, it will be mated to a ZF eight-speed QuickShift automatic transmission. There is no pure manual option but there are paddle shifters mounted to the steering wheel for some manual control.
The standard layout is rear-wheel drive, but XF 3.0 models come all-wheel drive. The AWD system has a rear bias which keeps the Jaguar feeling lively, yet the traction is there for all-weather driving.
All except the base four-cylinder engine have start-stop technology.
While this system helps save fuel, re-starting can be a bit abrupt and I’ve never been a big fan of this system.
Just keep your foot a bit lighter on accelerator to save a few percentage points on gas.
The Jaguars of the past had soft, plush road manners but recent generations are among the most fun to drive. Still very comfortable, the XF is responsive and balanced with good feedback through the steering and brakes.
Environment
The cabin of the Jaguar XF is airy and luxurious. It has all the leather upholstery and wood trim expected from a British luxury vehicle.
Anything but old and stuffy, the XF has many modern features including a rotary gear selector that rises from the central console and air vents that swivel into position. This makes driving the Jaguar feel like a special occasion every single time and provides some feeling of exclusivity.
The front seats are ergonomically designed and deliver ample support for any size of occupant. The simulated dual rear bucket seats are also highly comfortable and offer plenty of legroom. However, thanks to the sloping roofline, headroom is limited.
Standard on the XF is a seven-inch touchscreen which commands all infotainment options. The top-of-the-line Meridian surround sound will please audiophiles.
Regardless of which audio system is fitted, the quiet engines and superb sound insulation blocks out all outside noise. This makes the Jaguar XF an excellent long distance cruiser.
And packing for trips is easy too since the XF boasts ample trunk space. The 500-litre volume will conveniently carry several suitcases or golf bags, but folding rear seats are not standard.
Features
Ranging in price from $53,500 to $104,500, the Jaguar XF spans a wide spectrum.
Standard equipment includes heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlights, rear parking aid and a sunroof.
Additional features, available as options or on higher trims, include keyless entry, navigation system with voice control, blind spot monitor, auto-dimming mirrors and adaptive headlights.
Fuel efficiency numbers (L/100km) for the 2.0-litre I4 are 12.3 city, 8.2 highway and 10.5 combined. The 3.0-litre V6 returns 13.9 city, 8.8 highway and 11.6 combined. The 5.0-litre V8 sees 15.7 city, 10.3 highway and 13.2 combined.
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The Jaguar XF offers a nice blend of traditional luxury with contemporary features. Riding in the XF makes the most mundane errands a joy.
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Unfortunately, the more fuel-efficient diesel engine is not coming to North America. Past reliability woes could hurt resale values.
The Bottom Line
If you want to stand out from the crowd of executive sedans, the 2015 Jaguar will do that and make you feel somewhat exclusive.
Competitors
BMW 5 Series
The 5 Series have been in continuous production for several decades now, and each subsequent generation has improved on the latter. The 5 Series is the benchmark in this segment because of its ability to offer high levels of comfort, performance and practicality.
Being the best comes at a price, and while a base 5 Series starts at $54,600, a fully loaded, top-of-the-line model is close to six figures.
Audi A6
The A6 offers all the performance feel of a BMW 5 series, but with a better handling and smoother ride and a more contemporary interior. Audi’s vaunted quattro all-wheel drive is standard and the new TDI clean diesel boasts impressive performance and economy.
The base model A6 2.0T starts at $54,900 with the performance S6 starting at $85,600.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The E-Class is the stalwart in the luxury sedan market. Never flashy, this Mercedes-Benz is solid, reliable and sophisticated.
Available is five trim levels, the E-Class starts at $59,500 and ranges to $110,600.
