Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Jaguar offers 5.0-litre V8 petrol and 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines, but the 2.2-litre diesel makes most sense. Its responses aren’t quite as instant as those of the V6 diesel cars, but with 188bhp and a crushing 332lb ft of torque, it has the bragging rights over the likes of BMW’s 520d and Audi’s A6 2.0 TDI – and they’re not exactly short of get-up-and-go.
Ride & Handling
5 out of 5 stars
There’s a firmness to the ride at low speeds – particularly if you add the optional adaptive suspension – but the XF has a more forgiving ride than many rivals. Once you’re going at a decent pace, it displays a terrific balance of control and suppleness. The fluid handling, sensitive steering and plentiful grip help to make any journey a joy.
Refinement
4 out of 5 stars
There’s a little wind- and road noise on the motorway – more than you hear in a BMW 5 Series – but the XF is a brilliantly refined long-distance cruiser nonetheless. The diesels come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is smoothness personified; the six-speed auto in the V8s isn’t quite as slick.
Buying & Owning
4 out of 5 stars
The XF is competitively priced – especially when you take the generous standard equipment into account – and resale values are pretty strong. However, other execs are cleaner and more economical, so they make cheaper company cars. For example, the 2.2-litre diesel sits four tax bands higher than BMW’s 520d.
Quality & Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
From the stitched leather dashboard and door cappings to the aluminium and wood furnishings and the blue mood lighting, the XF has real wow factor. However, some panels feel rather cheap, and the assembly isn’t up to BMW standards. Also rather worrying was the 2011 JD Power customer satisfaction survey, in which owners reported a relatively large amount of mechanical problems.
Safety & Security
4 out of 5 stars
The XF has all that’s expected and more – as well as systems that help you avoid accidents and others that minimise the effects of one, it also looks after pedestrians by using a bonnet that springs up in a collision. It’s a little disappointing, then, that the car only scored a four-star rating from Euro NCAP. There’s no shortage of security kit, so your investment should be well protected.
Behind The Wheel
3 out of 5 stars
The XF’s dashboard looks great, but there are some issues. The touch-screen icons can be difficult to hit on the move, and the menus can be confusing. Rear visibility isn’t great, but you get a brilliant driving position, which is adjusted electrically.
Space & Practicality
4 out of 5 stars
You can't have a coupe-like roofline without sacrificing some headroom, while the transmission tunnel makes it a car for two in the back rather than three. Only the tallest adults will suffer, though, and legroom is fine. There's also a proper boot - a minimum of 500 litres of space, with fold-down rear seats so you can enlarge it.
Equipment
5 out of 5 stars
The standard equipment list is an impressively long one. You don’t just get the expected – thing such as wood, leather and climate control – but also a range of more modern features such as Xenon headlights and keyless go. Most models also get touch-screen satellite-navigation with voice controls.
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