Jaguar's midsized XF luxury sedan faces an uphill battle against models from the segment-dominating German trio of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Historically, Jaguars have offered style, charm, and a warmer interior ambience than that of the more-austere Germans, but that distinction has largely dissipated. The XF’s main draw is its terrific blend of handling agility and a supple ride. Unfortunately, several aspects--including a limited infotainment system, rather bland interior, and unpolished noise isolation--hurt the Jag’s luxury credentials.
On the road, the XF feels alert and light on its feet. It steers into corners resolutely with minimal body lean, impressively gobbling up undulating curves while the thoroughly developed suspension ensures the body remains planted--qualities that make the XF a legitimate sports sedan. In the handling department, Jaguar can show BMW who makes the real ultimate driving machine.
Pair that agility with an accomplished ride that blankets any type of road with calming isolation and the result is a dynamic prowess that guarantees true driving enjoyment.
The 340 supercharged horsepower on tap come in handy, delivering effortless motivation. It’s too bad that this engine produces sounds that aren’t as clean and polished as the car’s suspension. A modest 21 mpg overall with the optional all-wheel drive slightly trails the class-leaders.
If only the interior was up to the level of ride, handling, steering, and braking. There used to be a sense of occasion when you opened the door and stepped into a Jaguar interior. Not with this XF. Cost-cutting is evident throughout the cabin. Get beyond the gimmicks of the motorized gear selector knob and vent registers, and you're left with a surprisingly plain interior. Compared to rivals, the Jaguar has far too many hard surfaces, not enough eye-catching details, and a few ergonomic flaws.
Infotainment systems from competitors such as Audi and BMW have let you seamlessly interact with audio and phone functions. By contrast, most XFs come with a rudimentary touch screen. It's not overly complicated, yet it still manages to have some frustrating design quirks. A more advanced system is optional, but it still can't match better systems for intuitive ease of use. The rotary shifter is easy enough to use, but lacks some desired safeguards to prevent against the parked car rolling away, should the driver not select Park when needed.
It’s expected that a luxury car will have comfortable and supportive seats, but of note is the XF’s slim-fit cockpit. Access is less gracious than it should be, and once inside, you’ll quickly notice that the rear seat isn’t particularly generous given the car's exterior dimensions.
Value may not be a top priority in this elite class, but consider that our car cost over $66,000 and lacked much of the advanced safety equipment--like forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking--that is expected in this class. (They are only available on more expensive trims.) By contrast, a $69,000 Mercedes-Benz E300 has these systems and more, making the Jaguar look rather skimpy.
All in all, the XF is a viable alternative to the mainstream even if you’re not an Anglophile mourning the end of Downton Abbey. If you’re a driving connoisseur who appreciates genuine handling agility and ride control, you’ll revel in the XF’s road manners. But on a daily basis, the XF’s refinement, accommodations, and ergonomics shortfalls may frustrate.