Jaguar XF Review

Stylish and good to drive, the Jaguar XF is as good as any German saloon car

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Luxurious interior
  • Fun to drive
  • Well-equipped
  • High-end models are expensive
  • Dashboard touchscreen system is mediocre
  • Limited engine choice

Jaguar XF prices from £13,300   Finance from £337.35 per month

The Jaguar XF is a bit like a posh trainer. It’s luxurious, with a hint of sporting about it. Competing against the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, and Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar plays on this sporting image, and its British craftsmanship, to differentiate itself from the rest.

On the road, the XF is very enjoyable to drive, whether you choose the most economical diesel engine or the high-performance 2.0-litre 300hp petrol, thanks to precise steering that makes you feel confident about driving faster. The six-speed manual is slick and easy to use, but the eight-speed automatic gearbox suits it better. There’s a system called All-Surface Progress Control that makes the car adapt to road conditions such as snow and ice and controls it in the safest way. A four-wheel drive option is also available.

Inside, the Jaguar XF is a very nice place to spend time. Everything feels modern and well put together with expensive materials. It looks high-tech, too, with a large touchscreen display in the middle of the centre console and a digital instruments on a second screen behind the steering wheel.

In terms of space, The XF would suit a large family quite well. While it won’t be as practical as a large estate car, there’s still enough room for four to sit comfortably, while a fifth will fit at a push. The boot is large at 540 litres, which is 10 litres more than the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 can claim, plus the rear seats fold down if you need to fit in larger items.

Unfortunately, from the outside, the latest XF looks very similar to the smaller XE saloon; so much so you’d be forgiven for confusing them. However, given how large it is, it’s still a very sporty-looking car, especially in R Sport and S trim levels. Unfortunately, its heightened focus on sportiness means it's slightly less comfortable than the likes of the Mercedes E-Class, but just as enjoyable to drive as the BMW 5 Series.

The Jaguar XF is a safe car too - Euro NCAP awarded it five stars for crash safety, giving it a 92% rating for adult occupant protection. There are also many safety features that you can add as optional extras to the XF.

 

Key facts

Warranty Three years / unlimited mileage
Boot size 540 litres
Width 1880mm
Length 4954mm
Height 1457mm
Tax (min to max) £165 to £830 in first year, and £140 plus applicable surcharges thereafter.

Best Jaguar XF for...

Best for Economy – Jaguar XF Prestige 2.0 163PS Diesel

The least powerful diesel engine has an official fuel economy figure of 57.6mpg if you choose the manual gearbox. CO2 emissions are 129g/km.

Best for Families – Jaguar XF R Sport 2.0 180PS Diesel

The higher-powered diesel engine makes the XF feel powerful, even when loaded up with passengers and luggage. R Sport trim adds a sportier-looking bumpers if you’re looking for something with a bit more of a youthful appearance for your family car.

Best for Performance – Jaguar XF Sport 2.0 300PS AWD auto

This new most powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine is also the fastest in the line-up. It replaces the storming 3.0-litre V6 which suited the XF better but was less efficient.

One to Avoid – Jaguar XF Portfolio 2.0 180PS AWD

Few buyers are unlikely to get much benefit from four-wheel drive, making it an expensive option at £1,800.

History

  • 2015 Jaguar XF goes on sale.
  • 2016 Four-wheel drive added as an option on cars with the 2-litre 180hp diesel engine.
  • 2017 New 2.0-litre 300PS petrol from F-Type added.
  • April 2018 High-performance 3.0 V6 S petrol version dropped but 3.0-litre diesel S continues.

Understanding Jaguar XF names

Trim level R Sport

Each trim level offers a different amount of standard equipment. Prestige is the cheapest version, followed by R Sport, Portfolio, Sport, and S.

Engine 2.0 180PS Diesel

The engine size is given in litres, and its power is shown in PS, which is another term for horsepower.

Jaguar XF Engines

Petrol: 2.0-litre 300hp, Diesel: 2.0-litre 163hp, 2.0-litre 180hp, 3.0-litre V6

Kicking off the range is a 163hp 2.0-litre diesel, which is available with the choice of a manual or automatic gearbox. It does around 57mpg and road tax is £165 in the first year.

The more powerful 180hp version is an excellent engine with plenty of power for everyday driving, but still has decent economy figures that aren’t far off the lesser-powered version.

If you want a more performance-focused diesel XF, there’s a 3.0-litre V6 diesel that will go from 0-62mph in just 6.2 seconds, and it’s quick when overtaking too.

There’s also a 2.0-litre, 300hp petrol engine that’s also found in the F-Type sports car. It replaces the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine but is still impressively quick.

 

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

2.0 163PS diesel

53.3-57.6mpg

163hp

0 - 62mph: 8.6-9.3 secs

132mph

2.0 180PS diesel

56.5-50.4mpg

180hp

0 - 62mph: 8.0-8.7ssecs

136mph

2.0 240PS diesel

47.9mpg

240hp

0 - 62mph: 6.5 secs

153mph

3.0 300PS petrol

46.3mpg

300hp

0 - 62mph: 6.0 secs

155mph

2.0 250PS petrol

38.7mpg

250hp

0-62mph: 6.4 secs

152mph

2.0 300PS petrol

37.7mpg

300hp

0-62mph:5.6 secs

155mph

Jaguar XF Trims

Prestige, R Sport, Portfolio, Sport, and S

You couldn’t really call any Jaguar XF model ‘basic’; even the entry-level Prestige model comes with alloy wheels, leather seats, sat nav, digital radio and cruise control. 

There’s plenty of safety kit on all models, too, including hill-start, emergency braking assistance, lane-departure warning and traffic-sign recognition. Move up to R Sport trim if you want sportier looks and sports seats, while luxurious Portfolio adds 10-way electrically-adjustable front seats, a leather dashboard, a high-end sound system made by Meridian, a parking camera and split-folding rear seats.

Sport models add unique wheels and branding while top-of-the-range S trim, only available with the most powerful diesel engine, has a sporty bodykit and red brake calipers to hint at the car’s sporty intentions.

 

Jaguar XF Reliability and warranty

All cars come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty that will cover you for most problems. Jaguar does have an OK reputation for reliability, though, and the previous-generation XF came an impressive 23rd place in the 2015 Driver Power satisfaction survey. It also came in 31st in the build quality category.

Used Jaguar XF

The Jaguar XF is favoured by fleet buyers - a fact that’s reflected in low prices for used cars which sell more to private buyers.

It’s why for example, you can buy a 2016-registered car that's travelled 15,000 miles for £13,300 .

There are currently 5 Jaguar XFs available on BuyaCar, with prices ranging from £13,300 to £39,800 for nearly-new models. Monthly finance payments start from £337.35 per month.

This fall in price doesn't mean the XF is an inherently bad car; just that large, powerful, executive saloons and hatchbacks have limited appeal at a time when SUVs are all the rage.

For a used car buyer who enjoys luxury and performance, a used Jaguar XF is a smart buy.

   
Jaguar XF: used car prices 1 year old 2 years old 3 years old

Best for performance Jaguar XF 2.0-litre petrol

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Best for families Jaguar XF Prestige diesel

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Best for economy Jaguar XF R-Sport diesel

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