Jaguar XF

Exterior

When viewed from the outside, the XF sports clean lines, yet it all seems very familiar. Up-front, it gets the signature J-blade headlamps with DRLs, flanked by a massive grille. The bumper looks sportier too, giving the car an aggressive look. And the low, sloping bonnet looks classy too. The side profile consists of a subtle shoulder line, sporty 18-inch wheels and of course, that curved roofline. At the rear, what makes the XF stand out are those pair of F-Type detailed tail lamps, the twin exhausts and the chrome strip that runs across the boot and merges with the tail lamps.

Variants

The 2016 Jaguar XF variants for the 2.0-litre diesel models are as follows: Pure, Prestige and Portfolio, while variants for the 2.0-litre petrol models are: Prestige and Portfolio. Features include dual-zone climate control, electric-adjust for the front seats, Jaguar's 'InControl Touch' 8-inch touchscreen command centre, an all-digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, ambient lighting and Jaguar handshake which has the rotary gear lever pops up and the AC vents rotate into position. On the safety front, it is equipped with ABS, 6 airbags, dynamic stability control, traction control, park assist, engine drag torque control and torque vectoring.

Interior

The cabin is very luxurious. The perforated leather seats inside the Jaguar XF new model are very cosseting, and the top-of-the-line Portfolio variant is equipped with 14-way electric adjust with settings for side bolstering and thigh support, and the layered dashboard looks well-built and posh. Buttons and plastic materials have a good finish as well. However, it's the 825W Meridian sound system that can be used via a 10.2-inch touchscreen (offered on the top-of-the-line model) that's sure to be a favourite among many. It's clear, responsive and quick and even shows you images from the cameras around the car. At the rear, there is ample legroom and the seats provide sufficient support. Rear occupants will also have a good view of the road from inside. Boot space, at 505 litres, is enough to swallow in a lot of shopping bags.

Engine Specifications & Performance

The Jaguar XF is powered by two engine options: a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine that makes 177bhp and 430Nm of torque and a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 237bhp and 340Nm of torque. Paired to both engines is an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Ingenium diesel engine is refined and quiet, with very little pitter-patter when at idle. But as the revs climb, the engine does get quite vocal, while performance is strong above 2000rpm. There are four driving modes available: Rain, Eco, Normal and Dynamic. In Dynamic mode, the XF gathers pace effortlessly. The 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, on the other hand, is very quick. Flooring the throttle results in impressive performance and the gearbox is best accessed via the paddle-shifters. If pushed hard, the 4-cylinder petrol engine sounds quite nice as well. That explains the very reason why we’d go as far to recommend the turbo-petrol given the Jaguar XF on-road price for petrol is much higher than the diesel. The electric power steering weighs up nicely, and despite its girth, the Jag handles well; even body movements are perfectly contained. Over bad roads, the XF absorbs bumps without any fuss, and ground clearance is great too.

Mileage

The Jaguar XF's ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figure is rated at 19.33kmpl for the diesel model and 10.8kpl for the petrol model.