Jaguar XF, Track Test

Some may complain that it’s a bit difficult to distinguish between the second generation Jaguar XF and the XE, but then that’s pretty much the case with most luxury sedan manufacturers at the moment – as each one tries to propagate their own family design philosophy. 

What does stand out when you line up the German sedans and a Jaguar is, of course, the latter – with its swooping roofline, prominent bonnet bulge and its big aggressive grille with the growling Jaguar badge looking dead straight at you. 

As eye-catching as the XF is from the outside, the cabin is slightly disappointing, as the material quality doesn’t quite match the German holy trinity. The 8-inch infotainment system gets a new interface, but it’s not as slick as a BMW, while the top-of-the-line XF gets a fully digital TFT display, but, again, its nowhere as awesome as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. That said, the rotary gear knob still remains one of the most eye-catching features of the cabin.

The XF took top honours when it came ride-and-handling though, as it scored 4.5 out 5 points. Thanks to the new aluminium chassis, the XF has shed 190 kilograms. It’s powered by the same 177bhp 2-litre Ingenium diesel engine mated to an 8-speed transmission. The powertrain is sufficient, but where this Jag excels is in the chassis department. The ride is excellent, as you would expect from a Jaguar sedan, but what completely takes you off guard is the manner in which the XF can powerslide through every single corner at the BIC. The steering is quick, precise and direct, while the chassis is an absolute gem. This was, bar none, the most entertaining car in this entire test.  

The XF is beautiful, has adequate power, and it drifts as though that’s what it was born to do. So, if you want a striking luxury sedan that can put a smile on your face, both from the front seat as well as the rear bench, this is the sedan for you. 

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