Jaguar XF 2016 Review

Jaguar XF sedan range
Local Launch Review
Yarra Valley, Victoria

Fresh from launching its first all-new mid-size sedan in 15 years late last year with the XE, Jaguar has now launched the second model to be based on its new aluminium-rich platform: the second-generation XF large sedan. The base price is up by more than $6000 over the model it replaces, but Jaguar says that's compensated by extra standard specifications and equipment. More importantly, the sexier, lighter, higher-tech new XF is competitively positioned against its most direct rivals in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6, and also sets a few new benchmarks in the premium business sedan sector.

Jaguar's first XF was a dramatic set-up from the staid, retro-look S-TYPE it replaced eight years ago, bringing a fresh, modern and unique design and even better chassis and engine performance.

That helped it notch up 280,000 sales in 100 countries – including 48,000 in 2014, its best sales year – and win more awards than any Jaguar before it, despite lacking five-star safety and infotainment technology to match its well established German rivals.

All that changes with the new XF, which Jaguar claims is the world's most dynamic premium business sedan and delivers class-leading design, packaging, efficiency and performance.

There's no doubt about the stylish exterior, even if at first glance it looks like a larger version of the XE sedan with which it shares its 75 per cent aluminium modular architecture, and if closer inspection reveals only subtly different design cues like the shoulder crease and headlights.

There's more differentiation inside, where there's a different (and of course wider) dashboard and door trims wrapped in high-quality, soft-touch materials punctuated by classy wood or metal-look highlights.

Traditional Jaguar cabin delights like the pop-up console gear selector dial and self-opening air-vents continue, but the instrument cluster is lifted directly from the F-TYPE sports car and smaller XE.

That will be rectified from April, when an upgraded InControl Touch Pro infotainments system arrives, bringing a larger 10.2-inch (up from 8.0-inch) central colour touch-screen and an impressive configurable 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster from the MY16 XJ limousine.

Unfortunately, it will be a $2550 option and the bigger central display (not the virtual instruments of the Pro version) will also be offered in the XE, limiting is exclusivity.

Jaguar says that despite being 7mm shorter overall at 4954mm and 3mm lower at 1465mm, a 51mm longer (2960mm) wheelbase and better packaging produces 27mm more head room and 24mm more rear knee room in the rear, where it's roomier than everything else in its class including the Series.

There's no doubt the cabin is wider and longer than the XE's, and there's a massive 540-litre capacity boot (thanks in part to the lack of a full-size spare), but unless you regularly ferry back-seat passengers, the difference isn't massive and probably isn't worth the considerable price premium... Although the same could be said of the Germans.

There's also no doubt about the premiumness of the XF cabin design, which looks, feels and smells luxurious, and comes with a host of standard equipment that sees the entry-level XF Prestige 20d, at $82,800 plus on-road costs, compete directly with the 520d, E220 CDI and A6 2.0 TDI.

Extra standard features over the $76,500 XF 2.2 Premium Luxury it replaces include tyre pressure monitoring and power-folding and auto-dimming wing mirrors with memory, which also extends to the steering column and driver’s seat, which is trimmed – like the rest of the cabin – in Taurus leather. Both driver and front passenger gain 10-way electric adjustment with four-way electric lumbar support.

Other standard kit includes Jaguar’s InControl touch SD navigation system, a 380-Watt Meridian sound system featuring 11 speakers and a sub-woofer, four-mode Jaguar Drive Control, torque vectoring, steering wheel shift paddles, power steering wheel adjustment, gloss black veneer, auto-dim interior mirror, dual-zone climate, interior mood lighting, front/rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, semi-auto parking, 18-inch alloy wheels and xenon headlights with signature DRLs.

A host of safety items include lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and a reversing camera, as well as the requisite compliment of airbags, anti-skid brakes, stability control, cruise control with speed limiter, auto headlights/wipers  and an expected five-star ANCAP safety rating.

What the base 20d also gets is the best engine in the XF range, and the only new one: Jaguar's latest ‘Ingenium’ 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, matched to a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

It delivers the same impressive 132kW of power and 430Nm of torque as in the XE, and is slightly louder than the whisper-quiet diesel V6 in the S, but is smooth and lusty, accelerating with ease from any engine speed and hitting 100km/h in a touch over eight seconds. If anything it feels quicker than that.

But because the new XF weighs up to 190kg less than before (just 1555kg in 20d form, despite being a claimed 28 per cent stiffer torsionally), official combined fuel consumption is as low as 4.3L/100km and CO2 emissions 114g/km, making it best in class for efficiency.

We recorded 6.0L/100km, but there's no doubt the 20d's combination of effortless performance, refinement, efficiency and value make it the pick of the new XF bunch.

The icing on the cake? The Ingenium diesel is the cheapest of all XF engines to service, at $1100 as part of a capped-price plan, because its service intervals have doubled to 24 months.

The R-Sport version costs $6000 extra at $88,800 but adds sports suspension, 19-inch Vortex silver wheels, a sports bodykit, branded tread plates and multi-function steering wheel, Sports Taurus leather and other sporty highlights.

Stepping up to the 25t R-Sport costs a further $1000, plus an extra $8000 for the 25t Portfolio (which at just under $100K is Jaguar's answer to the BMW 528i). Both are powered by a more powerful but less torquey 177kW/340Nm Ford EcoBoost turbo-petrol four, which isn't available in base Prestige spec.

It's thirstier at 7.5L/100km officially (we recorded 9.5), about a second quicker to 100km/h (seven seconds claimed) and just as smooth but, unsurprisingly, likes to rev more and makes a fair bit more exhaust noise (Jag says the petrol engines are deliberately tuned that way).

The Portfolio adds stuff like a powered bootlid, adaptive LED headlights with auto high-beam, 19-inch /Razor' alloys, Windsor leather, illuminated metal tread plates, laser head-up display and digital radio.

If you're happy to pay more than $100,000, 35t versions with a 250kW/450Nm 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 cost a hefty $15,000 in both R-Sport and Portfolio spec.

And then there are the top-shelf S models, powered by a 280kW version of the same engine (from the F-TYPE) and a muscular 220kW/700Nm twin-turbo diesel V6. The latter costs a tad over $120K and the S petrol tops the line-up at almost $130K.

But for our money the six-cylinder XFs are disappointing, offering smoother and more flexible power delivery than their four-pot petrol and diesel counterparts, but weighing about 200kg more at 1750kg.

The V6 oiler doesn't quite feel like it has 700 Newtons under its taut snout. It hits 100km/h in 6.4 seconds, and the S petrol is quicker still at 5.4 seconds, but no quicker than the 35t despite costing almost $25,000 more.

Throw in a few options, like metallic paint at $2000 (otherwise it's flat black or white), an active safety pack ($4150 including adaptive cruise control with queue assist, lane keep assist, driver condition monitoring, blind spot monitoring and reverse traffic detection), a rear comfort pack with four-zone climate control and sunblinds ($4089), InControl Touch Pro and an 835-Watt Meridian 17-speaker surround sound ($5020), a panoramic sunroof ($3200) and a TV tuner ($2100) and the XF S petrol will cost you almost $150K before statutory charges.

For that sort of money, we were surprised by some of the persistent cabin vibrations we heard in three cars we drove, including a passenger-side A-pillar trim buzz in a 25t R-Sport, an in-dash resonance in a 35t Portfolio and driver's door trim rattle in an XF S diesel.

That aside, the XF lives up to Jaguar's hype by being a legitimate, dynamic British alternative to the German monopoly of this segment.

Its cabin is otherwise quiet, spacious, comfortable, ergonomic and packed with the latest technology, its stylish body is relatively light but rigid and its electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering delivers crisp turn-in, good feedback and no kick or rattle.

Similarly, its double-wishbone front and integral-link rear suspension delivers superb body control while maintaining a plush ride on all surfaces, although it thumps over big bumps and the optional 20-inch tyres hum on coarse-chip surfaces.

As we said after our first drive in Spain last August, our advice (at least until the new XFR arrives!) is buy a lighter, better balanced and more agile four-cylinder, and the base 20d diesel with InControl Touch Pro for just over $85K total – even if you have to wait a few months -- would do us just fine.

Like its first XE, Jaguar has a lot riding on the new XF, and with price and spec on par with the dominant Germans it's at least seen fit to assure prospective buyers of ownership costs with a guaranteed future value scheme, user-chooser and novated-lease fleet deals, capped-price service plan and even a free servicing offer for buyers before June 30.

All that might just be enough for this distinctive British alternative to the finally emerge from the shadow of the German cartel -- at least until the new E-Class arrives late this year, followed by the new 5 Series next year and new A6 in 2018.

2016 Jaguar XF 20d pricing and specifications:
Price: $82,800 Prestige, $88,800 R-Sport (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 132kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 114g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC

2016 Jaguar XF 25t pricing and specifications:
Price: $89,800 R-Sport, $97,800 Portfolio (plus ORCs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 177kW/340Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 179g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC

2016 Jaguar XF 35t pricing and specifications:
Price: $104,800 R-Sport, $112,800 Portfolio (plus ORCs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol
Output: 250kW/450Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 198g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC

2016 Jaguar XF S pricing and specifications:
Price: $120,700 diesel, $128,200 petrol (plus ORCs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel and supercharged petrol
Output: 220kW/700Nm and 280kW/450Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.4L/100km and 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 144g/km and 198g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC

Also consider:
>> Audi A6 (from $79,900)
>> BMW 5 Series (from $82,300)
>> Mercedes-Benz E-Class (from $80,400)