Jaguar XF review

The Jaguar XF is an upmarket saloon with a flash interior and decent space. It’ll likely be on your list if you’re also considering cars like the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6.

Jaguar and premium saloons go together like curry and Friday night – there’s a long history of such a pairing in the UK, with, er, good and bad results. The XF first appeared in 2007, but today looks like this following a recent update.

And it’s a bit of a looker. Probably more so than its German competition. Its striking grille, air intakes, slim headlights and bonnet creases give it a sporty look, but it’s somehow a classier effort than from those across the water.

The XF’s insides never used to be much cop, but that update has changed things. Sure, there’s still the odd bit of cheaper plastic about the place, but it’s mostly very nice. An Audi A6 and 5 Series are a tad nicer still, but it’s now a very close-run thing.

Part of the visual drama is the XF’s new 11.4-inch curved touchscreen. It’s located nicely on the dash to help when driving and make it integrate seamlessly into the sleek design. BMW’s iDrive and Mercedes’ MBUX systems are both easier to use while driving, but as touchscreen’s go, Jag’s effort is sharp, responsive and very easy to navigate. Importantly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard.

Cars higher up the range also come with slick digital driver’s dials and a rearview mirror you can flip from a standard glass reflection to a camera mounted on the tailgate. It looks cool, but also works well, so is more than just ammunition for the pub. It’s a shame the XF’s steering wheel buttons are a tad fiddly to use, though.

We know petrol is fashionable at the moment, but honestly, diesel is a better option for most people, and R-Dynamic SE trim has all you need and more.

All saloons this size seat four adults well, but you’ll have slightly more room for three adults across the rear seats in an Audi A6. The XF’s boot is pretty much the same size as its German alternatives’ too, but those cars do have slightly squarer access should you need to lift bulky items inside.

You can have your XF fitted with either a 2.0-litre turbo petrol with 250 or 300hp, or a 2.0 diesel with 204hp. You can also have rear or all-wheel drive depending on your choice, but an eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard across the range.

If you don’t cover many miles each year, or do most of your driving in town, then the smooth, quiet yet punchy petrols will do the job. Just don’t expect amazing fuel economy whichever road you drive them on.

The diesel with its mild-hybrid technology is a much better bet for the majority of buyers. It’s quiet for a four-cylinder diesel and feels decently quick thanks to its hybrid tech assisting at low revs, while those doing big motorway miles will like that it uses less fuel than the petrols. 40mpg is possible without much fuss, and more is achievable on the motorway.

Thankfully, if you enjoy driving, then the XF remains one of the best cars of its type to chuck down a country road. It steers with precision, it keeps its body tidy through bends and it’s comfortable over bumps in and out of town. Only some tyre noise from the larger alloy wheel options frustrates on the motorway.

Nevertheless, the Jaguar XF is as good as it’s ever been to drive and sit in, and now to own, too, because Jaguar has simplified the XF range and dropped prices across the range. To see just how much, and how much we can save you on top, head to out deals pages.