Even now as it nears the end of its lifecycle, the Jaguar XF looks crisp and fresh while many newer rivals are already beginning to show their age.
When the Jaguar XF was first introduced in 2009 it was a stunner. Not only was it a dramatic departure from the S-Type before it, but it ushered in a whole new design language for Jaguar. One that would inevitably reinvigorate the entire brand and lineup. Even now as it nears the end of its lifecycle, the XF looks crisp and fresh while many newer rivals are already beginning to show their age.
The Jaguar’s interior follows the same basic minimalistic approach as the exterior with clean lines and a form over function approach. Some might view the retracting air vents and gear selector knob as gimmicky but to the design, and OCD inclined like me, they give the dash a great uncluttered look. Even with this great design all the controls fall right at hand, and what the hand does touch is of premium quality. Soft touch materials, real knurled aluminum trim and leather with contrasting stitching abound. Meanwhile the Sport seats in our tester are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever encountered.
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Behind the wheel of the Jaguar is where this svelte cat really shines. The powertrain choices have evolved over the years. Our XF Sport carried Jaguar’s newest family of Supercharged V6’s. In this application the 3.0L mill outputs 340-hp and 332 lb-ft. of torque mated to ZF’s superb 8-Speed automatic transmission. This works out to be a perfect combo in the XF with great power delivery and smooth seamless shifts that always seem to be in the right gear. Plus it incorporates the smoothest iteration I’ve seen yet of start/stop technology where the engine shuts down at red lights.
In the case of the Sport though, it really comes down to balance versus overall power. While the powertrain is a gem it’s really a blend of all the systems working in harmony with each other. The brakes and the steering are both perfectly calibrated so that whole is somehow greater than the sum of it’s parts. Feedback to the driver is top-notch giving German rivals a run for their money. Meanwhile the XF Sport even turns errands into a fun chore making it a great daily driver. There’s plenty of space for passengers and cargo. Even when fully loaded at times, I averaged almost 23mpg in mixed driving over my week with the Jag.
On the tech front, that Jaguar doesn’t disappoint either. The XF comes standard with a 7″ touchscreen with Jaguar’s intuitive touch control and navigation. It also comes paired with Bluetooth audio that streams to an impressive 14-speaker Meridian sound system. Other thoughtful details include blind spot monitoring, cooled and heated front seats, heated steering wheel, intelligent front lighting, keyless entry and ignition, and a TFT center display.
Which brings me to why pick the XF Sport…. Sure you could pick some better known rivals like a 5-Series or E-Class, but why? The Jaguar is literally the perfect blend of everything a premium midsize sedan should be… stylish and refined with grin enduring performance while not breaking the bank. The XF Sport starts at $57,175 fairly well loaded and that’s with the rarity of having something different to drive from everyone else.
