In many ways, the Jaguar XF was a step into the unknown for the famous British luxury car manufacturer. For decades, Jaguar had looked to the past for its designs, but the new Jaguar XF was tasked with bringing the marque into the 21st century in terms of its styling.
So although the XF saloon was technically a successor to the S-Type – in that it was a luxurious, medium-sized executive luxury saloon with rear-wheel drive – it was a completely different proposition. Instead of harking back to styling cues from the 1950s and '60s, the XF looked forward, particularly with its cool and cosy but futuristic interior.
A second-generation model arrived in 2015. Visually it was an evolution of the first car, but it was primarily constructed from aluminium, like the company’s larger XJ series saloons. This made it significantly lighter than the first-generation XF.
Both generations of the XF major on combining a fun, absorbing driving experience with a comfortable, cosseting ride. It’s a feeling of luxury combined with sportiness that helps set the XF apart from German premium rivals such as the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class.
Jaguar XF Generations
Jaguar XF mk2 (2015-)
Bodystyles:
- Four-door saloon
- Five-door estate
Notable features:
- No V8 version, although there is a rare 375bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6
- A manual gearbox was introduced for the first time
- Early top-spec cars badged ‘S’ but, following a renaming spree, ‘S’ denotes lowest-spec models
While the first Jaguar XF was the car tasked with bringing Jaguar up to date in the modern-day car market, the second had a different job. By the time it came along in 2015, Jaguar had a broader range of models such as the F-Type RWD sports car and F-Pace SUV that bestowed the brand with an appealingly sporty character. The second XF had to maintain that sporty image, while also convincing as a plush executive saloon.
The Jaguar XF mk2 is larger inside than its predecessor and, thanks to the extensive use of aluminium bodywork, is significantly lighter. A longer wheelbase also improves legroom, particularly in the rear seats.
Power comes from a wide range of petrol and diesel engines. Diesel options include the 3.0-litre TDV6 from the original XF mk1 – albeit boosted to 296bhp – or Jaguar’s Ingenium four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel with 161bhp, 178bhp or 237bhp. A mild-hybrid diesel option was also introduced in the 2020 model year with 201bhp in an effort to improve fuel consumption and emissions. The most efficient of these engines are capable of fuel economy well in excess of 50 mpg on the WLTP combined cycle.
Petrol power choices mostly centre around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo Ingenium petrol engine with 197bhp, 247bhp or 296bhp.
Gearboxes are either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is available on some cars.
Trim levels depend on the age of the XF. Early mk2 cars came in Prestige, Portfolio, R-Sport and S trims. Later cars are available as S, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE models.
All models are well specced, with electric front seats, rear parking sensors and bi-xenon headlights, while top-spec models get luxuries like Windsor leather seats and a powerful Meridian sound system.
Where the Jaguar XF mk2 improves significantly on its predecessor is in the infotainment system. There’s a 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus a 12.3-inch TFT driver's display screen on some models that replaces the traditional instrument cluster. Facelifted models from late 2020 onwards get the JLR group’s impressive Pivi Pro 11.4-inch touchscreen system.
Jaguar XF mk2 Review
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Jaguar XF mk1 (2007-2015)
Bodystyles:
- Four-door saloon
- Five-door estate
Notable features:
- Air vents rotate from a blanked-off position to an open one on ignition
- Rotary gear selector rises out of the centre console
- Cool-blue ambient interior lighting was supposed to be reminiscent of a stylish vodka bar
Engine options for the first-generation Jaguar XF line-up included a variety of petrol and diesel options. Most numerous are the diesel models. Early cars had a 2.7-litre twin-turbocharged V6 diesel with 201bhp, though this was replaced in 2009 by a 3.0-litre TDV6 with twin sequential turbos and either 237bhp or 271bhp outputs.
These diesels continued with the 2011 facelift model, and were joined by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder common-rail turbodiesel capable of returning more than 50mpg. The four-cylinder also features stop-start technology and an eight-speed automatic gearbox and is available with 161bhp, 187bhp or (later) 197bhp.
Petrol-powered Jaguar XF mk1s are somewhat rarer than their diesel counterparts, but come in a variety of forms. Early cars could be specified with a 3.0-litre V6 or a 4.2-litre supercharged V8 model called the SV8. In 2009, the V8 was replaced with an new 5.0-litre model. This had 380bhp or, with a supercharger fitted, 503bhp in the high-performance Jaguar XFR and 542bhp in the XFR-S. In October 2012 the naturally aspirated V8 was dropped in favour of a 335bhp supercharged V6.
Equipment levels are generous whatever model you go for, and the XF ensures a luxurious feel. There’s leather upholstery and alloy wheels on all models, and even the most basic XFs get a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated satnav, ambient lighting and cruise control. Move up the food chain to Premium Luxury, Portfolio or R Sport models and you’ll get even more luxuries.
A facelift in 2011 brought a mildly upgraded interior, but a much more striking headlight design with a slimmer look and LED daytime running lights. For those after a little more bootspace, there’s also a Jaguar XF Sportbrake estate version, which was introduced in 2012.
Jaguar XF mk1 Review
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