If first impressions are anything to go by, Jaguar’s XF model makes a mark in the premium end of the car market, writes Craig Donaldson
For the price tag, Jaguar’s XF 2.0P is a solid, quality car and delivers an impressive on-road experience in pretty much every department. A lot of thought has gone into the XF, and the multibillion dollar investments that Tata has sunk into research and development in the Jaguar Land Rover group shines through in this particular model.
Solid build quality
One of the first things you notice about the XF is the sound its doors make when closing, which is a solid “thud”, as opposed to the hollow noise from many mass-produced cars these days. This is a reflection of the overall build quality of the XF, which is exceptional.
Its body structure, for example, is made almost entirely from aluminium alloys, which are both light and strong. This adds stiffness to the overall chassis while improving its overall power-to-weight ratio; combined with the other weight savings made throughout the vehicle, this makes the XF up to 190kg lighter than its predecessor. The build quality also reduces structure-borne noise significantly. Jaguar analysed every part of the XF to ensure that as many potential noise sources could be designed out. All this adds up to a remarkably quiet cabin – so much so that at times the XF 2.0P sounds like it could be an electric car, with virtually no engine noise at cruising speed (provided you’re not going off the beaten track).
Aesthetic appeal
Attention to detail continues on the inside of the XF with a sharp and modern interior that is pleasantly simple and clean. There is an obvious and not-so-obvious beauty to this, in that this minimalist design retains all the functionality expected of a premium car, without the complexity found in other models. If the driver needs to reference the manual for anything, it’s too complicated. With options such as the reconfigurable, 12.3-inch full-TFT instrument cluster and 10.2-inch touchscreen, four-zone climate control, 10-colour ambient lighting (phosphor blue is the default), and the 17-speaker, 825W Meridian digital surround sound system, the XF comes with some lovely automotive bells and whistles that make for a very pleasant and complete driving experience.
The XF is an equally appealing car on the outside, and Jaguar’s director of design, Ian Callum (renowned for his automotive works of art such as Aston Martin’s DB9), believes the XF is “the best-looking car in its class”. There is a beautiful and clean simplicity to the XF’s form, yet, like the interior, every exterior line on the XF has a functional purpose – nothing is superfluous. At the front, the long bonnet with a noticeable “power bulge” and the short front overhang mark the XF as a sporting saloon, which is enhanced by the distinctive Jaguar mesh grille upfront. Running from front to back is a nice chamfered line, which peaks above the rear wheel and then tapers away to the distinctive LED tail lights that are rather Aston Martin-esque in their design. Overall, the XF is a good-looking and elegantly proportioned car.
On the road
Attention to detail is also apparent in how the XF handles and drives on the road. With a 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre engine, this model is one of the most mild mannered in the range. Thanks to a low-inertia turbocharger, it delivers a respectable 177kW @ 5500rpm and 340Nm @ 2000–4000rpm. These figures are more in line with the performance delivered by larger, naturally aspirated engines, but without the hefty associated fuel consumption. Thanks in part to the aforementioned lightweight aluminium body (with an all-aluminium engine), Jaguar sets the class benchmark for fuel efficiency and emissions in the XF with a combined fuel consumption figure of 8.1 litres per 100km. This is even better for out-of-city driving, with a figure of 6.1 litres per 100km, though it rises to 11.6 litres per 100km for urban environments. The eight-speed automatic transmission, as should be expected, is silky smooth in gear shifts both up and down. The unique rotary gear shift controller does all the work for the driver, though paddle shifts are there for drivers who want more control.
Overall, this car is built from the ground up with quality in mind, and with a starting price of around $75,000, the XF 2.0P is a very sensible car and a very attractive option in the competitive premium sedan market.
Image source: supplied
