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Jaguar XF Review: The Boldilicious
English, the lingua franca in many regions, is the leading language of communication. Many countries rely on it as a medium to express their ideas globally. Even though it is spoken by a great number of people, the way Brits speak it, it’s very different. Their pronunciations are soft and gentle. They are not too keen on using a slang to describe something but then they choose to elaborate it.
Britishers, known for their historic legacy, have always inspired life in every form be it ancient history or modern art. Mentioning of Britishers and inspiration, how can one dare to ignore Jaguar, the iconic English car marquee. Jaguar cars have always featured in dream car list of many enthusiasts.
Among the different models sold in India, the XF is one popular model. This luxury sedan comes in numerous trims and engine options. We decided to take the youngest and the newest addition to the XF, the 2.0L petrol, for a brief spin.
Appearance Exterior
Flowing lines, amazing character and designed to impress are the key traits of a typical Jag. The roaring logo teamed up with classic British design, puts Jaguar cars in a different league. They can’t be stereotyped like the Germans. Each model seems to have a unique story behind it.
The XF too is not behind its more expensive siblings. Nested on a chrome grille, the roaring logo looks all ready to tear souls. The slim and stylish HID Bi-function Xenon headlamps paired with the J Blade LED daytime running lights look impressive. Further attention to the detailing and one would see the chrome wings affixed on the lower air vents. The long flowing hood gets strong muscular lines which are camouflaged gently.
Generally, the side profile has nothing but length of the car but then this a Jaguar. With its classic 2 door sports saloon inspired design lines, this four door luxury sedan seems to have it all. It has a gentle yet strong shoulder line. The way the roof line climbs gently over the B pillar and then gradually drops is nothing but beautiful. There are air vents just behind the front wheel fender with the brand name embossed in chrome. The 2.0L gets humble 17” Libra alloy wheels unlike the delicious 18” which comes as standard on the 3.0L Diesel.
Wide rear tail-lamps connected with a chrome bar gives the XF a power rear look. It might be the easiest to own but gets no badging to differentiate it with other variants. To make it look sporty, this one also gets dual exhaust pipes. The Jaguar XF guarantees a second..third..fourth etc look. It looks way different from the cliché Germans.
Appearance Interior
Step inside the XF and it feels home to a swanky lounge. While others rely on chrome and gloss to compel the passengers to feel premium, Jaguar plays it smart and suave with wooden finished trims. It undoubtedly feels premium but then the minute details and the painstakingly perfect finishing pushes the envelope further.
The leather front seats are electrically adjustable. Different permutations with settings will set the seats to the exact desired position. The stitch quality and the leather feel is superb. Stretching legs is also not a problem in first row for taller passengers. While the rear section might not be as generous in offering room, it will still make sure the occupants are pampered by the cushy seats.
Instrumentation is simple yet intelligent. The instrumental cluster just sports the basic speedometer and tachometer. It displays gear engaged and other vital information useful for daily running. Move on to the central console and a 7inch touch screen infotainment system waits to entertain you. This screen acts as a hub to control all possible controls ranging from controlling multimedia, attending calls to adjusting individual zone AC temperatures. The buttons and knobs sport an amazing finish.
If luxury is your indulgence then Jaguars will not fall short in impressing you. Wooden trims, soft buttons, greatly stitched seats you name it and the XF has it. The interiors of this luxury chariot don’t seem to compromise on anything at all.
Performance Drive
Jaguar cars have always enjoyed the image of being extravagant in performance. They will not just pass by but will make sure they get every bit of your attention by entertaining all your senses possible.
Get inside and strap on the safety belts, a pulsatingly blinking Start/Stop button waits patiently. Click on it and the silent 2.0L engine gets fired up. If you stepped inside the cabin to enjoy the symphony of Jag’s popular howling note, you might be surprised. This engine, at idling, can give cat’s purr some complex. It is barely audible unless your leg wants to hear it sufficiently by giving it a hard push.
Are you much used to pushing and pulling of automatic gear levers? Say Hello to style. There is no gear lever mounted on the central console but instead a precision-milled aluminium Jaguar Drive Selector which rises up from the central console surrounded by wooden vinyl. Twist it to the desired mode and this Jag obediently listens. The AC vents, which have to be the most stylish compared to any other car in this segment and higher, roll open in unison.
Jaguar offers Meridian 250W music system with 8 Speakers and 8 channel amplifiers. The music quality of this system is simply fantastic. Even at higher decibels, the clarity of the music is crystal clear. One can make suitable settings with the help of the touch screen unit mounted on the dashboard. Even pairing external devices is very easy with plug-in options provided under the front central armrest.
Big on impact but small on heart, this 2.0L Ford sourced engine generates 240PS of power at 5500 rpm. It produces 340Nm of torque at 1750 rpm. Jaguar claims that this baby XF can do a 0 to 100 Km/h in 7.9 seconds and also can reach a limited maximum speed of 250 Km/h.
Being smaller in displacement, this one will not push you back with a mad rush. It has a gentle power delivery. This mill is not meant to be tortured with high end performance. It gradually builds momentum and then stays strong till the end of power band especially at 3000 rpm where the engine gets athletic. Downshift it at 3K rpm and then it begins to lap in higher speeds with great ease.
Jaguar’s patented Sequential Shift system works in tandem with the engine. It is amazingly precise and smooth. Even at higher engine speeds, correct and crisp downshifts help you propel faster. Turn the selector into S mode and it descends to a height. The instrumental cluster also gets dramatic and displays the sport gear mode with 8 speeds highlighting the particular gear.
The almost sober 2.0L gets alive when the drive is on Sports mode. The difference in the dynamics is evident with the tachometer needle swinging a lot faster. Get on the shifting paddles and you can take the XF around corners easily. Even at the tightest of corners, it exhibits amazing confidence. The ride quality is not as stiff as a BMW but then it has its share of precision with decent feedback. The suspension setup is best suited for soft rides. At high speeds too, the XF continues to perform brilliantly with an army of electronics working hard to make sure you don’t loose your trail.
Tech Specs
| Technical Specifications | |
| Make | Jaugar |
| Model | XF |
| Variant | 2.0 Petrol |
| Engine Displacement | 1999 |
| Power (PS/RPM) | 240/5500 |
| Torque (Nm/RPM) | 340/1750 |
| Transmissions | 8/A |
| Dimensions in mm | |
| Length | 4961 |
| Width | 1877 |
| Height | 1460 |
| Wheel Base | 2909 |
| Claimed fuel efficiency in KMPL | 10 |
| Tyre size Front | 225/45 R18 |
| Tyre size Rear | 225/45 R18 |
| Tank capacity in Liters | 68 |
| Kerb Weight (Kg) | 2240 |
| Turning circle Radius | 5.6 |
| Trunk Volume in L | 500 |
| Ex showroom Mumbai in Rs | 48,62,000 |
Features
| Features | 2.0 Petrol |
| Protective body sell | Yes |
| Airbags Front,Rear,side curtain | Yes |
| Emergency brake assistant | Yes |
| Electronic brake force distribution | Yes |
| Anti lock brakes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Dynamic stability control | Yes |
| Cornering brake ontrol | Yes |
| Engine drag torque control | Yes |
| Servo tronic steering | Yes |
| Intelligent front lighting | Yes |
| Day and night running lights | Yes |
| Integrated steering controls | Yes |
| Jaugar drive selector and control | Yes |
| Adaptive Dynamics | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes |
| Intutive visual control | Yes |
Competition All Specs
| Specifications |
Jaugar
XF |
Audi
A6 |
BMW
328i |
| Variant | 2.0 Petrol | 2.0 TFSI | Sport Line |
| Engine CC | 1999 | 1984 | 1997 |
| Power (PS/RPM) | 240/5500 | 180/4000 | 245/6500 |
| Torque (Nm/RPM) | 340/1750 | 320/3500 | 350/4800 |
| Transmission | 8/A | 7/A | 8/A |
| Dimensions in mm | |||
| Length | 4961 | 4915 | 4624 |
| Width | 1877 | 1874 | 1811 |
| Height | 1460 | 1455 | 1429 |
| Wheel Base | 2909 | 2912 | 2810 |
| Claimed fuel efficiency in KMPL | 10 | 13 | 14 |
| Tyre size Front | 225/45 R18 | 225/55 R17 | 225/45 R18 |
| Tyre size Rear | 225/45 R18 | 225/55 R17 | 225/45 R18 |
| Top speed KMPH | - | 226 | 250 |
| Tank capacity in Liters | 68 | 75 | 60 |
| Kerb Weight (Kg) | 2240 | 1795 | 1950 |
| Turning circle Radius | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Trunk Volume in L | 500 | 530 | 500 |
| Ex showroom Mumbai in Rs | 48,62,000 | 42,98,000 | 41,50,000 |
| Features | |||
| Protective body sell | Adaptive air suspension | Bi Xenon Headlights | |
| Airbags Front,Rear,side curtain | Electrical sunblind for rear window | Fog lights | |
| Emergency brake assistant | Driver information system with 7" colour display | Multi function sport steering wheel | |
| Electronic brake force distribution | Electrically adjustable driver seat | Electical seat adjustment | |
| Anti lock brakes | 4 Way lumbar support | I Drive with 16.5cm colour display | |
| Traction control | Cruise control | Airbags Front,Rear,Side | |
| Dynamic stability control | Electromechnical power steering | ABS with brake asst | |
| Cornering brake ontrol | Front center arm rest | Cornering brake control | |
| Engine drag torque control | 4 zone delux automatic air conditioning | Dynamic stability control | |
| Servo tronic steering | Anti theft alarm with tow away protection | Dynamic Traction control | |
| Intelligent front lighting | Electronic stabilization program | Immobilser with crash sensor | |
| Day and night running lights | Full size side and rear airbags | Leather Dakota Black/Red highlight | |
Conclusion
Even though the XF 2.0 Petrol is the junior most XF in the family, the comfort and equipments provided as standard won’t make you feel the same. Like we mentioned earlier, it is small in heart but then big on impact. Comparisons with the three Germans are bound to happen but then Jaguars have never been counted in the same league. The simple reason for that is while the others try hard to make their point, Jags do it effortlessly. It ditches cliché for niche.
Look at the XF as your entry in a unique class. It particularly targets petrolheads who are sensible. During our test run, we got an overall mileage of 7 Kmpl. The XF is not an efficient car but then it is not meant to be one. The XF 2.0 makes fantastic sense for the young and aspirational trying to enter into niche automobiles with a unique touch. Jags are supposed to be enjoyed and the XF does that just fine.
And for those who love to live life fuelled by adrenaline, they can go all berserk and invest in a 625Nm torque producing 5000cc V8 Jaguar XFR. The insane exhaust note from those well crafted 8 cylinders will obviously tantalize your senses but also make sure you have some unhappy neighbours.
