COVENTRY'S FINAL CLIMAX? (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_jaguarxf_2018

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 127

If you're looking for a full-sized executive saloon or estate from the 2017-2024 era and you think the big three prestigious German brands had the Executive car segment sewn-up in this period, a drive in a version of Jaguar's second generation XF from this era may be enough to make you reconsider. Even in the face of tough competition from rivals like the BMW 5 Series, the Mercedes E-Class and the Audi A6, this car offers a compelling range of virtues, with a choice of saloon or 'Sportbrake' estate body styles and impressive levels of quality and connectivity. Perhaps most significantly, this MK2 model's aluminium-intensive architecture provided for weight savings that delivered sharp handling and very competitive levels of efficiency. In short, it's a very complete package.

Modelsword count: 20

4dr Executive Saloon / 'Sportbrake' estate (2.0 petrol / 3.0 V6 supercharged petrol / 2.0d diesel / 3.0 V6 diesel)

Historyword count: 330

The Jaguar XF was the car that when launched back in 2007, turned around its maker's fortunes, proving that the Coventry company could credibly compete with its German rivals in the premium segment for full-sized executive models. This second generation version of that car though, showed us how the brand planned to go about beating them. It was first launched as a saloon in 2015, then the range was expanded in 2017 to include a Sportbrake estate version. With this improved 'XF260'-series design, a styling evolution hid a product revolution, all versions of this MK2 XF model being lighter, more efficient and more technologically sophisticated than before, an improvement on their predecessors in every possible respect. The exterior dimensions were slightly more compact than those of the MK1 version but they disguised a longer wheelbase that allowed the hi-tech aluminium-intensive architecture to clothe a much more spacious cabin, especially for rear seat folk. By 2017, at the time of the Sportbrake estate version's introduction, much had already changed about this second generation XF, especially beneath the bonnet. Jaguar's modern era 'Ingenium' four cylinder 2.0-litre engine technology had only been available in 163 and 180PS diesel form at launch. By 2017 though, there was an extra twin turbo 240PS diesel and a pair of Ingenium petrol units, putting out either 250 or 300PS. Across the range, media connectivity and safety technology had taken a big step forward too. What hadn't changed though, was the XF's remit as a more sporting, dynamic choice in the full-sized Executive segment. To put that in competitive context, it was more 'BMW 5 Series' than Audi A6 or Mercedes E-Class, though buyers of all three of these rival models might have been tempted by this Jaguar's classy cabin technology and its un-bettered standards of refinement and ride quality. There was a mild facelift in 2020 - and then an even lighter one in 2023 that carried the XF through to the end of production in 2024.

What You Getword count: 553

From almost any angle, you'd know this was a Jaguar. You'd know this was an XF. This second generation 'XF260'-series model features a lower roof line than its predecessor and in saloon form, its rear deck is longer and higher. Arguably even better looking is the Sportbrake estate version, a shape where every style line serves a clear purpose, creating a fast, sweeping silhouette. A seat in the front of an XF has always been a special experience. If you ever tried the first generation model, what you'll probably remember most is the way the start-up sequence brought the car to life as the rotary gear selector rose up from the centre console and the air vents rotated into position. In creating this 'XF260'-series second generation model, the brief was to retain a real sense of occasion but mature and simplify the design language a little. So there was a classier, more modern look as Jaguar's designers sought to find more interesting and contemporary ways to say 'luxury': largely, their efforts worked. The rising circular gear selector remained on automatic models: so did the cartwheeling air vents, though they were reduced in number and thrown to the edges of the cabin, with the centre of the fascia freed up for a 10.2-inch 'InControl Touch Pro' infotainment system. Get settled and as you look around, the height of the waistline and the centre console gives the safe, driver-focused feeling of being sat in the beautifully supportive leather seat, rather than on it. At the same time, the strong horizontal theme of the instrument panel, the layering of it and the materials used for each layer creates the kind of rich, luxurious, hand-crafted ambience you just don't get in this car's Teutonic rivals. Just one example of that is what Jaguar calls the 'Riva Hoop' (named after the famous powerboat), a veneered strip that sweeps from the doors right round behind a dashboard that on plusher models could be coated with exquisite stitched leather. The MK1 XF model really had no more room on the back seat than you'd have got from a car in the next class down. Even with this MK2 design, three adults will still need to be on personable terms, but two will be very comfortable indeed. If you're looking for a reason to pay the relatively small premium necessary to buy this XF rather than its smaller XE model (which really is small in the back), then we reckon you've got that right here. As for luggage space, the saloon gives you a 540-litre trunk, so if you go for the Sportbrake estate body style, you might reasonably be expecting the capacity to be quite a lot larger. Actually, the figure is 565-litres, though the space available is squarer and more usable than a conventional boot area would be. If you need more room but still need to carry a couple of rear-seated passengers, you'll be pleased to find that the Sportback's rear bench has a central split so that long items like skis can be poked through. If you do need to flatten everything then you can use the discreet levers positioned inside the flush cargo side panels (or controls on the seat backs themselves), all of which on the Sportback frees up 1,700-litres of completely flat loading space.

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