Jaguar XF review

Time was that if you wanted an upmarket car then you would automatically turn to the Germans, but the first generation of Jaguar XF changed all that, while simultaneously redefining what the storied British brand stood for.

Explaining the XF's success at the time, we wrote: "Next to the German giants, with their prolific output, Jaguar is a bit of a cottage industry. So it’s all the more impressive when a new Jaguar matches a Mercedes for refinement, a BMW for driving dynamics and an Audi for interior wow-factor. Design-wise, it was a huge departure from manufacturer that rarely showed signs of radical thinking, and it certainly hit the spot; in 2008, the then-new car scooped the overall victory at our Car of the Year Awards. And it wasn't a one year wonder, either: it remained our favourite executive saloon in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Fast forward to today, and while the Germans still continue to dominate in terms of raw sales numbers, the luxury car class is more competitive than ever; Jaguar’s late noughties success showed brands such as Lexus and Volvo that there is a place in the luxury car market for brands that were willing to do things a little differently. 

To ensure the XF (now in its second generation) still stands out in this increasingly competitive class, Jaguar has treated it to a number of updates over the years. The most recent introduced a heavily revised interior (developed in conjunction with the F-Pace SUV), an 11.4in touchscreen infotainment system, a mild-hybrid diesel engine and a rationalisation of the trim line-up. That last change was more significant than it sounds; it had the effect of dropping the base car’s list price well below those of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. 

But is all that enough to keep the XF relevant against such strong competition? Over the next few pages, we’ll tell you everything from what it’s like to drive and how practical it is, to how much it will cost you to buy and run. And if you decide to buy, our New Car Buying service is at your disposal. It could save you a packet on hundreds of great cars, including the Jaguar XF, with no need for any tedious haggling.