Used Jaguar XF Saloon 2015-present review

The Jaguar XF has long been something of a raffish choice for those seeking a smart luxury car. This second-generation version, launched in 2015, follows in the footsteps of the original XF in offering arrestingly suave looks allied to a slick and rewarding driving experience.

This model is predominantly made of aluminium. It’s lighter and leaner than the first XF, yet bigger inside, too – another overhaul prescribed by its predecessor’s shortcomings. It also got a range of new engines, with four variants of JLR's 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engines, which was further supplemented by a trio of Ingenium petrols two years after launch in 2017, while the top of the range is dominated by 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel engines mainly found in the XF S.

Upgrade to Portfolio and your XF gets more luxuries such as 18in alloy wheels, Windsor-clad leather upholstery, more electrical front seat adjustment, gloss veneer, split-folding rear seats, a heated windscreen, keyless entry, front parking sensors and a reversing camera, as well as a 380W Meridian sound system. Opt for the R-Sport trim and the XF gains a sporty bodykit, sports suspension, black headlining, front parking sensors and lots of exterior gloss black trim on top of the Prestige trim, while the range-topping S models get 19in alloy wheels, a more aggressive bodykit, red brake calipers, keyless entry, a 380W Meridian sound system, a reversing camera and adaptive dampers added to the package.

Later models redefined the trims to S, R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE. Entry-level S-grade cars aren’t stingy on kit. Heated 12-way electrically adjustable leather seats, cruise control, automatic LED headlights and wipers, LED daytime running lights, a powered tailgate, front and rear parking sensors and the 11.4in Pivi Pro infotainment are all standard. 

Stepping up to R-Dynamic SE trim adds a powered steering column, keyless entry, 16-way electrically adjustable sports seats, digital dials, directional indicators and additional safety kit. It’s also worth pointing out R-Dynamic-grade cars also get more aggressive styling including black detailing, bigger alloy wheels and a bespoke bodykit. Meanwhile, range-topping R-Dynamic HSE trim gets luxuries such as 20in alloy wheels, sport seats with Windsor leather, a fantastic 400W Meridian Sound System and adaptive cruise control with steering assistance.

Happily, this comfort doesn’t come at the expense of handling. For such a large car, the way the XF can move through corners is little short of astonishing; the nose swings into corners the instant you turn the wheel, while the supple suspension damps out mid-corner bumps and allows the XF to glide fluidly from corner to corner with perfect control.

Meanwhile, the chassis is beautifully balanced and responds sweetly to your throttle and steering inputs. The result is a car that’s a delight whether you’re on a twisting back road, a fast, sweeping A-road or a motorway.

Inside, the XF could be just as impressive, were it not for a couple of flies in the ointment. First, there’s the infotainment system, which has a few labyrinthine menus and doesn’t respond as quickly as it should; then there’s the build quality – some of the switchgear and a couple of the plastics feel a little cheaper than the equivalent rivals’.

Fortunately, smart touches such as the knurled gear selector and the arc of wood veneer that stretches across the dashboard do a good job of distracting you. Space, meanwhile, isn’t an issue for any occupant – there’s more in a couple of its rivals, but you have to question whether you’d really need it.

If you're interested in finding a used XF, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.