2017 Jaguar XF Review
Car Tested: 2017 Jaguar XF; Road Test No. 819
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 60.27 – 76.65 lakhs
The new generation Jaguar XF is here & offers a lot more than the older model
The luxury car market is growing rapidly in India and while it’s been the playing ground of the German big three for long, Britain’s Jaguar Land Rover is slowly building into the minds of Indians. The fact that JLR is now owned by India’s Tata Motors makes these cars connect emotionally to us as we are the patriotic lot. The first generation XF never had what it took to steal thunder from the good folks at Stuttgart (the E-Class has long been the segment leader) but the second generation model promises a whole lot more as it’s not only larger and more luxurious but also lighter by up to 190 kgs (thank you aluminium). How good is the improvements to what was once and for a long time, the baby Jag (until the XE came along)?
Motor Quest: The Jaguar XF was earlier the entry-level offering from the British stable but after the arrival of the XE, it is now the mid-level offering competing in a tough segment with a lot of capable rivals.
The styling is unmistakably Jaguar
Exteriors – The new generation Jaguar XF has got similar silhouette compared to its predecessor but the styling changes are quite substantial. The XF now gets leaner with the sleek character lines and revised front profile which is inspired by the latest family design. The beefy front styling is gone now, in comes the sporty and aggressive face. There is a dominating signature grille up front along with sleek LED headlamps with DRLs.
The lines are smooth and the XF has a coupe-like roofline
The XF stays true to the Jaguar design and features an evolved exterior
The Jaguar XF looks huge from the side profile having a long bonnet and a smooth flowing roofline that infuses seamlessly with the boot. The 18-inch multi-spoke alloys on the Portfolio trim look gorgeous. The rear profile also gets heavy changes. The slimmer tail lights look striking at night especially with the F-Type inspired LED detailing. All in all, the new XF maintains its elegant character but with some freshly sprinkled details on the exteriors.
The layout of the dashboard feels more ergonomic now
Interiors – The interiors of this wild cat are quite inviting and action-packed too! Hit the button to fire the engine and the rotary gear knob selector pops up in the centre console along with the side AC vents. It comes with a layered dashboard having metallic textured finish in the middle sandwiched between leather trims. The 3-spoke steering wheel feels good to hold and looks sporty. The all-digital instrument cluster displays detailed info, it looks neat and changes colour theme according to the driving mode.
All the seats feel very supportive and comfortable
Interiors are loaded with tech, could have got more space though
The Jaguar XF comes with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with Meridien sound system that churns out fantastic acoustics. The touch quality is excellent and the interface is easy to use. The huge screen also doubles up as a parking camera display that offers a 360-degree view along with the regular reverse and frontal camera views. The park assist helps you with auto steering assist while parking.
The boot is large enough to carry a lot of cargo
The fit, finish and quality feels top notch. Jaguar uses pure leather upholstery in the XF’s cabin and you can immediately smell luxury once you get inside. The seats offer good support having 14-way power adjustable front seats. The rear seats are quite comfortable too having decent legroom but not the best in class. The boot space is huge though and can accommodate quite a lot of luggage.
The petrol engine offers a lot of grunt
Performance – The petrol engine is a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder unit that has a peak power of 240 HP and torque of 340 Nm which are best in class figures. 0-100 km/hr comes up in a notch above 7.5 seconds and power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine is a bit noisy but feels power-packed and punchy. Power delivery is very linear right from lower RPMs and the motor doesn’t feel like it’s running out of breath. It redlines freely at 6500 RPM and sounds good too. In Sports mode, it doesn’t upshift automatically and holds revs. The gearbox is a bit slow in its operations and hesitates a bit to change gears.
The diesel engine has satisfactory performance
The petrol engine would be our pick of the two powerplants
The diesel engine powering the Jaguar XF is the 2.0-litre Ingenium mill that sees a step-up in NVH over the outgoing 2.2-litre unit. Not only does the new oil burner feel more refined, it is also a lot quieter under normal driving conditions because when you whack open the throttle, it does tend to sound coarse near its 4900 RPM redline. The mid-range is where this motor excels as there is a strong surge post 2000 RPM, sustained till 4000 RPM after which progress dulls drastically. 0-100 km/hr takes 9 odd seconds which makes it the slowest car in its segment but it doesn’t feel so when you drive the vehicle. The 8-speed gearbox is eager to shift cogs and you can also manually take hold of things using the steering mounted paddles.
The XF feels agile around the corners
Driving Dynamics – The XF has a very direct steering which is light at city speeds and weighs up well as the speeds gather. The steering also feels precise and makes the sedan a fun handler on the twisties. The XF feels involving to drive and with the Dynamic mode turned on, it stiffens up and offers a sporty feel. The suspension offers a cushioned ride at slow speeds and the XF remains fairly composed even at higher speeds. The ride is comfortable but the suspension thuds loudly over bad potholes. Braking performance is brilliant with very good stopping power.
Loaded to the gills with tech, the XF got a 5-star safety rating
Safety and After Sales Service – The new Jaguar XF scored full five stars at the Euro NCAP crash test. It comes loaded with safety equipment including multiple airbags for front and rear passengers, ABS, torque vectoring, dynamic stability control, engine drag torque control, etc. After sales service of Jaguar cars is satisfactory but not the best amongst its rivals as the service network across India is very limited.
If you want an engaging car to drive, the Jaguar XF is for you
Verdict – The new Jaguar XF is no doubt a significant leap over its predecessor, its evolved styling makes it look fresh and yet unmistakably a Jag while the updated cabin is not only more spacious but also more ergonomically sound, loaded with features. The party piece of this car isn’t the back bench as the Mercedes E-Class LWB takes that honour without batting an eye-lid. Instead, it’s the driving experience which is quite engaging. If you are the person who likes to take to the wheel, the petrol powered XF is the car to consider and if you want to stand out, the more economical to run diesel is also just fine, but you will have to shell a bit more for this British brute due to Jaguar’s optimistic pricing.
The Jaguar XF is a bit overpriced for the top variants
What’s Cool
* Beautiful styling with smooth lines
* Interiors are feature loaded on the top variants
* Sporty dynamics make the XF very fun to drive
* Petrol engine has awesome performance
What’s Not So Cool
* Quality on the inside could be a notch better
* Petrol top variant is pricey
Alternatives: Mercedes E-Class LWB, BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Volvo S90
The diesel engine is efficient but could have had more punch
2017 Jaguar XF Specifications
* Engine: 1999cc, DOHC, 4-cyl | 1999cc, DOHC, 4-cyl
* Power: 237 HP @ 5500 RPM | 177 HP @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 340 Nm @ 1750 RPM | 430 Nm @ 1750 RPM
* Transmission: 8-speed AT
* Fuel Consumption: 7-8 km/l | 10-11 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
* Suspension: Double Wishbone (Front), Multi-Link (Rear)
* Tyres: 235/55/18
* Brakes: Discs (Front & Rear), ABS
* Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, ESP, Traction Control, Hill Hold
2017 Jaguar XF Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 5067 mm X 2091 mm X 1457 mm
* Wheelbase: 2967 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.74-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 74-litres | 66-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1730 kgs | 1687 – 1760 kgs
The XF competes with the E-Class, 5-Series, A6 and S90