2009 Jaguar XF
by Jim Prueter -06/2008

All-new XF takes Jaguar in new direction

The all-new 2009 Jaguar XF five-passenger four-door sedan, which went on sale in March, may finally be the first new cat to effectively compete with other brands in the highly competitive premium mid-size segment.

After years of paying homage to highbrow British tradition, the strikingly handsome XF signals the future direction of the marquee brand.

It seems coincidental that, in the very same month as the XF launch, India’s Tata Group acquired both Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford for a reported $2.3 billion. Dealers for both brands are reportedly very concerned that buyers will avoid a luxury brand owned by an Indian manufacturer.

Tata gained worldwide notoriety earlier this year after announcing they will build a new vehicle with a price tag of just $2,500. The company has deep pockets — something Ford can’t claim — and has committed to keeping production for both brands in England.

Based on the XK coupe, the look of the XF is a far departure from the S-Type sedan it replaces. The exterior is athletically sleek, with swooping lines and a strong stance with short front and rear overhangs. During our weeklong test drive, not once did those who came in contact with it immediately identify the XF as a Jaguar. Only the leaping chrome cat on the rear deck lid and Jaguar nameplate on the front fender vent grilles announce it’s a cat.

Yet for all the raves about the new design, the front seems out of place and subject to criticism. The large mesh grille is rather garish and would be more at home on a Buick or Chrysler than the XF. Also, the headlamps seem disconnected, with large gaps around the entire assembly. Intentional or just sloppy fit and finish?

The most striking feature about the new XF is the interior, which rivals anything in its class, short of Audi. The cabin is loaded with modern innovation to the point of excess.

Slip behind the wheel and the start button on the center console begins to pulse red, “like a heartbeat” according to Jaguar. Press the button and the “beast comes to life.” (We can’t make this up.) The XF gearshift selector rises out of the console, and you dial to “D” or “R,” depending on which direction you want to go. Pushing the start-stop button automatically returns the transmission to “P” and the gearshift returns to its secluded home.

Simultaneously, the navigation system initializes to the home page and the brushed aluminum dash vents automatically rotate to the open position. They rotate closed when the vehicle is shut down.

Overhead lighting and the glove box are operated by what Jaguar calls JaguarSenseä “proximity” sensors rather than push buttons.

Phosphor blue mood or “halo” lighting illuminates and outlines the instrument panel controls, rotary gearshift and door handles. All interior materials are top-quality, with soft-grained leathers and real wood veneers to complement the textured aluminum highlights across the instrument panel and center console. Overdone and gimmicky? Perhaps, but it seems to work well and doesn’t annoy.

Front and rear occupant room is ample; front seats are sculpted for additional space and comfort. Even with the front seats all the way, back there’s plenty of leg and knee room for the rear passengers. But the rear seat only has head restraints for two passengers and the pull-down center armrest is just a cupholder with no storage capability. Trunk space rivals best in class for capacity.

The audio system is the high-end British Bowers & Wilkens brand, used for the first time in a vehicle. It doesn’t stand out like a Bose or Rockford-Fosgate system.

XF is available in three trims: Luxury ($49,975), Premium Luxury ($55,975) and Supercharged ($62,975). The Luxury and Premium Luxury are powered by a 4.2-liter 300-horsepower V-8, while the Supercharged model’s 4.2-liter makes 420 horsepower. These are the same engines that power the Jaguar XK models. All three XF models feature a six-speed automatic transmission as the only option.

I drove the Premium Luxury edition with the 300-horsepower engine. Performance was more than adequate. Fuel economy was dismal.

Handling is agile, predictable and confident. It doesn’t have the surefootedness and stability of, say, a BMW. I found the suspension to be extremely harsh, with every minor road-surface imperfection amplified and felt by both the driver and passengers. Even minor tar strips and expansion-joint imperfections were more than noticeable, to the point of being a deal-breaker. Perhaps it was due to the low profile tires on our tester, but it made an otherwise terrific sedan unbearable to drive.

All expected safety features for a premium luxury sedan are standard. Neither the insurance industry nor the federal government has crash tested the new XF as of this writing.

Jaguar has reported excellent sales results for the XF since its introduction, surpassing all other Jaguar models combined. But with premium unleaded gasoline now at $4.50 per gallon, luxury car sales have tanked and the XF could desperately use a V-6 in the lineup.