Jaguar XF Review & Prices

Like Elvis, the Jaguar XF has (almost) left the building — Jaguar isn’t building it anymore, as the company starts to focus on a new, more expensive, and all-electric future, but you can still buy an XF from stock. 

Like Elvis, the XF became bigger and chunkier than it started out as, but like Elvis, it remains a fabulous performer right at the end of its life, still able to bear comparison to the likes of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes E-Class. 

It’s a very handsome car, the Jaguar XF — almost unarguably better looking and more elegant than any of its German competition (although the outgoing Audi A6 runs it close-ish). There’s the traditional big Jag grille, which has thankfully never grown to distended BMW proportions, narrow headlights, and a big power bulge in the bonnet, making it look both sporty and classy — an aristocrat in running shorts. 

Early versions of this generation of XF had a rather cheap and unpleasant cabin, but a 2021 update changed that with a big touchscreen, improved quality, and rather more in the way of luxury. That said, the XF’s cabin still doesn’t match the likes of the BMW 5 Series nor Mercedes E-Class for overall quality and usability, but at least the gap these days is a bit narrower. 

The big 11.4-inch touchscreen gently curves its way from the top to the bottom of the dashboard, and it looks great. It works mostly great too, although ideally it could be a bit simpler and more responsive if it was going to truly keep up with BMW’s iDrive and Mercedes’ MBUX setups. It’s good enough though, and gets standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections. 

Part of the visual drama is the XF’s 11.4-inch curved touchscreen. It’s located nicely on the dash to help when driving and make it integrate seamlessly into the sleek design. BMW’s iDrive and Mercedes’ MBUX systems are both easier to use while driving, but as touchscreen’s go, Jag’s effort is sharp, responsive and very easy to navigate. Importantly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard.

All models get a big digital driver’s instrument display, but only the top-spec Dynamic-R HSE Black version comes with the ritzy ‘interactive’ driver’s instruments. All models get adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and leather seats though. 

There’s decent space for four grown-ups in the XF front and rear, but there’s not quite a much room as you’d find in an Audi A6, especially in the back. The boot volume is fine, but the boot lid is a little narrow and small when you’re trying to load big items — an excuse to buy the handsome Jaguar XF Sportbrake estate instead. 

There are only three engine options now — a 204hp 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder, a 250hp turbo petrol four-cylinder, and a 300hp turbo petrol four-cylinder, with four-wheel drive. All versions come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and there’s no manual option (in fact, there never has been a manual XF, ever). 

The petrol engines suit the car better, as they’re smoother and sound nicer, and are especially good around town, but their fuel economy is far from the best — a BMW 520i is much more economical. 

The 2.0-litre diesel at least nods its head towards current technology with mild-hybrid assistance, which helps both with performance and fuel saving — north of 40mpg is easily do-able — but it can be a bit noisy at times, and there’s no option for hybrid nor plug-in hybrid power (which seems odd when Jaguar has that tech available in other vehicles). 

For keen drivers, the XF still manages to stand head and shoulders clear of the German opposition when it comes to driving on a twisty road. Terrific steering, a comfy ride, and capable control of the body’s motions mean that it’s a delight on a British B-road in a way that even the latest BMW 5 Series can’t quite manage. A bit too much tyre noise on motorways? Yes, but it’s not a deal-breaker. 

The XF might be gathering its hat and coat and heading for the exit, but this is still a capable big luxury saloon, and still the best of its breed when it comes to driving pleasure. 

Find out how much you could save by browsing the latest new Jaguar deals on Carwow. You can also take a look at used Jaguar cars as well as used XFs, and when the time comes to sell your car, then Carwow can help with that as well.

The XF might be old, and technically out of production, but it has one massive advantage over its German (and Japanese) opposition. It’s incredibly affordable for a car of its size and luxury. In fact, in basic R-Dynamic S Black form, with the diesel engine, it’s a whopping £18,000 cheaper than the cheapest BMW 520i. The XF is more than £20,000 cheaper than the cheapest Mercedes E-Class, and it’s £13,000 cheaper than the basic Audi A6. The Genesis G80 and Lexus ES both get a little closer, but are still giving £10,000 up to the Jag.

While it’s true that all of these rivals (aside from the Genesis) offer hybrid or plug-in hybrid power, the plug-in hybrid options are more expensive again, giving the Jaguar an even bigger price (if not tech) advantage. 

Great to drive, although the ride is slightly jiggly at low speeds

In town

Every XF comes with an automatic gearbox, so you won’t have a tired left leg from driving in traffic, whichever model you choose.

But while you probably won’t miss changing gear for yourself around town, you may be disappointed that Jaguar doesn’t offer a plug-in hybrid version. Whereas a plug-in hybrid can travel tens of miles with no exhaust emissions using battery power, every XF model relies on an internal combustion engine.

Jag hasn’t ignored hybrid tech completely, though, as the diesel comes with a mild-hybrid system. This uses electrical power to take the strain from the engine, reducing emissions. It can’t run on electricity alone, though.

You sit down low in the XF – this is a sports saloon, and has a driving position to match. Even if you raise the seat up to the maximum, you don’t have the kind of commanding view that you’d get in an SUV like the Jaguar E-Pace or F-Pace.

To help squeeze the Jag into parking spots, every model has front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

On the motorway

The Jaguar feels right at home on the motorway. On standard suspension the ride can be a bit busy at low speeds, but it smoothes out as speeds rise.

Petrol is in stronger demand than diesel these days, but we’d still recommend looking at diesel if you do a lot of motorway miles. The D200 diesel has 204hp, so there’s plenty of power in reserve for a quick burst of acceleration. But it’s very economical, too. For most drivers the rear-wheel-drive model is best, as the four-wheel drive isn’t as fuel efficient. Noise isn’t a massive issue, but you will hear a diesel-y chatter at lower speeds. 

The petrols will get through fuel a lot more quickly than the diesel, but they’re a little quicker providing you rev the engine hard.  Whichever XF you choose, this is a comfortable and swift motorway car. The road noise kicked up by models with large alloy wheels is our only real complaint.

On a twisty road

Along with the way it looks, this is why you choose an XF over a German executive saloon – it’s an absolute pleasure to drive on a twisty country road.

Jaguar’s engineers have found a near-perfect balance with the XF’s suspension. It’s compliant enough to keep passengers comfortable on a bumpy B-road, but taut enough for handling that betters some sports cars. The XF flows down a favourite B-road with poise and purpose.

The rear-wheel-drive cars are all most of us need, but being able to choose the P300 Sport 300hp four-wheel-drive version is a definite plus if you live out in a part of the country where bad road conditions are commonplace. Plus, it’s the fastest and most fun-to-drive version of the XF.

Lots of space, unless you need to sit three in the back

Getting comfortable in the Jaguar XF shouldn’t be a problem. If you’re in the driver’s seat (and why would you want to sit anywhere else?) you have 12-way electrical adjustment for the seat, with a memory function to store your favourite position. HSE models have even more adjustment, with 16-way movement of the driver’s seat. These high-spec cars provide the same 16-way adjustments for the front-seat passenger as well. Only the basic R-Dynamic S model lacks front seat heaters (which in fairness does seem a bit stingy these days). 

As you’d expect, the steering wheel moves in and out as well as up and down. If you are really tall then you might wish you could move the wheel out a bit further, but we’re being very picky. The driver’s seat lines up neatly with the pedals and wheels, so you can sit straight rather than at a slight angle.

The glovebox is a decent size (it’s lockable if you want to keep any valuables inside), and there’s a handy shelf ahead of the gear lever that will take a set of keys or a mobile. Optionally, this tray doubles as a wireless charging pad for your smartphone.

The door bins aren’t the biggest, though. Being quite shallow and narrow, a large bottle of water is a bit of a squeeze.

Space in the back seats

Rear-seat space is generous for two, with lots of legroom and decent headroom, despite the sloping roofline. Adults of six-feet tall or more should be comfy.

The XF isn’t quite as accommodating of three in the back. Shoulder room is fairly tight, and the centre of the rear bench is raised up higher than the seats on either side. There’s not a lot of room for the feet of whoever is sat in the middle, either, as the transmission tunnel gets in the way.

There are air vents between the front seats to keep rear-seat passengers at a comfortable temperature, and ISOFIX mounting points for fitting child seats to the outer rear seats.

Boot Space:

On paper, the XF has similar boot space — 540 litres — to the likes of the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series. However, the narrow opening is a pain if you want to load up with bulky items like golf clubs or pushchairs. If that’s going to get on your nerves then maybe the XF Sportbrake (Jag-speak for estate) will suit you better than the saloon.

On the other hand, the XF’s rear seats split and fold in three parts, rather than the more usual two. This gives extra flexibility and makes it easy to carry long and bulky loads while still finding space for a couple of passengers in the back.

Stylish and high-tech, but not quite as well finished as an Audi or Mercedes

Jaguar’s update for the XF in 2021 focused closely on the cabin. Until then, the Jag had lagged behind the best executive saloons in terms of finish and infotainment. Today’s car is much improved, although still half a step behind the best German execs for luxury and in-car tech.

The cabin has a more upmarket look and feel than it used to, with plusher soft-touch plastics. The buttons and switches are well damped, too, without the brittle, clicky feel you get in cheaper cars.

However, the leather fitted to entry-level models doesn’t feel as expensive as it should do. The Windsor leather upholstery in the R-Dynamic HSE is much better.

While you can still find fault with the finish if you look closely, there’s no denying the dashboard is very stylish. The three-spoke steering wheel is suitably sporty, and there’s real showroom appeal to the 11.4-inch Pivi infotainment system. To up the wow-factor further, spec the technology pack with its digital instruments and head-up display.

The infotainment looks stunning, with bright colours and a crisp and clear display. It’s quick to respond, too, with none of the lag you get with some systems.

As touchscreens go, it’s reasonably easy to use on the move, thanks to shortcut buttons that help you select the right menu quickly. However, you do still need to take your eyes from the road a little longer than you would if Jag used a physical rotary controller like the one you’d find in a BMW with iDrive.

If you prefer, you can connect your phone using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Whether you own an Apple or an Android phone, the connection is wireless.

The air conditioning controls are beneath the touchscreen, which is great. We much prefer having proper knobs and buttons for tweaking the fan speed and temperature. It’s a lot easier than wading through infotainment menus while you are driving.

Choose the XF as your next car, and there’s no all-electric or plug-in hybrid option. So if you’re hoping for a low-emission option to compare against the BMW 530e or the Mercedes E300e, you’re going to be disappointed.

It goes against fashion, but the best bet for excellent fuel economy and low emissions is the diesel. There’s just one diesel engine, the D200. Economy and carbon dioxide output varies with the exact specification, but the best you can hope for is 56.6mpg and 131g/km of CO2.

Opting for four-wheel drive adds some weight and complexity, so these models are slightly less efficient. Reckon on 49.8mpg and 149g/km from the most frugal four-wheel drive spec.

Go for a petrol, and the best economy and emissions figures are produced by the P250 rather than the more powerful P300. Reckon on 34.6mpg and 186g/km of CO2 according to the official figures. That’s quite a thirst, although in fairness even the entry-level petrol XF is a quick car. The hottest P300 Sport has fuel economy of just 32.8mpg and 196g/km CO2 emissions, so it’s going to be quite pricey to run, but it does have four-wheel drive. Bear in mind that the XF Sportbrake Estate will have slightly higher emissions and slightly worse fuel economy, model for model. 

One big advantage the XF has is its low purchase price. Only the top-spec R-Dynamic HSE and the P300 Sport have prices above £40,000 so VED road tax is considerably more affordable than it would be for an equivalent German model, none of which have prices of less than £40,000. 

The XF was last tested by Euro NCAP’s safety experts in 2015. It scored the maximum five stars, although the tests have been toughened up since so it doesn’t necessarily follow that the Jaguar would score five stars today. We’re not saying it wouldn’t, but you can’t directly compare an old rating with the latest test results.

Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking. This warns the driver if a collision is about to happen and will apply the brakes if they don’t react. The Jaguar’s system is one of the more sophisticated types that can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as other vehicles.

Security features include a tracking device with a 12-month subscription.

Jaguar doesn’t tend to cover itself in glory when it comes to reliability. If you’re being polite, Jag’s results are mixed.

The XF hasn’t done anything to turn that around, with glitchy sat nav and infotainment among the problems. However, you’re more likely to experience an annoying fault than a major problem that will leave you stranded at the roadside – these are rare. Jaguar has done well in the most recent Auto Express Driver Power Survey though, with a 9th place finish (out of 33 brands) which suggests that owners are happy enough with the overall reliability Jag offers, and willing to forgive occasional lapses. 

The Jaguar comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. That matches the length of cover you’d get from BMW, and beats Audi’s warranty, which is restricted to 60,000 miles in year three.