Jaguar XF (2015-2019) Review and Prices

Cars are like celebrities. No, really. When an attractive-looking celebrity feels the need to go under the knife, too often the first reaction is: ‘What have you done that for?’. So it is with car facelifts, which are sometimes clumsy, and dilute what made the car stylish in the first place. So, Jag had to get the tweaks right with the XF, which was already a bit of a stunner.

Unsurprisingly, the company hasn’t done a hatchet job on the looks, with the mild changes mainly comprising revised lights and bumpers. There are bigger changes under the skin, however.

There’s one diesel, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor that now has mild-hybrid assistance. It generates 204hp and does an official 57.2mpg.

There are two petrols, both of which are turbocharged 2.0-litre units. One develops 250hp and drives the rear wheels, while the other generates 300hp and drives all four wheels.

The 250hp motor emits 181g/km of CO2 and covers the 0-60mph dash in 6.5 seconds, while the 300hp models does the 0-60mph sprint in 5.8 seconds and emits 194g/km.

Living in the XF would be no real hardship. The long wheelbase means interior space is good, while the interior fixtures and fittings will make any abode – short of the Queen’s residence – seem a little low-rent.

It might not be the rolling techfest that the Mercedes E-Class is or, for that matter, be quite as well built, but the new Pivi Pro infotainment system promises crisp graphics and laser-fast calculation speeds, and you don’t need to be a member of Mensa to program it.

Equipment levels cover the basics expected of this class, so all models come with sat-nav, Bi-Xenon headlights, and a leather interior, while the car’s electric power steering (it used to be hydraulic) brings optional driver aids to the fore, including lane-keep assist and perpendicular auto parking.

If you want the best-driving big executive car then you don’t want a BMW 5 Series, you want this

With mid-sized executive saloons seemingly getting ever more complex, the Jaguar XF makes for a refreshing change. People who enjoy setting up their car to the nth degree will no doubt miss the adjustability offered by rivals, but those willing to put their trust in Jaguar will not be disappointed.

The Jaguar XF is the best-driving car in its class and one of the best looking, while the cabin space means there’s now no practical reason not to choose it. The changes may not look like much in the metal but, in practice, they’re enough to put the XF near the top of the class.