Our Fleet Test Drive: Jaguar XF - Final Report
Date:
01 March 2010
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Author:
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Category: | Executive | P11D price: | £45,245 | Key rival: | BMW 5-series | |
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Accepting a Jaguar XF long-termer was in some ways a risky move for both myself and the car.
Anybody I've ever talked cars with would have been left in no doubt that, from my previous exposure to Jaguar's executive saloon, it's one of my favourite vehicles on sale, and probably the one car I'd choose to spend the next three years in if I had free reign of the UK market.
So, given that my opinion was already overwhelmingly positive, the Jaguar's job was to prove that prolonged exposure enhances the initial favourable impressions. And it managed it.
The XF, which has now been around for nearly two years, still attracts attention in a way BMW's 5-series or the Audi A6 could only dream of. It's the prettiest car in its class by a mile and the interior quality, design and innovation is peerless. To drive, it's not too far off the best-handling car in the sector, BMW's 5-series, but is as smooth and comfortable as any of its rivals. The only quibbles are below average rear space and usable boot space [1], and fuel consumption that hovered only in the low 30s, which meant plenty of refills [2]. With a 42.0mpg official fuel figure I was maybe hoping for better, and the top figure for a tank, achieved on a run to Merseyside, was only 35.1mpg. The 3.0-litre diesel is, though, brilliant, in both refinement and performance terms. Meanwhile, the touch-screen system could do with a couple of short-cut buttons to save so many presses between climate, navigation, audio and phone functions [3].
In the previous report I mentioned disappointing service from my local dealer. I've since had a lengthy chat with the manager who apologised and has pledged to investigate what happened. Unfortunately, the car's time with us ended before I had a chance to try again to see if my unsatisfactory experience was a one-off. Maybe if we run another Jaguar in the future we'll find out.
Our car's extravagant specification was the result of taking it from stock to speed delivery. However, Jaguar has gone down the route of generally better-equipping cars than its German premium rivals at all trim levels, so that's worth taking into account rather than purely the pre-option P11D price.
The XF leaves us with an already supreme reputation enhanced. It may not be the cheapest executive saloon to buy or fuel, but in terms of desirability, class and all-round ability, it's a winner.
Jaguar XF 3.0 D Sport Portfolio | Mileage | 14,138 | Claimed combined consumption | 42.0mpg | Our average consumption | 32.4mpg | P11D price | £45,245 | Model price range | £29,990-£62,055 | CO2 (tax) | 179g/km/26% | BIK 20/40% per month | £196/£392 | Service interval | 16,000mls | Insurance | group 18 | Warranty | 3yrs/Unlimited mls | Boot space (min/max) | 500/963 litres | Engine size/power | 2993cc/275PS | Top speed/0-62mph | 155mph/6.4secs | Why we’re running it | To see if XF can live upto its promise daily | Positive | Looks, interior, engine, drive | Negative | Fuel economy, slight RV fall |
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