The Jaguar XF was a radical departure for Jaguar when it first went on sale in late 2007. Retro styling was out, replaced instead by a sleek, far more modern look.
Now, this first-generation XF has long been something of a raffish choice for those seeking a smart used luxury car at a reasonable price. The 2015-onwards, second-generation Jaguar XF follows in its footsteps offering arrestingly suave looks allied to a slick and rewarding driving experience.
A 2.7-litre diesel-engined model kicked off the range initially. However, the punchier 3.0-litre diesel engine that replaced it in mid-2009 was even better.
The next major change came in 2011, when Jaguar restyled the car, giving it more modern looking front and rear lights and a slightly classier interior. At the same time it added a 2.2-litre diesel engine, but while this is the most efficient engine in the range, it feels a little underpowered and still isn’t as easy on fuel as an equivalent BMW 5 Series is.
Originally, the most powerful XF was the supercharged 4.2-litre petrol SV8, but when the car was facelifted this was replaced with an R model that uses a 5.0-litre petrol V8 and produces more than 500bhp. Both V8s are naturally expensive to run, as is the 3.0-litre V6 petrol.
Jaguar went to town when deciding what should be fitted to the XF as standard. Sat-nav, climate control, electrically adjustable seats, a leather interior and parking sensors are all included on the lower-spec Luxury model, while the Premium Luxury also gets higher-quality seats, upgraded interior trim, larger alloys, keyless entry and powered folding mirrors. The 2.2-litre diesel is also available in a more basic SE specification.
Jaguar also managed to make it more fun to drive than the contemporary versions of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, as well as insulating passengers well from wind and road noise. True, the XF's ride has a firm edge to it, but it’s never overly uncomfortable.
The wow factor continues on the inside, where everything is backlit in cool blue, and starting the engine causes the air vents to power open and the gear selector to rise out of the centre console.
There's plenty of space in the front, but the sloping roofline and thinly padded rear seat base means this isn’t the most comfortable place to spend long journeys. Storage-wise, the boot is big enough for suitcases or golf bags, and the rear seats fold down for extra space.
If you're interested in finding a used Jaguar XF, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
Four adults will sit in comfort in the XF, with a good amount of head and leg room in both the front and rear of the cabin. In fact, the XF measures up slightly better than both a BMW 5 Series and Audi A7 in this respect. Three adults across the rear - as with many large executives - will be a squeeze, though.
Both the BMW and XF suffer worse boot access than an A7 due to their saloon body styles, but the XF's tighter than the BMW's when placed side-by-side. You'll fit a set of golf clubs, a large suitcase or folding pushchair in either, but the BMW's remains wider towards its rear to accept more beyond that. If you need more space, the XF's rear seats split 40/20/40 and fold almost flat to open up the cabin.
The driver will be able to get comfortable easily, thanks to a wide range of steering wheel and driver's seat adjustment, while lumbar adjustment is a standard feature. Forward visibility is very good, and even though the over the shoulder view isn't quite as wide-ranging due to the thick rear pillars, rear parking sensors come as standard.
The Jaguar XE's interior was a bit of a let down in terms of quality when compared with its direct German competition, and although the XF's feels suitably more plush, it's still a way behind the efforts from BMW, and particularly Audi. There are more scratchy plastics, cheaper feeling trims and its switchgear doesn't feel as solid. Even the tabs you pull to fold the rear seats look and feel underwhelming in comparison.
Jaguar infotainment system, although improved over the previous model's, still feels a way behind the likes of BMW's iDrive and even Audi's last-generation MMI that the A7 has to make do with. The XF's screen isn't as sharp and touching its onscreen buttons reveals it's less responsive than when using the rotary dials of the rivals systems.
Big diesel saloons make a whole heap of sense: big torque for cruising, decent mpg for range and enough bodywork to engineer out the usual thrumbly NVH [Noise, Vibration, Harshness] issues that a compression engine usually burps up. And right now it's impossible to ignore BMW's 535d when it comes to being the sportiest, most dynamic diesel saloon out there - it's the proverbial elephant in the diesel engine room.
Well, this time Jag isn't making any excuses - it's gone for the 535d's throat. The trouble is that the 2.7-litre V6 diesel was a hard act to follow. It wasn't as outright fast as the offerings from BMW, but made up for that with a usability and perfect match to the six-speed Getrag auto that meant you didn't care - it worked so well in synergy with itself. More of a thrill to drive a 530d fast for sure, more of a sense of contentment to own an XF.
Advertisement - Page continues below
But now the Jaguar XF 3.0D S [there'll be a ‘stock' 3.0D as well] has taken the big BMW engine on and is making serious noises. More torque, only slightly less power [the Jag makes 275bhp, the 535d 286bhp], and a 0-60mph time half-a-second quicker than the BMW. And it translates better than it sounds. A new ‘parallel sequential' turbocharging system means that the XF D delivers huge amounts of torque early and then stays online for a very long time - it really is a massively strong-feeling engine.
What that means is that you can overtake pretty much anything and make it stick - the car is indecently rapid when you get used to the slightly more loping stride. No, it isn't as dynamically focussed as the BMW, but it rides better and takes distance in a more thoughtful manner. Basically it'd be a better car to have for a long time, I reckon.
Best of all? This is the only car I think I might mis-fuel. It really is that quiet. You can hear the tappetty chatter of the new direct injection system [you can on pretty much all the DI cars that I've ever driven], but it isn't intrusive, and the fact that the new motor revs well, if short, means that you might honestly get it wrong at the pumps. Luckily there's a new widget in the fuel filler that stops you doing what the British police seem to do on a regular basis.
So is it good? Yes. Very. If you consider what the engineers set out to do, then they have achieved the target and then some. The XF 3.0D S surpasses expectation by some margin. Try one before you buy that BMW.
Advertisement - Page continues below
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Take one for a spin or order a brochure
Powered by
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox.
Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.
Is the Jaguar XF 3.0 D reliable?
In terms of failure, I believe the inlet manifolds are plastic and can split, there were some issues with bottom end bearings turning around [oddly doesn't seem to affect XFs much but well known on Landrovers] and of course the usual turbo things that affect all TDIs. But overall its a very reliable unit.
Is Jaguar F Pace 3.0 diesel reliable?
The 3.0 V6 diesel engine found in the F-Pace can suffer from crankshaft failure, this can range from spun main bearings starving the bottom end of oil to the crankshaft actually snapping. Sadly, this is a problem that this engine has been associated with since its introduction.
Who makes the engine is in the Jaguar XF 3.0 diesel?
The diesel engines are a product of the joint venture between Ford and Peugeot-Citroën.
How many miles will a Jaguar XF diesel last?
Most Jaguar vehicles will last for at least 150,000 miles, but there's a lot that a driver can do to push this number much higher. With regular oil replacement, belt changes, spark plug replacement, and other basic maintenance services, you can ensure that your Jaguar lasts for 200,000 miles or more.