It's a diesel... and you won't need a disguise.
Eric Barton gets to grips with the premium luxury Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 diesel
It's a bold person that takes a design swipe at the fundamentals of a marque that's got a pedigree as long as anyone in living memory can remember. Well, Jaguar has done just that. The new XF has in a sense, broken the Jaguar mould in that it's crept up to join the big boys by way of silhouette, delivery of quality... and at a price that's not scary at all.
The new shape and design features of the XF are a testament to the desire for change by the XF's designer, Ian Callum. I have to say it's been a long time coming.
The new XF is now much leaner and the old style retro lines of the S type have been dropped and kicked into touch to be replaced with a much purer, more modern look and feel. The XF isn't sleek; it's glossier than that ...it's lustrous. There's a slight sense of menace with the shape, which I think is no bad thing. After all, who wants to drive or be seen in car that's 'comfortable' or even 'frumpy'? The interior finish is extremely plush and dare I say, opulent. As you would expect, Jaguar have endeavoured to produce a wrap- round leather experience with the odd touches of burnished plastic. It's a combination that does actually work. You do feel very cosseted when sat at the wheel. The rear window is much more than a slit and easily provides good rear vision. All the controls are neatly placed with the innovative six -speed gear selector making its presence felt. The XF also includes the 'flappy paddle'manual gear option for the more energetic amongst you. The driving position was very comfortable and Jaguar being Jaguar, you're engulfed in a sea of sumptuous leather. Not unlike my front sitting room...only more luxurious.
Think of effortlessly gliding along the thoroughfares of The Cotswolds on something akin to gossamer on wheels and you'll be very near to the ride quality of the new XF diesel. You would easily be forgiven in thinking that this wasn't a serious lump of diesel power plant up the front end. Certainly, as with the XK, there's deftness about the XF's position, a solid muscle- enhanced surefootedness that I don't think will erode over time. Even with this new found direction, Jaguar hasn't forgotten its incredible engineering history. To me in a rather nostalgic way, there's a faintness of E-type here, a nudge of MK2 there.
Lurking under the new design lies something we have seen before. The XF's engines - three petrol units and the 3.0 -litre diesel which I tested here. Now reliability is a great thing and Jaguar has looked to other models in the range to provide this 'grunt and growl.' They knew that they already had a winner in terms of engine dependability and I think this went a long way to ease this development. Also, the six-speed automatic gearbox has been 'borrowed' from other models, while the suspension (double wishbones at the front, multi-link at the rear) is 'nicked' from the XK. Re-invent the wheel. Don't bother.
No need for massive change if the basics were right in the first place and can be adapted brilliantly. The XF is the largest in its class and this in itself is a contribution to ride quality. It simply provides a more stable platform.
The top speed is a respectable 143mph and the diesel variant returns a brilliant extra urban 37mpg. The 0-60mph is a reasonable 8.2 seconds and remember folks this is a diesel grand tourer, with a boot that'll take two full sets of golf clubs. So you see, size does matter and at an entry price of around £37K for the up-rated 3.0 litre who could moan? And if you want some more zip and grunt then do go for the extra performance variant on the 3.0 diesel which has an additional 35bhp. That may not seem much, but believe you me; it does make a significant difference when pulling away.
The handling is controlled and precise to say the least. The combination of this control and accuracy gives the XF an edge on any day on any British road. I think the XF would be ideal for that grand Scottish tour, the two- week break round Cornwall, or for even nipping onto Cheltenham for that bit of shopping or lunch. Is it fair enough to say that the XF leads the class in ride and handling? It does. In fact, this is the XF's finest achievement, but there are some surprises. The first is that the XF rides quite firmly below 30mph. However, the movement is never uncomfortable, and the XF still copes better with this than any of its rivals. At higher speeds the ride provides enough flex to keep you supported without any excessive wandering or the handling going 'light'. Another eye-opener comes in the corners. Previous Jaguars may have been extremely comfortable and capable, but perhaps not up to the cornering of a BMW. That changes with the XF. Sitting alongside the 5-series the XF has possibly more movement in the corners. It is however just as accurate and equally poised. This sense of control and balance makes the XF a real treat to drive.
This is a car to been seen in and will undoubtedly turn heads. So you can ditch the fake moustache and sunglasses, because you'll definitely want your best friends and enemies to see you in the new Jaguar XF.
The new Jaguar XF 3.0 diesel.... no disguise necessary.
Copyright Eric Barton 2009
