Published: Wednesday, 9th June, 2010 5:00pm
XF Portfolio beats its Germans rivals
Pic by==: 97
The Jaguar name has always been synonymous with luxury performance cars, and a heritage rich in motor racing history. It's had its ups and downs too and some models, such as the X-Type, haven't done as well as had been hoped.
But Jaguar has always had a loyal following and more recently with cars like the XF, launched in 2008, and the amazing new XJ, which has just arrived, Jaguar are back on the map.
Recently the XF has benefited from a new range of more powerful diesel engines and increased specifications, including the Jaguar XF Portfolio powered by the superb 3.0 litre 275bhp diesel. Can the XF can really rival the likes of the segment benchmark, the new 5 Series BMW or the Mercedes E Class?
There are five engine options, two 3.0 litre diesels with power outputs of 240 and 275bhp and three petrol engines, a 3.0 litre V6 petrol, a 5.0 litre V8 385bhp and a 5.0 litre Supercharged V8 510bhp unit. Three trim levels are available - Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio. All models come with a six-speed sequential shift auto gearbox. No manual version is available.
This is one gorgeous looking car with striking, flowing almost coupe-like lines. There will be no mistaking this for anything but a Jaguar, yet the style is much more contemporary than other Jaguars, blasting this newcomer well and truly on to the 21st century stage. From almost every angle the car looks dynamic and purposeful and if the amount of admiring glances it drew during the road test are anything to go by, the XF is a real head-turner.
Some dyed in the wool Jaguar traditionalists will be surprised at just how the new interior manages to blend the contemporary with the traditional. Naturally there is still plenty of good old wood and leather, but Jaguar has successfully blended that with light alloys, blue halo effect lighting and a tiny gearshift that rises electronically to greet the driver to create one of the most beautiful and interesting car interiors of late.
The air vents even rotate electronically from closed to open when you press the start button, which looks really cool!
The cabin is beautifully crafted and is probably the best in this class, beating both the Mercedes and BMW. The materials are of the highest quality and the fit and finish beyond reproach. Quite honestly it is of a higher quality than that of the newly launched BMW 5 Series and more than matches the 2010 E-Class. I really cannot think of a car interior in this class that makes both driver and passengers feel so cosseted in such a sumptuous luxurious environment.
Standard equipment beats both its main German rival hands down. The Luxury specification is the starting point for XF ownership and is available with the 3.0-litre diesel or the 3.0-litre petrol engines. Highlights include eight-way adjustable leather trimmed seats, seven-inch colour touch-screen display, satellite navigation system, Bluetooth Telephone Connectivity, six-disc in-dash CD changer, rear parking aid camera, interior mood lighting, heated exterior mirrors with electric adjustment, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control and cruise control with automatic speed limiter. There is an built-in iPod and USB connection.
The Premium Luxury specification is available with the 3.0-litre diesel and the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines. In addition to the Luxury model's standard features, it offers highlights such as 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, heated windscreen, 10-way heated soft grain leather seats with lumbar adjust, driver's seat memory function and soft grain leather stitched and tailored instrument panel and door top rolls.
Specification
Buyers of the Portfolio specification can enjoy additional features such as active heated and cooled front seats, 20-inch Selena alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlamps with automatic levelling and headlamp washers, a superb Bowers and Wilkins 440 watt Dolby surround sound system.
Naturally there are a host of airbags, electronic driver aids such as DSC and so on.
Power for the XF Portfolio comes from a modified 3.0 litre 275bhp V6 twin turbo diesel. This is superb diesel is refined and quite frugal (8.8 litres per 100km over the test), while delivering great performance - 0-100kph in 7.1s and a top speed electronically limited to 240kmh.
Mated to the excellent six-speed sequential shift gearbox the combination is just perfect. Should the driver wish to change gear manually he or she can do so via the paddle shifts mounted behind the steering wheel. In auto mode this super gearbox does all the thinking for you and provides seamless up and downshifts throughout the rev range. One other aspect of this engine worth of note is the masses of torque available with bags of mid-range acceleration.
A Jaguar should always be a rewarding car to drive and the XF delivers in this area. The handling is agile and dynamic; it provides a sporting drive with razor sharp handling, powerful brakes and a beautifully weighted steering.
Driving the XF is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The car seems to have two personalities - use the paddle shifts, select sport mode and you have a large super saloon that proves agile and fast over all road surfaces. Select normal and auto and you can settle back in a luxurious motorway cruiser cosseted in a beautifully crafted cabin with little or no wind, road or engine noise to spoil the tranquil environment.
Jaguars of the past have attracted an older generation of driver. The XF is appealing to a younger one, someone who enjoys the class and quality offered by a Jaguar and also likes a modern contemporary feel. The XF covers both with an inspiring interior, a dynamic exterior and a price that makes some rivals look expensive.
The XF range starts with the Luxury 3.0 V6 twin turbo diesel at €52,995, the 3.0 litre 27 bhp Portfolio costs €70,495 and with that level of specification represents good value for money in this class.
The Jaguar XF is a better car than either the new BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E Class... praise indeed!
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