2016 Jaguar XF Review
Jaguar continues to struggle to find its place amid the highly polished German elite. Although the redesigned XF delivers exemplary ride and handling characteristics, several miscues mean this big cat comes across as not quite housebroken.
The engine has plenty of power on tap, catapulting our XF to 60 mph in a catlike 5.8 seconds. But the supercharged V6 often sounds like it’s choking on a hair ball rather than purring happily.
On the road, the XF’s handling makes it stand out from rivals. The Jag steers into corners with immediacy and feels engaging. It further demonstrated its athletic demeanor at our track. But it was hindered by tail slide in our avoidance maneuver.
The Jag lives up to its reputation for soaking up all manner of bumps, and the hushed cabin isolates occupants from road and wind noise. The firm front seats are supportive for long trips, although even average-sized adults will find the driving position more Savile Row slim-cut than off-the-rack generous. Rear room is snug for the class.
For a brand known for sitting-roomlike interiors, there is too much hard plastic in the plain cabin. The dated-looking touch screen responds slowly, and the A/C blows patches of humid air. Plus, forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking weren’t available on our $66,000 XF Prestige.
The XF is a viable alternative for buyers looking to Brexit from the German sedan dominance, but with ambience and ergonomic concessions.
Read the complete Jaguar XF road test.
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Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the December 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
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