2009 Jaguar XF Road Test Review
XF Photos
For as long as I can remember, Jaguar has either offered up a classic oval grille for its sporty cars or a chromed waterfall for its sedans. OK, there was the horizontal opening of the mid-‘70s through late-‘80s XJS and the wire mesh inserts for more recent XJRs, but that’s about it. Same goes for the headlights. They were either four circular lenses, completely rectangular bulbs (that only lasted for a short stint, thank goodness) or variations on the oval originated by the beautiful E-Type. Critics call Lexus conservative, but really, Jaguar makes the Japanese brand seem radical in comparison, as it hasn’t even been willing stray all that far from its now classic Series III XJ body style for its flagship XJ model, and even when introducing the midsize S-Type back in 1998, reverted to a completely retro design.
That’s why the new XF is so important. When Jaguar introduced the completely revised 2004 XJ five years ago, I was there at the Detroit auto show trying to figure out which one was the new car and which the outgoing model. Scratching my head I wondered why Jaguar went to so much trouble reworking the car with an all-aluminum structure and body panels, completely revised electronics, and the list goes on, if they didn’t change the body style enough to let people know that it was new? I certainly didn’t get it, and I’m an ex-XJ Sovereign owner, and it seems that the market didn’t get it either.
Jaguar won’t make that mistake twice. The XF is something completely new. Just look at it. Whether you like its squarish chrome mesh grille and freeform ovoid headlamps or not, that’s OK, because enough prospective buyers will fall head over heels for the new design and have to take one home that it’ll be successful. If it’s not to your liking, the fact is that you probably didn’t buy the old S-Type anyway, so it’s not like Jaguar will be losing your business. If you happened to have owned one of the older cars or still do, and are lamenting the move from classic to modern, take heart in what I have to say: the new XF is so much better than your old car that the design will certainly grow on you.
Actually, the XF is so good that I could see BMW and Mercedes-Benz buyers moving over to give Jaguar a try. The XF’s sleek lines and rich detailing could pull in some premium midsize buyers who’ve gotten bored with Teutonic severity; let’s face it, the current 5-Series is hardly the most beloved of BMWs to ever hit the road and Merc’s E-Class is looking more than a bit dated. Climb inside the XF and it sends these comparably drab Germans on the walk of shame.
Clean, uncluttered and quite beautiful are words that can describe the XF’s interior, although really, this is one of those times a picture is worth more than anything I have to say about it. My driver dropped the car off in the office parking lot during the day, and being one of those late nights our wives nag us about it was dark when I fumbled my way outside to go home. No need to search for keys, as all that was need was a tug on the handle to unlock and open the door in one fluid movement, before sliding into the soft leather driver’s seat, a delicate glow of ambient lights gradually brightening all around me, shedding light on the cream-colored hides, soft-touch, low-sheen plastics, tastefully applied wood trim and brushed aluminum detailing enough to give me one of those “ahhh” experiences that hardly ever happen anymore, in cars at least. Pressing the lower console-mounted START button initiated what can only be described as an electronic ballet of sorts, with the unusual yet elegant rotating gear selector rising from its flush-mounted console housing and four textured aluminum vent covers pivoting around to expose nicely detailed louvers underneath, a tiny chromed JAGUAR embossed actuator at the center of each letting me know that something very special just happened. Then the moment is gone and the overhead lights gradually fade to black, leaving blue ambient lighting and bolder blue backlit dash illumination to guide me through the dark.
And guide it does. The XF feels like a much more experienced road companion than its mere months of availability intimate, the obvious result of a determined brand pulling out all the stops to make this all-important car as brilliant as humanly and mechanically possible. Its ride is sublime, truly Jaguar-like in the traditional sense, seeming to flatten bumps, dips and other road surface imperfections no matter the speed of travel. It’s a mature car, not trying to overwhelm with cornering prowess or zero to sixty thrills, but rather it’s capable enough through the curves for spirited driving while plenty powerful to put a smile on your face when passing less motivated traffic.
Its real numbers are good enough to impress, just the same, with my “base” XF sporting a 300-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 with 310 lb-ft of torque, a sporty rumble emanating from the twin rear pipes at full throttle yet hushed at idle and when driving at more moderate speeds, just like a luxury car should be. If you want more, Jaguar makes a 420-horsepower XF Supercharged that’ll blow the doors off just about anything else you can get in this class for the same coin, but really, try the regular XF first as I think you’ll find it more than adequate. There are fuel savings with the naturally aspirated engine too, plus you might just find its more relaxed demeanor will save you the cost and inconvenience of speeding tickets. Then again, it’s fast enough to achieve double- or even triple-posted speeds, or so I’m told, so watch the speedometer as it’ll creep up on you without notice.
Yes, it’s that smooth and quiet inside, the seats are that comfortable and the tunes from its audio system with integrated iPod connection, aux jack and Sirius satellite radio are that good, you’ll be easily distracted. I found myself playing with the touch-sensitive switches all the time, from the overhead lights that just need the warmth of a finger to switch on, to the little silver dot on the horizontal wood strip to the right of the center stack, that when touched opens the glove box.
Also tantalizing to the fingers, the XF’s ZF six-speed automatic gearbox sports paddle-shifters, and while I prefer mine stuck to the column at 9 and 3 o’clock instead of turning with the wheel, these are a heck of a lot better than none at all. They connect through to a quick-shifting transmission that will rev right to redline if you twist the console-mounted dial all the way to the right, into the “S” position for sport mode, making the car feel racier for sure. The engine snarls and pulls its mass at a fairly rapid rate, although its luxury car bias is made pretty clear when attempting to take to the corners with any sort of aggression.
It doesn’t benefit from the track mode the supercharged version gets, so traction and stability control is either on or off, and when off it slides its tail around happily if you’re into that sort of thing. It also tends to push a little at the front, mind you, so make sure you have the skill to bring this rather hefty car back under control if you plan on playing without the electronic nanny looking over your shoulder, as its body roll and whip-like transitional response could make things uncomfortable if you happen to hit a divot or bump while sliding sideways. Plenty of fun for the initiated though… he-he. But let’s set one thing straight. The regular XF is not even trying to go up against the super-sedan segment. It’s simply not its purpose. That’s the job of the supercharged car, whereas the four-door in these photos wants to seduce you with soft curves and supple skins.
And that it does. I’ve often admitted to being softer around the edges than I used to be, and therefore I tend to gravitate towards cars that deliver more luxury than sport. This is why the XF works for me, and while the stunning interior and sophisticated electronics that wowed my family, friends and neighbors might produce less excitement as the months and years of ownership wore on, its inherent goodness as a luxury car would still be there, day in and day out.
It features all of the expect luxury accoutrements along with those already mentioned that thrill and titillate, such as a seven-inch touch-screen display, iPod integration and Bluetooth connectivity with its standard stereo, and a proximity sensing keyless start system all in the standard XF Luxury model, while a heated windshield and heated steering wheel can be had for a little more investment. My XF Premium Luxury example sported all of that and more, including navigation with a very clear backup camera, 19-inch wheels, softer grain leather seats, and bi-xenon headlamps standard with the upgrade, while Jaguar had added on a few extras such as a 13-speaker, 440-watt Bowers and Wilkins audio system with a six-disc in-dash CD player, brilliant by the way, as well as a front parking sensor, and a powered sun shade for the rear window. The XF can also be had with active ventilated climate controlled front seats, a blind spot monitoring system, adaptive cruise control and 20-inch wheels.
I didn’t spend as much time in back of this tester as I did in the example parked in the restaurant portion of Jaguar’s Frankfurt auto show stand, although a moment to refresh the memory reminded me that it’s not quite as accommodating as the majority of its rivals, at least as far as rear headroom goes; yes, there’s a price paid for its beautifully swept roofline. Then again it’s a price well worth it for me, anyway.
As I walk from my driveway towards the front door and glance back at the XF’s beautiful tail end design, looking more like an Aston Martin than anything that can be purchased for anywhere near its sub-$50k price point, I feel like I’ve truly arrived. Sure a BMW or Mercedes will make you feel important, but the Jaguar XF somehow manages to transcend the mainstream premium class into rarified exotic territory, wowing passersby with an exclusive image all its own. Certainly Jaguar will have no trouble selling this car.
Recently Added To Our Network
| 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury | Cherry Hill, NJ | Price: $39,900 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury | Woburn, MA | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury | Minneapolis, MN | Price: $44,500 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged | Dallas, TX | Price: $49,488 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury | Colorado Springs, CO | Price: $49,625 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged | Colorado Springs, CO | Price: $53,975 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Luxury | Colorado Springs, CO | Price: $44,435 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged | Chattanooga, TN | Price: $48,500 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Luxury | Feasterville Trevose, PA | Price: $42,995 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Luxury | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Price: $44,500 | |
| 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged | Duluth, GA | Price: $50,777 | |
| 2010 Jaguar XF Premium | Cherry Hill, NJ | Price: $53,675 | |
| 2010 Jaguar XF Premium | Cherry Hill, NJ | Price: $55,735 |