It’s been a
great week for Jaguar with the marque securing a first place ranking in the
2012 J.D. Power Survey – the UK’s renowned vehicle ownership satisfaction
survey. A stern test for all manufacturers it rates every aspect of vehicle
ownership including performance, quality, economy, reliability and dealer
service.
So it’s fair
to assume that if asked, Jaguar’s customers would happily recommend their XK,
XF or XJ to a colleague, friend or family member.
As the XF has
been with us for over four years you’d be forgiven for thinking that it has
slipped off some buyers radars. In this time new models from Lexus, BMW,
Mercedes and Audi have all been launched. With greater recognition among the
public and a broader selection of model variants they looked set to steal XF’s
limelight.
The results
from J.D. Power’s survey tell a different story. Far from being overshadowed,
XF has climbed 15 places in 12 months to win their ‘Executive Car of the Year’.
Jaguar’s
success lies in some clever, essential life cycle updates that allow XF to
remain not only competitive but to lead its class in many areas.
Tata’s
considerable investment has allowed Jaguar’s engineers and designers a greater
degree of artistic licence than they enjoyed under Ford. The result is this,
the updated XF Sedan. Chief among the changes is a reprofiled nose with
distinctive, feline-esque gazers encircled by daytime running lights and a new,
2.2 diesel engine available in two states of tune.
In
pre-facelift guise the car looked sleek and elegant but it’s frontal aspect was
the least successful design feature. Anonymously styled front lights could
easily have adorned any number of mid sized US sedans built locally and
designed for the home market. So successful is this redesign that it makes the
car appear more lithe and poised – desirable qualities for any large, sporting
vehicle.
While Jaguar
shares premium brand positioning with rivals from Japan and Germany there is a
disparity in its approach. Firstly, both exterior and interior designs are less
imposing than you’ll find from competitor vehicles. Striking and finely
crafted, XF’s interior combines metal, wood and leather to satisfy those who
aspire to both modern and traditional luxury experiences. As the gear shift
dial rises and the vents flip open to use, you’re reminded of those uber modern
drinks cabinets or stereos one might find at an exclusive private members club
or hotel. The type of devices so intelligently designed that you never tire of
using them.
And then
there’s the driving experience. Like its rivals XF can be hustled along at considerable
pace – it has the body control and damping to swallow up all manner of
undulations. But that’s not the billing of the SE specification model that I
tested. The wide tyre wall provides a soft, comfortable ride but as speeds
increase and you enter a tight turn mild understeer is felt.
Steering that
is light but always feelsome helps you to quickly bond with the car. Soon
you’re using the high mechanical grip and generous gobs of torque to send it
down each straight and through the bends. Little adjustment or effort is
needed.
Careering up
the straights with some fearsome undulations I realise how nonchalantly this
car switches between cruiser and bruiser. The engine’s power band is relatively
short but operate between about 2.5 and 5k and you’ll get sufficient shove. At
all revs the unit is impeccably refined and like the best of its breed adopts a
distant but gravelly snarl just before the gearbox changes up. The box slips
between its eight ratios almost imperceptibly, but the combination of a turbo
charged engine and high gearing means that you’re occasionally caught off boost
in a higher ratio than you’d like. You can either wait several seconds for the
turbo to activate (as the speed increases subtly) or for more urgent progress
further depress the throttle, prompting the box to hook up the previous gear
instantly.
Words and Photos by Josh Ross (www.http://joshsross.wordpress.com)
Technical Data
Price as tested: £32,950
Engine: 2.2 16v
163bhp - 0-62mph: 9.8 secs - Maximum Speed: 130mph -
Economy: 42.8mpg
(urban) –58.9mpg (extra-urban), 52.3mpg (combined) -Emissions: 149g/km
(Band F) - VED (12 months): £120
Dimensions: Length: 4961mm
- Width: 2053mm - Height: 1640mm - Wheelbase: 2909mm
*Data from
Jaguar UK
Verdict
Both
fleet and private buyers will quickly form an affinity with Jaguar’s new entry
level model. This is a far cry from the poor performing and lowly specced
premium vehicles that manufacturers once used to tempt buyers from their high
spec. mainstream cars. Jaguar has successfully updated one of its most talented
cars in decades, producing a refined, economical and elegant car that the
J.D.Power results indicate will be a joy to own.
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