![]() ![]() The S-type was a car you brought with your heart, not your head. As one of our team put it: ‘It steers like a big Focus.’ That’s the better Mk1 version, mind. The extra heft built into the Bavarian gives you a little more confidence when you push on, but give the Jaguar some time and you’ll discover an agile saloon that belies its size and weight. Step from a BMW into the XF and you’ll find the Jaguar’s steering a little on the light side. It never becomes tiresome though, and covers motorway miles with absolute ease. ![]() The XF is very focused, and the ride is quite firm. While a BMW, epecially in M Sport spec, fidgets over craggy British road surfaces, the Jagusr glides over the tarmac. Is the Jag up to the BMW’s standard dynamically?Īlmost. And it's cleaner (by a not inconsiderable 23g/km of CO2). No matter which way you cut it, the BMW wins on paper. It's quicker to 60mph (6.8 versus 7.7 seconds). The Jaguar musters 207bhp and 320lb ft - down 28bhp and 48lb ft, and the Bavarian is 116kg lighter. We've always liked the 2.7 V6, but its vital stats can't live with its most popular rival, the single turbo 3.0-litre diesel in the 5-series. The auto ‘box shifts very smoothly though, and only occasionally selects too high a gear at roundabouts. But if you load up with four bodies or compare it to the equivalent BMW or Merc diesel, it feels painfully slow. The 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 is deliciously smooth, very refined and day-to-day isn’t found wanting. There’s also a lack of space for the driver’s knees, while the touchscreen sat-nav is too complex to jump in and use without recourse to the manual. The swooping roofline means rear headroom is tight, and the cutouts in the back of the front seats are woefully inadequate for taller passengers. It feels like a cabin built for you, rather than one manufactured for the masses. There’s just a certain something about sitting in the XF’s cabin. The cruise control dial on the steering wheel is a joy to use, and is surely the way forward. At night you’re bathed in a soothing turquoise glow, much nicer than a harsh Germanic red. Select Drive via the gimmicky but great Jaguar Drive dial and waft away. Step inside, press the pulsing starter button and watch the air vents rotate open. But while the exterior might split public opinion, the interior will surely find universal appeal. ![]()
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