2020 Jaguar XF

Jag is exceedingly rumoured executive sedan who was ruling the market even before the XF was conceived in 2007, to be specific the Audi A6 and the BMW 540i. The XF is estimated lesser than those two at just $54,285 and goes as far as possible up to $63,195. How about we see whether it can deal with the challenge. Jaguar has standardized features like Android Auto and Apple Car Play in the XF and refreshed the Infotainment system as well. You do get additional safety features as standard and new colour schemes.

Jaguar has revised the trim lineup for the 2020 XF and has introduced changes to the same. The XF now gets a new Checkered Flag trim and a list of additional features as standard. The 25t trims of the New XF get a 2.0L Turbocharged 247hp motor while the 30t trim gets a 296hp motor respectively. The Top of the Line S trim gets a 3.0L Supercharged V6 that belts out 380hp. All the trims, except for the Checkered Flag and the S, get an option of RWD while the trims mentioned here, are just available in the AWD configuration only.

Which Trim to buy?

The Prestige Trim in the 30t configuration makes the best sense, courtesy of its decently powerful motor and a good set of creature comforts. With Apple Car Play and Android Auto coming in standard across the range, we do feel that the 30t trim is the most VFM trim of the lot.

All the trims are loaded with a decent number of creature comforts and tech gizmos but the trim to place your money on would have to be the XF Prestige as it has all the features of XF Premium and a couple of much-needed extras such as the 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and front and rear park assist. You don’t have to break the bank here either at a reasonable $57,145.

The Brits have nailed it when it comes to the performance aspect of the XF and is one of the reasons why it is a better performance sedan when compared to the Audi A6. The 2.0L 247hp Turbocharged unit can be found doing duty in the base premium trim and the prestige trim. Customers going for the Prestige trim, also have the option of going for a much powerful iteration of the 2.0L unit that belts out 296hp and 295lbs.-ft. Of torque. The same 296hp unit can be found doing duty on the All-New Checkered Flag trim as well. The case is similar when it comes to the net torque produced. The XF makes 332 lb-ft of torque which is more than the A6’s 325 lb-ft and is the same as the 540i’s net torque. The 5 series also makes 332 lb-ft despite being twin-turbocharged.

Speaking of the Top of the Line XF S, Jaguar has embodied a 3.0L Supercharged V6 unit for the same that delivers a massive 380hp and 332 lbs.-ft. Of torque. As expected, this engine is the most fun to drive among all the Motors on offer and due to this, the XF S is offered only with an AWD configuration, like the Checkered Flag trim.

Common to all these is an Eight-Speed ZF 8HP70 transmission that is slick in shifting gears and offers very little transmission lag. Gear shifts mostly smooth and precise and there is very little, to complain about the same. Pitching the Jaguar against its rivals and you will find that it's way ahead of all its rivals by quite some margin, in terms of power figures. In the torque department, however, its the Audi that takes top honours.

How fast is it?

The 0-60mph timings show significant improvement from the previous generation XFs as it reaches 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.0 seconds. The quarter-mile run is completed in just 13.3 seconds which is also the same as the 540i and is a lot quicker than Audi’s 13.8-second run. As discussed previously, the XF focuses more on comfort rather than performance and that is evident, with the Jag’s performance figures. 

Despite having a powerful motor underneath its hood in the top trim, the Jag is the slowest among all its adversaries, in terms of the 0-60 figures. However, the Jag manages to redeem itself in the Quarter mile run by being the fastest of the lot, marginally edging out the Bimmer.

How well does it ride and handle?

Although the folks at Jaguar have focused primarily on performance this time, the ride offered is as refined as possible and will live up to the expectations of luxury car buyers who are usually very hard to please. The steering feedback is adequate and does a great job of inducing high levels of driver confidence on any type of road that faces this new Jag. The new Jaguar XF has phenomenal driving dynamics for an executive saloon of its kind due to a number of technical improvements such as the 50-50 weight distribution, the lightweight aluminium chassis and a modern torque vectoring system that reduces any amount of understeer on corners. Both AWD and RWD drivetrains of the XF handle well on any road condition.

The Jaguar XF offers one of the most natural steering balance in any midsize luxury sedan. But while the sport suspension in s and s sport trims promise more, they do not feel any different. Still, it's one of the best midsize luxury sedans to drive. Impressively, the XE suspension is compliant despite offering taut dynamics.

What about the Braking performance?

The 60-0 mph timings are pretty decent as it comes to a standstill from 60mph in 116 ft. The numbers here could’ve been improved considering that the Audi weighs a lot more than the XF and still manages to put up a shorter stopping distance. When we’re talking about Curb weight, the XF weighs in at 3870 lbs which is lighter than the A6.

 In the real world, the brakes aren’t spongy and squishy and offer a tactile and firm feel in the application. The BMW clearly will impress those who love to drive. It not only posted the best 0-60 time but also leads the segment with meaty brakes. Under a panic braking situation, the 530i can stop from 60 mph in 106ft.

Although Jaguar has paid a lot of attention to boost fuel economy with features such as the stop-start system which works well in traffic, it falls short of the A6 and the 540i as it delivers a combined MPG of 23 while the other two give better mpg combined.

On city drives, expect 20 MPG and 28 MPG on highways. Talking of the range, however, it’s the Jaguar that takes the lead with its massive fuel tank.

Jaguar have a rather well-appointed and modern, feels too subtle in comparison to its rivals and you’ll feel the same once you get into the XF. Sure, the materials used are top-notch with beautiful leather-wrapped on to everything you see contrasted by smooth piano black finishing on the dash and the door handles but it just looks like they didn’t spend enough time making it look appealing.

The XF can seat 5 passengers comfortably and can offer tons of refinement even in its hardcore ‘dynamic’ mode where the car comes alive and the exhaust opens up. Everything seems toned down and calm even in the 380 hp XF S which is no mean feat.

The broad, leather-clad seats in the XF provide great neck and thigh support in the front and the rear. The legroom and headroom provided in the back is sufficient but isn’t exactly generous once you find out that rival cars offer more in the spaciousness department.

Various Creature Comforts on offer?

Jaguar has been always famed for embodying a long plethora of creature comforts inside all of their cars and the XF sedan, is no different either. You have an endless list of features on offer on the inside of the Jag, some of which have been listed down below. 

• Automatic A/C with solar sensing, mist sensing, air filtration and dual temperature control for driver and front passenger with deployable vents
• JaguarDrive rotary gear selector
• Blue ambient interior lighting on the front and rear door signature lines and front and rear door release
• Auto-Dimming IRVM
• Front and rear electric windows with one-touch open/close and anti-trap
• Heated Rear Windows
• 14-way front seats with 12-way electric movements and 4-way power lumbar support
• Memory function with 3 settings for driver seat, exterior mirrors and steering wheel column
• Front passenger seat memory
• 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats
• Heated and Power Adjustable (Rake/Reach) Soft grain leather sport steering wheel with Jaguar Sequential Shift paddles and remote controls for audio, cruise control, Bluetooth wireless technology, and JaguarVoice.

How good is the Infotainment system?

The centre console has very few buttons as it is dominated by a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen that controls all the major audio/video operations. Jaguar has its very own version of the ‘Apple Car Play’ called the “In-control” app that is almost as good as the real thing but lacks finesse.

The infotainment screen provides a clear display and is also convenient to use from the driver’s point of view but takes longer to respond to commands, unlike rival systems. It comes equipped with tons of features like Adaptive cruise control, a dynamic vehicle setting layout that provides information on acceleration timings, g-forces while cornering, customizable steering feedback and alterable power delivery.

It offers crisp response and the UI layout is intuitive. You also get a cool heads-up unit and an 11 speaker Meridian premium surround sound system will keep the audiophiles happy.

• Meridian Sound System 380W with 11 speakers including 1 subwoofer
• Touch Pro – 10" capacitive Touchscreen display with controls for audio, climate control, Bluetooth and navigation*
• Physical dials with 5" full-colour TFT-LCD display
• USB/iPod Connectivity with HD Radio
• Dynamic Volume Control
• Apple Car Play and Android Auto with SiriusXM satellite radio
• Wi-Fi Hotspot – 4G Hotspot – includes 3GB or 3 months (whichever comes first) complimentary data subscription

How much Cargo can you carry in the XF?

The Jaguar gets the boot volume of 17.8 cubic feet which is best among all its rivals. The Audi A6 has the worst boot space among its rivals at just 13.1 cubic feet. Despite a capacious boot, the high lift-over height makes loading the luggage inconvenient.

What furthers adds to the Jaguar’s cause is the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats that elevates the cargo space for when you need to pack in some more luggage.

However, when you pit the Jag against its adversaries, you will find that the Jag doesn't fare as badly as one would have thought. In fact, it beats the Ultra-Practical Audi A6 in terms of the Cargo area and falls marginally short of the Bimmer's space on offer.

Speaking of the design, you have the traditional Jaguar family front grille upfront. However, the LED headlights and the DRL's adds purpose and sleekness to the overall front end. There are sharp body lines on the hood and around the doors of the Jag, making it feel both classy and sporty at the same time. At the rear end, you will see some F-Type elements with the Taillights, seeming to get their inspiration from the same.

The Jaguar is the lightest car among the rivals weighing just over 3604 lbs. However, at 195.0-inch, it’s also the longest – lightweight construction and modern engineering. The LED accent lighting and the vents on the front bumper adds a hint of sportiness.

The rapid acceleration of the XF is a result of Jaguar’s newly developed aluminium chassis is 265 lbs lighter than the previous model and their obsession with going minimalist to reduce as much weight as possible. Another interesting fact that contributes to the acceleration figures is that Jaguar claims the body panels weigh only a meagre 13 lbs.

In terms of wheelbase, the XF is longer than the A6 at 116.5 inches but falls short of the 5 series by the smallest of margins. The XF is the least heavy of the bunch, owing to the plenty of aluminum being used in making the XF. 

Drool-worthy features on the Outside?

Jaguar has ensured that you don't fall behind, listing the long list of exterior features that the Jag has on offer, when you are having a coffee table discussion with your friends or family members. These features aren't mere gimmicks but add a lot of function to the sedan as well. Here goes a list of few of those features

• Lightweight Aluminum Architecture
• Adaptive Front LED Headlights with Signature “J” LED DRL’s and Headlamp washers
• F-Type inspired LED Brake Lights
• 20” Alloy Wheels
• Keyless Entry
• Body-Coloured Rear Spoiler
• One-Touch Tilt/Slide Panoramic Roof
• Exterior mirrors – body-colored, power-folding, electrically adjustable with memory function, heated, auto-dimming with puddle lights and clear side turn indicators

This British executive saloon is packed with safety features that are nothing short of impressive. ‘Autonomous Emergency Braking’ is one such system that warns the driver and applies total braking force in case he/she has failed to do so in a critical driving situation. ‘Lane Departure Warning’ and ‘Lane Keep Assist’ will together work towards preventing the driver from drifting into another lane by visual warnings or by applying moderated counter steering to get the car back into the correct lane.

The other note-worthy features include

• Torque Vectoring and Hill Start Assistant
• Rear Air Suspension with Adaptive Dynamics
• Passive Front Head Restraints
• Dual-stage front airbags and seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants and Full-length side-impact curtain airbags for front and rear 
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Cornering Brake Control and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Trac DSC Mode
• Jaguar Smart Key System with an emergency blade – provide remote locking/ unlocking, access to the trunk and activate a panic alarm
• Valet function for the glove box and trunk security

Jaguar XF vs Audi A6

The A6 Sedan was introduced in 1994 as the successor to the infamous Audi 100. Since then; it has always been a force to be reckoned with when it comes to executive saloons. The A6 combines the driving dynamics of a sports car and the practicality of a large German saloon and as it is one of the most luxury-focused Audis out there, the Jag does have a lot of things to worry about.

The 3.0 V6 in the Audi is a phenomenal engine even though it is a couple of horses down on the XF. It certainly is more fuel-efficient and reliable. All the other engine choices of the A6 such as the 2.0 liter 4-cylinder and the 2.8 liter V6 are just as great as the 3.0 liter and provide the required “oomph”. The 3.0 liter V6 variant pumps put 333 hp and a net torque of 325lb-ft and it propels the A6 to 60mph from a standstill in 5.1 seconds which may not be as quick as the XF but considering its weight, it isn’t bad.

Jaguar XF vs BMW 5 Series

Remember BMW’s tagline, “the ultimate driving machine”? This is the ultimate driving machine. The 5-series is the big dog that has kept on dominating the executive saloon game in terms of sales and driving dynamics ever since its inception in 1972.

While the Jaguar XF has focused on trying to increase power, torque and straight-line speed, the 5 series focuses on spreading that power onto the wheels in such a way that it inspires driver confidence like no other car out there. The bimmer possesses a 3.0 liter, turbocharged in-line 6-cylinder that pumps out 335 hp and a net torque of 332 lb-ft and it propels the 5-series to 60mph from a standstill in 4.9 seconds just like the XF.

With the 2020 XF, Jaguar has checked all the boxes that were missing from the 2019 version. You do get the Stylish Feel on the Outside and a Typical British feel, once inside the cabin of the XF. Despite the Not so High Quality of the Interiors, the long list of features and creature comforts will leave no complaints on the minds of the occupants of the Jag. Add to all these, a soft suspension and a superb noise insulation inside the Cabin and you have one of the best chauffeur driven cars in the segment. So, if you are in the market, looking to be driven while seated in the rear seat and don’t want to tackle the usual traffic, the 2020 Jaguar XF presents itself as a strong contender in that case.