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Jaguar XF 3.0 litre diesel S road test report

3.0 litre diesel S

Weighed down with a multitude of fully deserved awards the executive-sized Jaguar XF range has been revised for its 2010MY; out goes the 2.7 litre diesel and 4.2 litre petrol engines replaced with two closely related 3.0 litre diesels and three petrol options. Have the engineers at Jaguar managed to improve upon what is already been talked about as a classic? The answer is an overwhelming yes; with the changes to the range not merely superficial alternations but fundamental improvements to what is already an exciting package.

Road Test Reports Says 5 star rating
A front-facing image of the Jaguar XF 3.0 litre diesel S

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RICHARD SAYS

Performance Performance - 5 stars

The 3.0 litre diesel S driven has a brand new third generation AJ – V6D 600 engine at its heart which not only significantly improves upon the outgoing 2.7l diesel, and by significant we are talking over a 30% increase in power and torque (275hp and 600Nm) but the clever engineers have also achieved this and improved fuel economy (official combined mpg figure of 42.0mpg) AND reduced CO2 emissions to 179g/km. Happily, performance is exceptional with plenty of power available to those wishing to use it, equally the engine is perfectly happy cruising along at a more leisurely pace. Coupled to the engine is a new six-speed automatic transmission which delivers ultra smooth gear changes, or allows the driver to over ride at will using the paddles located behind the steering wheel. Throwing yet further impressive statistics merely confirm the cars excellence in performance, with a top speed limited to 155mph and an ability to hit 60mph from a stationary start in only 5.9 seconds the Jaguar XF makes for an excellent long distance cruiser capable of effortless overtaking power all delivered easily and simply using that right foot of yours. Final mention goes to the noise or lack of, you’ll be hard pressed to remember that it’s an oil burner under the large, gleaming bonnet.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

With the Jaguar XF so easy to drive; the automatic gearbox is a marvel and rarely does the driver feel compelled to over ride its choice of gear by using the paddles, it leaves more brain power and time to digest the other aspects of driving. For this new revision, the engineers have taken the opportunity to further strengthen the car’s body shell – with a new rear subframe and the addition of a boot cross-brace improving the car’s poise on the road. Driving around the leafy, winding country lanes of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire gave the handling a solid test, it might be a large, executive car but it is thrilling to drive, holding the road without any hint of roll while the suspension takes care in soaking up any lumps and bumps with the minimum of fuss.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

As you will have read, under the bonnet has seen major changes, but that isn’t the end of the story concerning alterations, with the big cat now sporting new door mirrors incorporating LED side repeaters and a diesel mis-fuelling service. Slotting in above the Premium Luxury specification is the new top-of-the-range ‘Portfolio’, which includes new 20” Senta alloy wheels, ventilated heated and cooled front seats capable of 192 different positions (!), and contrast stitching which adds a further level of refinement and sheen onto the usual Jaguar luxury – it might not be quite Bentley or Rolls territory but it begins to feel like a genuine level of bespoke customisation, which is all the rage.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

With Jaguar not providing Euro NCAP with the cars to smash up in the name of crash safety, it’s difficult to compare against rivals, however reading through the exhaustive list of safety equipment fitted on the car it would be fair to say that occupants of the vehicle should be well protected in the event of a smash. Emergency Brake Assist comes as standard across the range, however this can be taken further with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) (optional extra at just shy of £1000) which contains Advanced Emergency Brake Assist which uses the ACC radar to predict the likely outcome of a crash and priming the Emergency Brake Assist before the driver has probably realised the impending crash! Front, side and curtain airbags all come as standard, as does perimeter alarm security system and immobiliser.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

Aimed squarely at the executive buyer the XF comfortably seats 4 adults, with plenty of room in the front. In the rear the tapering roofline has resulted in a little less head space for taller people but is not something which would be a deal breaker. Boot capacity is a respectable 500 litres (slightly less than the 5-series’ 520 litres) and with the back seats down this takes the capacity up to 963 litres. The incredibly easy to drive nature of the JaguarDrive transmission makes the car urban stop start friendly, while the car obviously gobbles up motorway miles for fun, making the car a great all-rounder.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 5 stars

Jaguar has gone down the route of “less is more” when looking at the number of variants available to prospective customers, keeping the number available to only ten, this means that each variant effectively straddles multiple competitor cars which can be challenging when looking to compare like for like. Where the Jaguar scores highly is in recently released residuals which state that the XF performs best amongst its contemporise with the XF retaining 80% of its value after 1 year of ownership. With extended service intervals (pushed out to 16,000 miles), improved fuel economy, plenty of leg room front and back, 3 year unlimited mileage warranty and excellent reliability reports the Jaguar XF should be right at the top of any executive car search. One only wonders where the big cat can go after improving on near perfection!

Submitted: 18/06/2009 10:25:06

CRAIGT SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

The most important thing to remember about this newly developed Jaguar diesel engine is that it’s all torque. The Diesel S is the more powerful of the two V6 oilburning options, pumping out 271bhp and 442lb-ft of torque. Even better, the torque kicks in as low as 1,000rpm and it peaks from 2,000rpm, so there’s always loads of power on tap – just squeeze on the throttle and you’re thrust forward at an impressive rate. Jaguar claims that the new engine has shaved 1.8 seconds off its 0-60mph time, taking it down to 5.9 seconds, with the top speed increasing from 143mph to 155mph. The other important aspect of Jaguar’s new diesel engine is its refinement. Whisper-quiet might be stretching it a little, but it is certainly one the quietest diesels around, up there with the best efforts from BMW. This powerplant should lay to rest any prejudices anti-diesel drivers may have about them. This engine also works brilliantly with a new automatic six-speed gearbox that shifts almost seamlessly and also gives you the option of overriding it, thanks to highly usable paddleshifts mounted behind the steering wheel.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 4 stars

Jaguar prides itself on its heritage as a manufacturer of sporty cars. But it doesn’t just rely on associations with past models such as the E-Type: the company’s engineers also do all the heavy lifting during development to ensure that cars bearing leaping cat can cut the driving mustard. So the XF has excellent driving dynamics, with fine handling and an excellent ride quality. The superbly accurate steering means that the car quickly and accurately goes where you point it, allowing it to swoop and glide through bends, all the while remaining well balanced and with body roll perfectly contained. It also has the advantage of loads of grip to fall back on, sticking to the road even when you chuck it into corners at speed. As it’s a Jag, the XF also benefits from an excellent ride quality. The suspension is firm, as is appropriate for a sporty saloon, but it’s still comfortably cosseting – a balancing act that few manufacturers manage as well as Jaguar.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

Jaguar has established a fine reputation for itself as a manufacturer of solid, reliable cars. It does well in customer satisfaction surveys such as JD Power’s (equal sixth in the league table of 29 carmakers), with older models such as the X-Type also proving reliable. The XF is a sturdy, well-built car that looks and feels robust. Inside the cabin, there are a few changes to an interior that was already much admired. The central display has an updated rear camera parking system that has better on-screen guidance, and there’s a choice of new wood veneers and mesh aluminium for the trim. There’s also a new top-of-the-range trim option, Portfolio, which adds a suede headlining, a new steering wheel, better mats, and seats with more adjustability, plus heating and cooling functions. It all adds up to an extremely cosseting experience.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

The XF hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP (cars in this segment are too expensive and not sold in sufficient volume to warrant testing), but we would expect it to stand up to most impacts, thanks to the high-strength steels used in the construction of the passenger cell. There’s also all the usual active and passive safety equipment on board, including six airbags (driver and passenger, side and curtain); seatbelt retractors and anti-whiplash headrests; a safety system that minimises collisions with pedestrians through the use of a deployable bonnet; plus all the usual electronic safety systems – ABS anti-lock brakes, DSC stability control, traction control, emergency brake assist (EBA), cornering brake control (CBC) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). For security, there’s a perimeter alarm and engine immobiliser, remote central locking and drive-away locking.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

The XF is a large family car, so it’s been designed to be spacious enough to carry four/five adults in comfort. The front seats are fully adjustable, the driving position is excellent and there’s enough legroom in the rear. However, because of the car’s coupe-like profile, with a roof that slopes more sharply towards the rear than a standard saloon, headroom in the back is compromised, with taller adults probably finding it a little restrictive. The 500-litre boot capacity is about standard for the class and should be enough for most requirements. The dashboard is well laid out and there’s plenty of useful high-tech equipment in the cabin, such as a touch-screen sat nav, voice control for various functions and iPod connectivity. But perhaps the most practical of the changes to the XF is a new diesel mis-fuelling device that Jaguar swears is foolproof – you’d certainly have to be determinedly stupid to get some petrol in the tank.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

Prices for the XF Diesel S start at £38,475, so it compares favourably with its closest rival, the new BMW 530d, which costs a grand less - but that’s before buyers start ticking the boxes on the long list of optional equipment. The Jag is therefore arguably better value, thanks to its higher levels of standard kit. The XF Diesel S also comes up trumps in improving running costs, thanks to an improvement in fuel consumption of nearly 12% over the previous 2.7-litre unit, giving an average figure of 42mpg. That means the XF’s 69.5-litre tank will give you an additional range of more than 67 miles. The drop in CO2 emissions compared with the previous 2.7-litre diesel will also do you a favour when it comes to forking out on road tax: the new engine’s 179g/km figure puts it into a lower band (Band E), saving you another £40 a year.

Submitted: 17/05/2010 08:59:23

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