Jaguar XF Saloon 2.0d (180bhp) R-Sport 4d Auto Owner Review

Always wanted a Jag since being 5 years old. Finally got one and overall I love it! It is generally accepted that the XF is a beautiful car. Whether you prefer the look of the first generation that turned around fortunes for the company, or the tighter more aggressive styling of the new version I leave to you. I also think it is pretty beautiful to sit in as well as gawk at from the outside. The wrap around front dash with electronically retracting vents and gear wheel is just cool! Although function-wise, I would happily take the auto gear nob in the F-class and new XE. It is bloody comfy to sit in with plenty of space, but feeling snug at the same time. The criticised lack of room in the back of the XE is not an issue in the XF. Neither is boot space. Driving the XF is generally a very relaxing experience with little in the way of extraneous noise and the amazing suspension setup that gives you enough feeling of the road without any discomfort. Coming from an Audi A4 S-line with sports suspension It is a whole other world. The diesel 180ps engine has enough power to easily manage most situations with a full complement of passengers and full boot of camping equipment. It can sound a little droney when revved, but is barely noticeable when cruising. Put the car into dynamic mode and the cat definitely comes alive. It becomes much sharper in handling, throttle response and cruises in a lower gear and slightly higher rev count. Matched with the capable suspension and you can throw the big cat around with agility and stability surprising for such a big heavy car. It's not sports car quick and agile, but it will put a smile on your face. However it will drink fuel and you do have to hear a bit more of the engine drone. It's a bit of a shame that the engine doesn't keep the character of the slight growl you hear when starting the engine. I do wonder how much of that sound is artificially enhanced? So what don't I like about my XF? My main gripe is how the auto gearbox is programmed. The actual function of changing gears is fine as you would expect from a ZF 8 speed, but when this happens and how many gears it changes can be a bit hit and miss. It can be slow off the line often starting in second gear and can jerk a bit when you are wanting a swift getaway or are changing between the gears frequently in traffic at higher speeds. It should be noted that many of these issues do seem to be resolved when in dynamic mode, but you have to trade off MPG. You can use the flappy paddles, but I find them a bit small and I don't like how the autobox likes to take over when moving down the gears. What else don't I like? The standard infotainment system is a bit slow, but nothing as bad as some reviews make out. What is more annoying is the lack of Apple and Android car systems built in. Instead you have to rely on apps approved and linked in with Jaguar's in-house Bosch system. Most of which are a bit poor and some of which have to be purchased and have since stopped working *cough Tom Tom cough*. If you can, get the upgraded version. I have noticed that Apple and Android systems have been incorporated into the new 2020 XE refresh, so hopefully the XF refresh will follow suit. A couple of other minor grips is the electronic handbrake and climate control not being as slick as what I had in an older audi A4.