Jaguar XF 20d Review — An Executive Luxury Sedan

As time passed by, the Jaguar XF started to lose its appeal in front of its competitors as they were producing better cars in terms of power and technology. So, a couple of years back the second gen XF was launched in India as a CBU unit, which gave a tough competition to its German rivals.

And now, we got our hands on the 2018 Jaguar XF 20d (Prestige trim). We took the car for a spin on the city roads and on the open tarmac to see if it was really 'Born to Perform' and here's what we have to say about it!

Starting from the front the car features a massive honeycomb grill which is finished in chrome and right at the center of it sits the Jaguar logo. The bumper has been tweaked and now looks sportier and has a lot of chrome garnishing. The XF has a huge contoured hood which looks pretty cool from the driver's seat while also giving the car a muscular stance.

The headlights have been updated and feature 'Jaguar LED Technology'. They provide excellent visibility and like all other Jaguar saloon and SUV models, the design has a neat blend of edges and curves. The headlamp cluster has got cornering lights too. The new XF is based on Jaguar's all-new iQ aluminum-intensive platform, which has helped shave 190 kilograms off the previous car's kerb weight.

Moving on to the side, the car features creases that run across its body from the headlight to the taillight. As I mentioned earlier the car is loaded with chrome to complement its looks and the chrome lines run from the A-pillar all the way to the C-pillar. From the side, the car looks pretty long (4,961 mm to be precise) and overall, the new XF resembles an XE that has put on more weight and is wearing an expensive designer suit.

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At the rear, the Jaguar XF features updated taillights similar to that on the F-type. The rear bumper has also been tweaked to match the massive front end. You get the XF and the 20d badging on either side of the boot and the leaping Jaguar logo right in the middle. It would have been great if the company offered the R-Sport body kit option in India to further complement the XF's dynamic personality.

Step inside the car and you will be welcomed with a spacious cabin. The central console is similar to the Jaguar F-Pace SUV. There are a lot of buttons to play with, including the Start/Stop under the climate control panel. One thing which will grab your attention right away is the Jaguar Drive Control. As soon as the car comes to life, the Control toggle resurrects from the floating dash, which is quite a dramatic sight which never gets old. Also, the car gets a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system and you get a good acoustic experience from the 11-speaker Meridian Audio sound system.

Speaking about comfort, the front seats are really nice and offer a lot of cushioning. There is enough support, thanks to the large side bolsters. However, only the driver side gets seat memory option but both the front seats are electronically adjustable. The rear seats offer good back and under-thigh support. Tall passengers will have some difficulty getting in as there is not enough legroom left after adjusting the front seats. Though the car is a five-seater, the rear seat is best only for two passengers.

The Jaguar XF features a 540-litre boot that can gulp in enough luggage. One thing about the boot is that though it opens electronically, the gate has to be shut manually. The boot opening is wide enough for easy loading. Under the boot floor hides a space-saver spare wheel. The car features a large panoramic sunroof to let the wind and sunshine in. The opening of the sunroof itself is a sight to watch with the entire front roof section dramatically moving and resting aerodynamically towards the back.

The interiors of our test vehicle were finished in beige and dark brown dual-tone shade. The dashboard is neatly clothed in leather and has a fine stitching to compliment it. There is a small screen in between the two analog dials in the instrument cluster which provide a lot of real-time information about the vehicle. The functionalities in it can be controlled by the steering mounted switches.

Powering the Jaguar XF is a 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine pumping out 177bhp and 430Nm of peak torque. All the power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox which provides smooth shifts. The car can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in under nine seconds and has a claimed top speed of 229km/h (electronically-limited).

The XF comes with four driving modes: Eco, Normal/City, Dynamic and Rain/Snow/Ice. While Eco mode is aimed to give the car maximum fuel efficiency, Dynamic mode makes the throttle response crisp and sharp. In Rain/Snow/Ice mode, the Traction Control is adjusted for maximum grip and stability. The Jaguar XF is loaded with safety features such as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), ABS+EBD with BA, traction control, ASPC (All Surface Progress Control) and six airbags.

The XF Prestige variant rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. We would have loved to see some bigger alloys that match the saloon's overall proportions. The wheels are wrapped by Continental 255/17 ContiPremium tyres which provide excellent grip in all conditions.

Both the weight-saving and the updated suspension system have made the new XF more nimble and fun around twisty roads as well as in the city. The car can easily go through some potholes with you not even feeling it. The Jaguar XF returned us an overall mileage of around 19km/l, which is pretty good for a car of this size and pricing.

Promeet Ghosh Thinks!

The new Jaguar XF is one of those luxury sedans that appeals to a driving enthusiast. The Jaguar XF 20d Prestige variant carries a price tag of Rs 53.29 lakh ex-showroom (pan India), which is a bit on the expensive side. In this price range, you can also go for the new Mercedes E Class LWB, Audi A6 Matrix and the new BMW 5 Series (G30).

But, if you are planning to buy an executive luxury Sedan, which offers both comfort and power at the same time, the Jaguar XF 20d will be the perfect choice for such buyers.