The 2009 Jaguar XF is a new model, replacing
the aging S-Type in Jaguar's lineup. Jaguar got it right with
this mid-sized, rear-wheel-drive sedan. It offers a fresh
alternative to luxury imports such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series,
Mercedes E-Class, and Lexus GS.
Compared to this competition, the 2009 Jaguar XF is near the
top of its class. The XF is intended to emulate the Jaguar XK's
lines without sacrificing interior room. From its basic shape to its
aerodynamic characteristics to its underlying structure, the 2009
Jaguar XF sedan is a modern automobile. The main downsides to the
2009 XF Luxury are that its grille looks cheap, it takes premium
gas, its' got a high backseat floor hump, and its' backup camera
option is outdated. The
best things about the XF are the superior ride and handling, its
drivetrain performance and sound, its contemporary cabin design, and
its control ergonomics. The 2009 Luxury is one of the best equipped
base models in this class, with features like rear park assist,
passive keyless entry and start and a power glass sunroof included
in the price. The standard seating is bond-grain leather, with
satin-finish walnut and aluminum trim, a 320-watt, eight-speaker
stereo and 18-inch alloy wheels.
XF Power
The standard drivetrain is a 4.2-liter V-8 with
the six-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles on the
steering wheel. Jaguar says the XF goes from zero to 60 mph in
roughly 6.2 seconds. Dynamic and Winter modes optimize the
accelerator progression, shift schedules and stability-system
operation for sporty driving and foul weather, respectively.
The XF engine is an updated version of what was used in
Jaguar's S-Type sedan (which the XF replaces), with reinforced
engine blocks to reduce vibration and the latest control technology.
Driving the Jaguar XF Lux
The lower trim levels such as the Luxury have
conventional four-wheel-independent suspensions.
The new Jaguar XF measures up to the best cars in its class
in just about every respect, and its over-the-road performance is
excellent. From the driver's
seat, the XF delivers everything one would look for in a
medium-sized sport-luxury sedan.
The XF is smooth, fast, and responsive, but also quiet and
comfortable.
Luxury Trim Design
The XF Luxury is shaped very aerodynamically,
and this design helps keep it stable at high speeds, reduce wind
noise inside and reduce fuel consumption at a given speed, compared
to a car with more drag. The XF windshield has the same raked angle
as the Jaguar XK., and the XF also carries front fender vents
similar to the XK's. Distinctive characteristics to the 2009 XF,
though, include a sculpted hood and a prominent aluminum frame
surrounding the side windows. The car's smallish mesh grille and
large lower-bumper vents carry over from the C-XF concept, but the
formerly small headlights are much larger.
In the rear are high-mounted LED taillights that emulate
Aston Martin; much like the XK was charged with ripping off an
Aston-style front end. Alloy wheel sizes range from 17 to 20 inches.
Inside the XF
The interior of the '09 XF combines traditional
British cues with contemporary touches, like a rotary knob in the
center console that serves as a gear selector. Like the XK, the XF's
in-dash LCD is a touch-screen. When the engine is started, the Jaguar Drive Selector knob rises out of the console, and closed air
conditioning vents rotate to the open position. Actions like these
and the pulsing-red engine Start button are what interior designers
call theater. The XF also uses proximity sensors in place of
switches or handles for the reading lights and glove compartment lid. The XF Luxury's large trunk can be expanded by folding the
backseat forward. Standard and optional features include heated and
cooled front seats, front and rear sonar parking aids, a backup
camera, a blind spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, Bluetooth
wireless phone capability and inputs for an iPod, a generic MP3
player or a USB storage device.
Safety for the XF
The 2009 XF is also at the top of its class for
safety. It is slightly
larger in just about every exterior dimension than the Audi A6,
which was previously the largest car in this class. Its underlying
structural design is driven by safety considerations, and
particularly by the goal of protecting against side impacts and the
tendency of tall, sport-utility type vehicles to slide upward in
collisions with sedans.
Jaguar has applied a host of high-tech metals, including high-carbon
steels, dual-phase steel, hot-formed boron and bake-hardened steels,
to create a vertical safety ring around the XF's occupant cell.
Jaguar claims that the XF will deliver the best crash protection in
the class with a body/frame package that is lighter than that of its
competitors. Safety features include dual-stage frontal airbags,
front-seat side-impact airbags, and curtain airbags for front and
rear side-impact protection.