Road Test: 5 Series Takes On Fresh E-Class And XF (Part 5)

Jaguar XF     

If you want your executive saloon to turn heads, look no further than the Jaguar XF. This classy saloon mixes sleek looks with a club class interior and composed driving dynamics.

Better still, the entry-level 2.2-liter diesel has recently benefited from a cut in CO₂ emissions, making it an even more desirable company car.

Styling 4.2/5

This classy saloon mixes sleek looks with a club class interior and composed driving dynamics

A facelift in 2011 freshened the XF’s looks, and the car stands out with its sleek profile and perfect proportions. Even on its small 17-inch alloys, our Luxury-spec test model looks more upmarket than the frumpy E-Class.

The Jag feels equally special inside, with lots of soft leather and wood trim. Neat touches include cool ambient lighting and the rotary gearshifter that glides up out of the center console. Sadly, the rest of the cabin is starting to show its age. Everything from the small dials to the clunky touchscreen infotainment system reminds you the Jag is getting on a bit.

Driving 3.9/5

As you’d expect from a Jaguar, the XF feels poised and agile on twisty country roads. The steering is quick and well weighted, there’s plenty of grip and the standard eight-speed auto responds promptly to the throttle and the steering wheel paddles.

The Jag feels equally special inside, with lots of soft leather and wood trim

What’s more unusual is the firm and fidgety low-speed ride. Still, comfort improves the faster you go, while wind and road noise are well isolated. Plus, although the diesel is a little gruff, the trade-off is performance. With 400Nm of torque and closely stacked gear ratios, the Jag was the fastest car here, despite having the lowest power output.

Running costs 3.8/5

By fitting new stop-start hardware and tweaking components in the engine’s cooling and exhaust gas recirculation systems, engineers have cut CO₂ emissions from 135g/km to 129g/km. as a result, the Jag has similar company car tax costs as the SE versions of the 520d and E220.

Yet our 37.5mpg fuel return was disappointing, as are the predicted residuals of 44.7 per cent. Jaguar offers a pay monthly servicing plan similar to the one for the Mercedes, but if you buy an XF before 31 December you’ll get three years or 48,000 miles of servicing free of charge.

Reliability 4.3/5

Everything from the small dials to the clunky touchscreen infotainment system reminds you the Jag is getting on a bit

Jaguar was a star performer in our Driver Power 2013 satisfaction survey, finishing a superb third in the manufacturers chart. The XF achieved the same placing in the overall table.

Yet while the car gets six airbags, stability control and active head restraints as standard, it only got a four-star score in Euro NCAP crash tests. Blind spot monitoring is $736 extra, while adaptive cruise control is another $2,040.

Practicality 3.4/5

The Jag’s style comes at the expense of space. Rear head and legroom are tight, while a high transmission tunnel and low roofline mean driver and front passenger feel more cramped than in the 5 Series and E-Class. Plus, the 540-liter boot is awkwardly shaped, with a narrow opening, and folding rear seats are $576 extra.