- 2010
2009 Jaguar XF
- Used Jaguar XF
Jaguar XF - What the Auto Press Says
Leaving behind retro-inspired designs, Jaguar has introduced an undeniably modern luxury sedan that's among the sportiest available. With a unique interior filled with high-tech toys and an available supercharged engine, the 2009 XF is an intruiging option for luxury car shoppers. The lack of an all-wheel-drive option hurts the XF, however, and some reviewers complain of limited visibility.
The Jaguar XF has more personality than many luxury cars. Outside, it looks aggressive and poised, with a coupe-like profile. Jag traditionalists might mourn the classic look of the S-type it replaces, but most of the automotive press loves the sexy new shape. Motor Trend advises, "Make no styling judgments until you've seen the XF in person. Distinctive as it may look in photos, in the metal the XF radiates a modernity and sexiness that simply don't translate to the printed page."
Inside, it is filled with suprise-and-delight features, like a spun nickel rotary drive dial instead of a shifter, which rises out of the console when the car is started, and a start button that pulses until you touch it to ignite the car's big engine.
The XF makes no secret of its sporting intentions. There is no V6 here. The XF is available with a powerful V8 or an asphalt-rippling supercharged V8. For 2009, the XF is one of Car and Driver's 10Best cars.
The absence of even optional all-wheel-drive, however, might lead some buyers toward other performance-oriented luxury cars. The Audi A6 can't match the XF's supercharged V8 on power, but it outcorners Jaguar's car because of its excellent Quattro AWD system.
The XF is rated for 16 MPG in the city and 25 on the highway, placing it near the middle-of-the-pack among large luxury sedans. The XF's big powerplant requires premium fuel.
The press doesn't know what to make of the XF's build quality. Jaguar, a marque once known for reliability problems, recently tied for first in J.D. Power and Associates' Vehicle Dependability Study, knocking Lexus from the podium. But this vehicle was recalled two times in its first few months on the market.
The XF is available in three trims -- the Luxury model, the Premium Luxury and the Supercharged. The Luxury and Premium Luxury are powered by a 4.2-liter V8 that makes 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, while the Supercharged model's 4.2-liter V8 engine makes 420 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. All three models feature a six-speed automatic transmission.
- "Is it surprising that the XF has landed Jaguar on our 2009 10Best Cars list, the first time in the award's 27-year history? Absolutely. That is, until about five minutes into driving this new S-type replacement." -- Car and Driver
- "The historic British car company is combining sleek exterior design, innovative driver interfaces and strong performance with a luxurious interior. Yes, it's a whole new type of cat. And we like it." -- Popular Mechanics
- "The XF has the performance and panache to stand out in the premium midsize segment...and a car with a heart is going to be tough to beat." -- Motor Trend
- "Too many manufacturers think their higher-performance sedans have to imitate track cars, down to rock hard seats, tooth-chipping suspensions, a Cray wedged into the dashboard, carbon fiber and a bad-ass nasty demeanor. The XF Supercharged is another kind of car entirely. It's a first-tier luxury sedan that just happens to have afterburners in the trunk." -- The Truth About Cars
- "All in all a great car which deserves to succeed." -- The Auto Channel
- "For people who shop for distinction and driving pleasure in this price class, the XF is worth serious consideration." -- Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
- "The XF is a very fine motorcar in a market segment that demands utter perfection." -- Los Angeles Times
- "Is it the contemporary Is it the contemporary upper-class English muscle car it wants to be or the wallowy, cheap imitator it felt like right before we gave it back?...it's probably both, depending on its environment." -- Jalopnik
XF Performance - 8.9 (Very Good)
Jaguar clearly intends the XF to outperform its rivals -- the only engines available here are a big V8 and a supercharged V8. Reviewers, however, tend to advise buyers looking for performance to step up to the supercharged model. "The thing the XF Supercharged does best is to turn small holes in traffic into big holes with its thick band of thrust," says the Los Angeles Times. This is no sloppy-but-powerful muscle car, however. "The XF's variable-ratio power steering is magnificent, rich with feedback, arcing through its orbit smoothly, and transmitting a linear build-up of forces in corners," raves Motor Trend. Read More
XF Exterior - 7.8 (Good)
The 2009 XF intiates a new design direction for Jaguar, and no one seems to know what to make of it. The Los Angeles Times thinks the XF is just "a reasonably attractive sedan from a company that needs a ravishing, wallet-emptying beauty." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, on the other hand, says "it would be hard to find anyone who thinks the new XF is ugly. It has stunning, taut lines that look more like a coupe than a sedan." Several reviewers say it looks too similar to the Lexus GS. In other words, the XF has been received much like Jaguars always have -- some people love the look, others don't understand the appeal. Read More
XF Interior - 7.8 (Good)
The passenger cabin of the 2009 Jaguar XF is like nothing else on the market. It combines the traditional comfort of a high-end luxury sedan with a futuristic, high-tech ambiance. Motor Trend says "Prepare to make the jump to hyperspace: You're at the glowing helm of your own Millennium Falcon." Popular Mechanics explains, "Close the door, and the red Start/Stop button pulses with the lub-dub rhythm of a heartbeat. Touch the brake, push 'Start,' and a cast zinc and spun stainless steel shift dial rises from the console into the palm of your hand" instead of a shift lever. The glovebox opens when you tap a target on its surface. Despite the focus on high-tech toys, most reviewers find the cabin plush and comfortable. Read More
XF Safety - NA
Neither the insurance industry nor the federal government has crash tested the 2009 Jaguar XF yet. The car includes a full suite of modern safety equipment, including a few enhanced features other luxury cars are only beginning to acquire, like a hood designed to minimize injuries to any pedestrians the car might hit. Read More
XF Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)
The 2009 Jaguar XF reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Jaguar covers its cars with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty. Surprisingly, no separate powertrain warranty is provided. Read More
