Diesel power revs up classy Jag

THERE are few modern mainstream cars around right now that enjoy genuine jaw-dropping good looks, but the Jaguar XF is one of them.

On top of that, this is a car which is now more mainstream, and affordable, than many might have imagined.

In times past, the Jaguar brand occupied a space in the marketplace which was reserved for the exalted, but more recently — and in tandem with the revered English marque being taken over by the giant Indian conglomerate Tata — it has spread its wings in a way many may previously have thought impossible.

And the XF has largely been responsible for this resurgence, not least because of its show-stopping good looks, but also because it has been imbued with fantastic driving dynamics and a level of passenger comfort many rivals simply will never attain.

But the XF has not really sold in the sort of numbers it deserved to primarily because it did not have an engine variant to compete against such as the Audi A6 2.0TDi, the BMW 520d or the Mercedes 220CDI. However, for the 2012 model year, Jaguar has upped the XF’s game, not only with a host of minor design tweaks, with also with the introduction of a four cylinder 2.2 litre turbodiesel engine which puts it bang in contention with its primary European rivals.

This is an engine with which we are familiar, mainly through the model line-ups of sister companies Land Rover and Range Rover. It might usefully be pointed out that this engine might not compete fully with some rivals on the basis of its emission levels (which place it in Band C), but it certainly has given Jaguar sales people here a thorough fillip.

There have been fairly minor but subtle styling tweaks, mainly to the front end which has a new headlight design, the rear and the interior, but it is the introduction of the new engine that is the headline-grabber.

Jaguar has paired the engine with an eight speed automatic gearbox and I have to say that the combination of the two really does make this car a delicious driving prospect.

The nuts and bolts of the engine are that output tops out at some 187bhp, there is a very healthy 400Nm of torque and it will accelerate from 0 to 100kph in eight seconds.

It will also return 5.4 l/100km over the combined cycle, over 50mpg in old money, although those are factory figures and therefore have to be taken with a light sprinkling of salt.

The engine unit has been tweaked to improve acceleration, driveability, economy and refinement. It is also mounted longitudinally, allowing it to be mated to the ZF gearbox.

We already knew the XF to be one of the best drivers’ cars on the market and the worry was that the addition of this engine might somehow dilute the car’s abilities in this regard, but I am delighted to report this is not the case.

This is a car that makes pretty much any journey a joy. Sure the ride might just be a little firm around town for some, but it is tremendously forgiving and when you hit the open road you really begin to appreciate what the XF has to offer, not to mention that the variable ratio speed sensitive steering system is as precise as you could ask for. The handling is also a joy because this car has one of the best chassis ever seen in this segment. It is tuned to perfection and is driver-friendly whether you are a press-on driver or one who likes the scenery unblurred.

Even so, all that good work might have been completely undone if the eight-speed ‘box was not up to the job. But up to the job it is. It is a super smooth unit and there is no unnecessary jerkiness about it at all. On top of that, it can be controlled by the excellent steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Standard kit includes rain-sensing wipers, leather steering wheel with multi-functions, LED running lights and HID bi-xenon headlights with powerwash, Bluetooth phone connectivity (including autostreaming) and a pile of other stuff. The higher spec models provide sat nav, full leather upholstery and electronic front seats, as well as a variety of wood trims.

So with all this leather, wood and even the blue mood lighting, it is fair to say that the XF is a car which cossets the driver and passenger like few others, but there are some issues. The transmission tunnel realistically makes it a four-seater rather than a five, while the coupe styling means that taller rear seat passengers might have headroom issues.

Even so, the Jag is a car you’d forgive for having a few very minor flaws. Jaguar has a car which can compete fully and, if you want to stand aside from the pack, then it is not going to cost you a bundle to do so.

Believe me when I say that Jaguar has set a new benchmark with the XF and with the addition of this four pot diesel, it can now reasonably expect to shift a significantly greater numbers of them from dealers’ forecourts.