2009 Jaguar XF SC: A leaping cat with a harsh landing
In a move sure to shock traditionalists Jaguar has gone and done something rather rash. No, they didn't decide to build an SUV, but they did decide to shed old-world thinking in an effort to compete with modern luxury sedans.
The all-new 2009 Jaguar XF is unlike any Jaguar before it. Even before entering the cabin this car's exterior shape establishes it as a different kind of Jag. I'm personally not thrilled by the styling, though I don't hate it, either. It's a shame when a carmaker feels it must totally abandon tradition to convince potential buyers the company has moved forward. The 911 is proof that a distinctive shape can stand the test of time, but it requires a shrewd design team.
For me the overall shape of the car seems overly derivative of Lexus, and the front-end details don't mesh. That fastback shape also chops rear headroom, leaving my 6-foot-frame just brushing the headliner (though legroom was fine).
But it's really the interior design that makes the XF feel inspired. It's just weird enough to be cool while not completely throwing function out the window. I doubt I'd ever get used to the "dial-a-gear" shifter, which I actually thought was a media controller, ala iDrive, when I first got in. The LCD monitor tries to ape Audi's MMI with cool transitions between menus, but it responds slowly to touch-screen inputs, and that makes the effect more annoying than chic.
Other aspects of the car's interior feel quite Audi-like, which is generally a good thing. Again, it takes some time to figure out how things work, so intuitiveness is not the cabin's strong suit. But figuring it out takes little time and after that it all makes sense. The controls themselves have a quality look and feel that continues the Audi-theme inside. The audio system in our test car, an XF Supercharged, definitely rocked, and features like destination input and hands-free phone syncing were accomplished with little pain.
Driving dynamics are another mixed bag. The XF Supercharged comes with standard 20-inch wheels, and the resulting ride quality (I use that worse loosely) was the biggest disappointment I had with the car. On twisty Mulholland everything worked fine (steering was a little slow, requiring more wheel input than it should IMHO), but once you stopped trying to go fast and just wanted to cruise along those 20s made the entire car feel busy and harsh. Every road imperfection invaded the cabin, even provoking a nasty squeak in the driver's door panel over all but the smoothest of roads.
Drivetrain wise, the car is a sweetheart. The supercharged 4.2-liter V8 makes 420 horsepower and 413 lbs-ft of torque -- enough to shoot the XF Supercharged to 60 in 5.1 seconds. The responsive six-speed auto, rapid-fire paddles on the steering wheel and rewarding exhaust note when the engine revs past 4,000 rpm make the XF the most entertaining Jaguar sedan I've ever driven.
If Jaguar can master the art of balancing sporty handling with comfortable ride quality (ala Audi and BMW) I'd list the XF Supercharged as a worthy competitor to German's finest, even at the $62,000 starting price (the base, non-supercharged XF starts at $50,000). The cheaper models, with smaller 18- and 19-inch wheels, may already be there. I'll need to drive one to confirm.
Unfortunately, traditionalism doesn't carry as much weight as it used to.
Just the same, hooray for Jaguar for coming up with a wonderful alternative to yet another "look at me, I've made it" BMW or "I'm broke, the house is foreclosing, but I'll still show off" Lexus.
So it's not perfect. I'd still rather own one than any of the European or Japanese competition.
Feel the same about the styling. My wfie thinks it looks like the old Lumina. Not sure why but it seems most women really, really liked Jag's lines and they may have hurt themselves with the only group that ever expressed interest in jags. Without the expressive lines and history it just comes across as bland.
Trademark styling was about all Jaguars had going for them for years, so it's odd that when they finally put some effort into making a competitive vehicle, they threw the baby out with the bathwater. Still, I'd take a look if I were in this market.
"a wonderful alternative to yet another "look at me, I've made it" BMW or "I'm broke, the house is foreclosing, but I'll still show off" Lexus"
I'm sure Jaguar would love to be popular enough that folks derided them in this manner.
The new Jaguar has a mix of designs. The front end looks like a few cues from Volvo S60 and the rear hatch looks is borrow from Lexus GS. What I miss is the traditional Jaguar on the hood. The "thundercats" grill is a minus for me.
"a wonderful alternative to yet another "look at me, I've made it" BMW or "I'm broke, the house is foreclosing, but I'll still show off" Lexus"
It should be the other way around since an entry level BMW is much easier to obtain with the insanely awesome lease programs.
"I'm personally not thrilled by the styling, though I don't hate it, either"
I think the front end of this car screams Buick, which in my books is a bad thing.
My attitude towards the Lexus comes from a load of Wall Street Journal articles over the past year documenting the sub-prime mortgage meltdown and the effect it was having on certain neighborhoods. Each story would have at least one example of some family who was hurt, er, had hurt themselves (let's get real).
Invariably, each one of these stories seemed to have two common points:
1. The family would refinance, get more money out, and immediately use it for a fancy vacation, nice furniture, etc. Anything but paying down the loan and trying to get themselves out of debt sooner.
2. Each example (without fail) bought a Lexus during the period written about. No mention of Cadillac, Mercedes, etc., just Lexus.
Gives the marque a whole new image now, doesn't it?
Jaguar needed to modernize its cars - in every way - and I'm glad they've finally done that. I love the new look (inside and out) except for the round cutout in the headlights. The car still looks like a Jaguar, but it also looks like it belongs in this century! Well done.
Sucks about the ride though. I thought that was the one thing the car would be good at!
"It should be the other way around since an entry level BMW is much easier to obtain with the insanely awesome lease programs."
Good point, although BMW leasing isn't quite as attractive now as it was two months ago.
"Gives the marque a whole new image now, doesn't it?"
It's odd that all the stories had people buying a Lexus, but that simply illustrates that Lexus has positioned itself well as an aspirational brand. Jaguar once held that distinction, and the XF seems to signal a new push to regain some of that old glory, albeit in a reinvented kind of way.
Agreed, ewilfong.
I think the XF has the potential to be that car getting Jaguar back being "aspirational" again.
I like the XF, Karl just hates the world...
; )
"Not sure why but it seems most women really, really liked Jag's lines and they may have hurt themselves with the only group that ever expressed interest in jags. "
The styling seems to be a hit because Jag's sales have been up since the car went on sale. Its definitely not perfect but its no worse looking than the A6 to my eyes. The interior is the most original in the class and is far better than what you get in the 5 or E class.
"front end looks like a few cues from Volvo S60"
Thank you. I was trying to pinpoint what it looks like. I should have realized one Ford looked like another one.
The interior is interesting. Dunno if I like it or not. I think I'd have to see it in person.
Jaguars are starting to remind me of Aston Martins a little, both the XK and the XF, to my eyes, have hints of DB7/9/S in them, especially from the rear and the XF also reminds me of a Lexus GS. Still after the X and S types, a change in direction is welcome.
BTW, looking at the picture, does anyone actually like British racing green? Always looks bad to me , be it on a Jag or a Mini.
Very few cars can pull off British Racing Green in my opinion. It works brilliantly on a select few cars, adequately on a few more, and not at all on most of them. Regardless, it requires a strong exterior to have any chance of working at all, thus it doesn't on the XF.
Jaguars are starting to remind me of Aston Martins a little, both the XK and the XF, to my eyes,
Same designer, Ian Callum.
Sales tend to almost always go up on newly released models. The S-type sold like gangbusters out of the gate. We all know how that worked out for Jag...lol
Without the name/symbol showing, its impossible to identify this car as a Jaguar. It looks more Japanese than anything else. It reminds me of an averaging of Lexus, Infinity, and Buick. And it's so generic! Doesn't look muscular, sporting, stately, or understated as I think of a Jaguar sedan as being. It's not bad looking, but only hints at luxury or performance.
I have to say that I'm with most people on the looks. I liked the eyes on the show car a lot better, and yeah, the rest looks like a Lexus. Beyond that, however, I love this car, and for me it's a clear choice of the mid-size premium cars. Then again, it's not much of a selection if you think about it. Here's how I see it:
E-Class: Too old. Too Boring.
A6: Too Slow
M: Too anonymous. Too cheap inside
GS: Too Soft
5-Series: Too Ugly. Too Expensive
XF: Just right. My choice would be the non-supercharged with smaller wheels and a better ride. Plus, the fuel economy is probably a tick better too.
The old (pre Ford) Jaguars just had a certain old world mystique about them that the new ones never could quite pull off. That characteristic is what made Jaguar...Jaguar. In my eyes the car above ISNT a Jaguar as it just doenst have that certain something. Its just a car with the Jaguar name on it.
"It's a shame when a carmaker feels it must totally abandon tradition to convince potential buyers the company has moved forward."
I totally agree. I think Jaguar should have stuck with tradition while offering new technologies, world class drivetrains ETC ETC while still remaining Jaguar. Its all about integration and execution.
Even though it's exterior styling borrows from various different automakers, the final package looks great. They really are lookers on the road. It is easy for all of us to say that the looks don't say Jaguar enough or they abandoned their heritage with this styling, but if I'm not mistakened, this car has single handedly shot Jaguars sales through the roof. The interior still has the Jaguar panache and the XF-R should be a beast. If I was looking for a car in this class, the XF would easily be my choice.
"Sales tend to almost always go up on newly released models. The S-type sold like gangbusters out of the gate. We all know how that worked out for Jag...lol"
I think this car stands a better chance of success than the S-type which was largely viewed as a warmed over LS. This is a unique Jaguar with an interior approprite for a Jag. The real revelation is that most mags are saying its a sporty as the 5 series. The sales and reviews of this car are positive so far and its not another cookie cutter luxury car. It may not look traditional, but I certainly dont feel it looks like a Lexus or any other Japanese luxury car.
certainly the lack of a manual transmission gives it off as softer and less edgy than a 5 series. Jag should at least include that as an option if it really wants to attract buyers, regardless if they end up getting the manual or not. That would also work wonders for marketing the car.
I like the Jag XF! :)
While I'd love to see a manual transmission on the XF (because I love them), I'm not sure it'll make much of a difference for US sales.
I think the S-Type was initially a great car, or at least very good. The problem is that Jag waited to long to update/improve it. I hope they don't repeat the same mistake with the XF!
blackadder5639
Agreed, in terms of overall sales, the manual option wont add many numbers, BUT as a marketing tool, it will bring a lot more people into the showroom floor... could you imagine if the g37 did not come with a manual ? no body would have looked twice. and ultimatly it wouldn't have been a sales success granted the majority of G cars come equipped with the auto box anyway...
im happy with the new XF and seeing it on the road, its out of this world when compared to a 5 series (exterior styling) . The Jaguar brand has a lot of history and it needs to get its recognition back...now how about that xj220 for a change !
"Jag should at least include that as an option if it really wants to attract buyers, regardless if they end up getting the manual or not. That would also work wonders for marketing the car."
The 5 series is the only car in this class that offers a V8 and manual tranny. The XF is no different from the E, GS or A6 in not offering a manaul tranny. I would love to know how few people actually buy a 550i with a manual.