2021 Jaguar XF Review

　　

2021 Jaguar XF Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　The 2021 Jaguar XF is the brand's midsize luxury sedan. It's actually Jag's only sedan, too — the company discontinued the larger XJ after the 2019 model year and killed the smaller XE after 2020. The XF is based on the most recent redesign that happened way back for 2016, though the 2021 car does get a few updates.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Jaguar XF P250 S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$165/mo  for XF P250 S

　　XF P250 S

　　P250 S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $43,995 MSRPP250 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $47,095 MSRPP300 R-Dynamic SE 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $49,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$197/mo

　　Avg. Large Car

　　The previously available supercharged V6 is gone, as is the cool Sportbrake station wagon. A new S model serves as the XF's base trim, and it comes loaded with a more comprehensive set of features than before. In fact, the entire lineup is less expensive than last year, and even the top-level SE R-Dynamic costs less than last year's entry-level model. You can still load up the XF with options to your heart's content, but doing so is a more affordable proposition this time around.

　　Other enhancements include a more traditionally shaped shifter to replace the pop-up rotary transmission selector, reconfigured cushioning for the seats, and revised exterior styling. The biggest change is with the infotainment system, which outgrows its integrated housing and looks like a stuck-on tablet. It's loaded with Jaguar's new Pivi Pro infotainment system, which Jaguar says is quicker, more intuitive and easier to use than the previous interface.

　　Unfortunately, we've found the Pivi Pro interface to still be convoluted and hard to use. The XF also comes up short on cargo space and performance compared to other top midsize sedans such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. If you're considering an XF, you'll want to check out our Expert Rating below to get our full take on the car's hits and misses.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the XF drive? The XF has adequate power. We tested a P300 R-Dynamic with all-wheel drive, and it sprinted from 0 to 60 mph at our test track in 6.9 seconds. That's not great, but the Jag has enough muscle that it'll easily keep pace in traffic. The brakes are where this Jag shines brightest. Along with strong results in our 60-0 mph panic-stop test, the Jag also feels composed and confident in routine braking.

　　The rest of the driving experience is not so impressive. The eight-speed automatic transmission has lazy shifts that hold the engine back, and the steering lacks on-center feel and needs to be monitored often when cruising on the highway. Most disappointing is that the XF feels lively and playful at lower speeds, but it oddly fails to provide the handling capabilities to keep up as your speeds increase. This unpredictability prevents it from reaching any sporty potential.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the XF? The leather sport seats on our test vehicle were shapely and supportive on long drives, and the comfortable cushioning and side bolsters hold you in place under cornering. Up front there is a wide range of adjustability to suit drivers of different sizes. Ride comfort is another strength, muting imperfections in the road before they reach your seat. However, the suspension feels bouncy and is slow to return the car to a level ride. We noticed little noise inside the cabin at highway speeds.

　　One noticeable issue is the climate control system, which in our testing pumped out warm air even when turned to cooler temps.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The XF has a spacious cabin with good room for rear passengers to get comfortable. But there are problems. Getting in and out is hindered by small doors, wide sills to step over, and a low roofline due to the athletic styling. Once you're in, the seats and steering wheel have a wide range of adjustments, but the controls to operate them are confusing and oddly placed.

　　It can also be difficult to see out due to the thick windshield pillars and bulky rearview mirror housing. And the controls are frustrating at best — the driver display is difficult to operate, the infotainment menus are vague, and the XF offers few hard buttons that could offer some relief. You have to pull, press or twist the climate dials depending on what you're trying to achieve. This learning curve is beyond what we typically find acceptable.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? We've got good news and bad news. On the positive front: The 11.4-inch touchscreen delivers vibrant maps and menus, with easy operation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. The navigation system can also find addresses quickly, and our test vehicle had an excellent surround-sound stereo amplified by the XF's tranquility.

　　We didn't enjoy the voice controls so much — they offer only basic functionality and do not respond to natural language. The parking sensors are also loud and drown out your audio to deliver incessant warnings even if you're sitting in traffic. Inexplicably, you use the same button to operate the speed limiter function and the adaptive cruise control. A system that should be as straightforward as possible is instead unnecessarily confusing.

　　

Storage

6.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The XF was once a class standout when it comes to cargo capacity, but the current version is dramatically worse. At just 10.5 cubic feet, the trunk is the smallest we've tested in the midsize luxury class, and its high floor and low ceiling make it unusable for many medium-size to large items. Similarly, there's very limited storage space inside the cabin. Please pack lightly.

　　The back seat has enough space to accommodate a child's car seat, but the small door openings may make it difficult to load a bulky rear-facing seat. Also be careful not to lose the detachable latch covers.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? On our highway-biased evaluation route the XF returned 23.7 mpg, which is below its EPA estimate of 25 mpg combined (22 city/30 highway). This is an indication that the XF may struggle to replicate its estimated fuel economy rating when driving in the real world, and it's lower than some luxury sedan rivals that use larger and more powerful six-cylinder engines. It also requires premium fuel.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the XF a good value? The XF makes an instant impression. Inside there is an impressive display of leathers and metal brought together with tight stitching and panel gaps. Jag's pricing is typically higher than you'll find for fully loaded Japanese competitors but less than for German rivals.

　　Jaguar also offers a good warranty, including five years/60,000 miles of basic and powertrain coverage. The same terms apply to rust coverage, roadside assistance and free maintenance, which is generous for the class.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The XF has an abundance of personality thanks to its distinctive style and attractive interior quality. It certainly makes a statement upon arrival, more so than many luxury competitors. But along with that presence comes a litany of frustrations, such as feigned sportiness that is never realized in practice.

　　

Which XF does zzdcar recommend?

All three trims are worthwhile, but we think the SE R-Dynamic offers the best bang for your buck. It has more power than the other trims, and its all-wheel drive is useful when the road is icy.

　　

2021 Jaguar XF models

The 2021 Jaguar XF is a midsize luxury sedan available in three trims: S, SE and SE R-Dynamic. The S and SE feature a powertrain that Jaguar refers to as P250 RWD. Underhood is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine (246 horsepower, 294 lb-ft of torque) that sends power to the rear wheels. The SE R-Dynamic uses the P300 AWD powertrain — pairing a more powerful version of the same motor (296 hp, 295 lb-ft) with all-wheel drive. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board.

　　S

　　The base S model comes standard with:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Automatic wipers Power-folding and heated mirrors with automatic dimming on the driver's side Panoramic sunroof Power liftgate Push-button start Ambient lighting Auto-dimming rearview mirror Dual-zone climate control Heated front seats Leather upholstery 11.4-inch touchscreen 12-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationAll XFs come with a suite of safety features, including:

　　Collision mitigation braking (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Lane keeping assist (steers the XF back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Jaguar and its surroundings for tight parking situations)SE

　　Stepping up to the SE adds:

　　19-inch wheels Keyless entry Power-adjustable steering column Digital instrument panel Additional adjustments for the front seats Front-seat memory settings Navigation systemUnlike the base model, there are numerous packages and stand-alone options for the SE. These include:

　　Dynamic Handling Pack Adaptive dampers Rear spoiler Red brake calipers Black Exterior Styling package Black-painted grille, grille surround, window trim and bumper surrounds Cold Climate Pack Heated steering wheel Heated windshield and washer jets Convenience Pack Soft-closing doors Rear sunshade 20-inch wheels Additional leather trim inside Faux suede headliner Ventilated front seats with massage Heated rear seats 17-speaker audio system Wi-Fi hotspot Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Jaguar and the car in front)SE R-Dynamic

　　Along with the more potent engine and all-wheel-drive powertrain, the SE R-Dynamic includes:

　　Black-painted exterior styling elements Upgraded leather upholsteryAll of the SE's optional extras are available for the R-Dynamic as well.

　　

2021 XF Highlights

Trim: P250 SP250 SEP300 R-Dynamic SEP250 S

　　

Base MSRP	$43,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$165/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles