Test Drive: 2010 Jaguar XF

This Kitty Really Purrs

The last time I drove a Jaguar car was 1986, I think. I was staying with friends in Silver Spring, Maryland and the XJ had once belonged to my friend's mother. I drove the car to Annapolis to visit friends I had left behind at the U.S. Naval Academy. I remember concluding that the Jag was a nice ride but not for me, mostly because I did not find it very attractive.

Fast forward 23 years. The 2010 XF is a sleek, swift, powerful cat capable of taming tight urban jungles and wide open highway ranges. I am quite impressed with the way it looks and the way it handles, though I feel it falls a bit short in terms of sportiness in the handling category. It lacks nothing in terms of luxury. One look at the XF made my eyes get wide and my jaw drop open. Once I gathered myself, the word "Wow" escape my mouth. That process repeated itself when I got inside.

The XF is loaded with gadgets that put new and interesting twists on old standards. Steering wheel controls for the sound system and cruise control are, themselves, wheels that, at times, felt awkward only because they are different than any others I had ever used. The glove compartment opens in a unique way. Instead of the typical lever on the compartment door, you touch a small sensor on the wood veneer, and voila! The compartment pops open. But, the feature everyone talked about was the gear shifter. It's a round knob that recesses into the console when the car is off and rises when you start the engine. Quite cool.

Speaking of starting the car, that happens at the push of button as long as your foot is on the brake pedal and the smart key fob is with you. Oh, what a nice sound the engine makes. And, oh what a nice ride it provides.

Appearance

The XF has a classic Jaguar profile with a 21st Century flair. The front grill has hints of Bentley while the rear fascia reminds me of a low-slung Lexus LS460. The frost blue color of my test model was absolutely gorgeous. It set the car off. The 20-inch wheels and performance tires also helped give the car an aggressive stance, much like the big feline for which the company is named.

Power

The XF has a 5.0 liter V8 engine that produces 385 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration is brisk, but not necessarily sporty. It felt more like a flagship sedan than a performance sedan. That said, cruising the highway was a pure joy. Passing power is great and the ride is always smooth and quiet.

You do pay for all of this power at the pump. The XF requires premium gasoline and gets an EPA estimated 16 MPG in city driving and 23 MPG on the highway. I averaged a little over 14 MPG during my test week. The enjoyment I got out of driving the car made that expense well worth it.

Comfort

The XF's interior is gorgeous. My test model had the ivory/oyster leather seats with burl walnut veneer trim. Sitting in the car truly makes you feel royal. A couple of my friends sat in the car and felt the same way. While the seats did feel a bit narrow, they were quite comfortable and provided great driving support. Leg room is ample and despite the low-profile roof, head room is also plentiful. Rear passengers will also find very comfortable confines.

Features

In addition to the features discussed earlier, the 2010 XF includes a wide range of standard features. Safety and security features include active head restraints, side curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitor system. On the comfort and convenience list, you will find a blind spot monitor system in the side view mirrors, a touchscreen navigation system and a 320-watt sound system which includes a 6-disc CD changer and iPod connectivity with the special cable included. I was impressed when I plugged my iPod in and the Jaguar logo appeared on the player's screen. But, I was disappointed when the system read my iPod music library, but would not access all of the folders. I was able to play some but not all. The same held true for the Bluetooth connection for the phone. The system read my phonebook, but I could not access numbers alphabetically.

Summary

Overall, the 2010 Jaguar XF is impressive. Great looks, great comfort, and for a luxury sedan, not a bad price. The base model XF starts at $52,000. The XF Premium starts at $57,000. Add the Portfolio package, included on my test model, and the starting price goes to $61,000. Those who require supercharged power can opt for the XFR which starts at $80,000. A 4-year/50,000 mile warranty is standard on all models.