The Jaguar XF is a midsize sedan that drives more like a smaller car. While the rear seats are cramped and the price tag is a bit high, the wide range of engine options is attractive. The design is impeccable, and across the board, each trim is more than adequate for daily use or joyriding. Given its short history, the XF has come a long way and is one of the best vehicles in its class.
New For 2013
The addition of a four-cylinder and a V-6 to the engine lineup mean the 2013 XF is more affordable and more efficient. All-wheel drive, available only with the V-6, is an option for the first time. A new eight-speed automatic replaces the old six-speed across the line. The V-6 and the V-8 incorporate auto stop/start to improve efficiency.
Exterior
The 2013 Jaguar XF features a low roofline and a recently reworked front fascia that looks extremely attractive with a reshaped grille and vents. The exterior also benefits from a very minimal amount of chrome trim in just the right spots, smooth lines throughout the build, and the Jaguar signature lighting pattern for the headlights. The taillights extend onto the trunk's lid and a wide range of wheel options.
The XF comes standard with 18-inch alloy with a sunroof, auto-leveling HID headlamps with a washing system, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The XF Portfolio adds 19-inch alloy wheels and adaptive headlights. The XFR and XF Supercharged receive 20-inch alloy wheels and aerodynamic improvements. The XFR receives a unique fascia design.
Overall, the exterior is extremely charming, even if the low roofline causes some space issues within the cabin. There are options for directionally adaptive headlights on all models except the XFR, which comes with them as standard fare. The rear liftgate window does not open.
Interior & Cargo
The 2013 Jaguar XF comes standard with leather seating, a built-in hard drive for music and navigation storage, and a 10-speaker audio system. The audio system includes an AM/FM/CD radio, MP3 playback, and an auxiliary jack for iPod integration. The XF also comes standard with cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and a rear parking system.
The XF Portfolio adds heated and ventilated seating, softer leather, different leather trimming, and a smart key system. Also added to the XF Portfolio is the memorization system that memorizes seating and steering wheel positions for two drivers. The XF Supercharged adds an 11-speaker audio system with a subwoofer and a blind-spot monitoring system.
Interior options include several different aluminum or wood trims and different leather options. There is also a Bowers and Wilkins audio system available. Overall, the interior comes loaded down with the usual gadgets and some specialty gadgets, and each trim comes with a little bit more than the last.
Safety
The 2013 Jaguar XF comes standard with anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, and traction and stability control systems. The airbags include dual front, side, and side-curtain airbags for each passenger's safety. Also included are overhead airbags and a passenger detection sensor that only deploys the passenger-side airbags if someone is present. The emergency brake assist system will apply the brakes if the possibility of a collision is likely. The XF also features a valet mode, which limits the car to low speeds. The XF comes standard with an anti-theft alarm system as well.
An impressive safety option is the adaptive cruise control that will apply the brakes or acceleration to stay a certain distance from other cars. Parking assist is standard, as are blind-spot monitoring and tire-pressure monitoring systems. The V6 SC is the only model that doesn't receive blind-spot monitoring as standard fare.
In European crash tests, the 2012 XF received four out of five stars, which is some indication of the safety for this year's model. Overall, the large amounts of safety features make the Jaguar XF appear safe.
Driving Experience
The 2013 Jaguar XF comes with plenty of engine options. The base is equipped with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 240 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. The Supercharged receives a 470-hp, 5.0-liter, V-8 engine, and the XFR gets the large 5.0-liter, V-8 engine that produces 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. Also available is a 340-hp, 3.0-liter, V-6 engine for the Supercharged, which can also be paired up with all-wheel drive for additional safety and handling.
The fuel economy varies between engine sizes. The small, four-cylinder engine receives an estimated 19/29 mpg city/highway. The V-6 receives 18/28 mpg city/highway for front drive and 15/26 mpg city/highway for all-wheel drive. The V-8 engine gets an estimated 15/23 mpg city/highway.
The XF handles like a much smaller car than it is, and acceleration is impressive. The ride is smooth, road noise is minimal, and the base can reach zero to 60 mph in just 7.5 seconds, which is impressive for such a small engine. The V-6 is even quicker going from zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds. The XFR receives high top speeds and about the same amount of acceleration. The powerful engines make the ride fun, and any of the performance issues seen with the introduction of the XF are pretty much cleared now.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Jaguar XF
- Audi A6
- BMW 5 Series
- Infiniti M56
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class