2010 Jaguar XF Premium

Like our Four Seasons XF, this car has a lovely exterior (like some people, it's better-looking in person than in photos) that envelopes an opulent interior. The new, 5.0-liter V-8 in this example is very refined, with the power being delivered quickly and smoothly through the six-speed ZF transmission. As with every version of the XF that we've driven, this car offers a nice balance between sport and luxury. The steering is perfectly linear, the suspension mellows out the bumps without feeling floaty, and road and wind noise have been nicely filtered out without making you feel like you're completely isolated from the road. Of course, there are still some niggles that we'd like to see fixed: a touch-screen system that is a little slow to respond, a glovebox that seems to take a magician to get open if you don't hit the sensor just right, and the lack of dedicated switches for the seat heaters/ventilators (accessible only through the touch screen). Amy Skogstrom, Managing Editor