2015 Jaguar XF 3.0 Supercharged Portfolio Review & Test Drive

posted by Malcolm Hogan
Filed under Automotive, Jaguar, Test Drives

Jaguar has branded themselves in a position that is raising eyebrows as of late. The introduction of vehicles like the F-Type and F-Type Coupe have stunned many and even pushed the envelope of audible delight in their symphonic clattering exhaust notes. On the other end of the Jaguar cat family you have insinuating purring from the midsized XF luxury sedan, which I had the chance to revisit for a week this time equipped with the 3.0-liter Supercharged V6 engine.

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The new generation of the Jaguar XF is a major leap forward from the old S-Type that, I hate to say, was utterly despised by enthusiasts. The XF, on the other hand, I totally get as it is a viable competitor to BMW’s 5 series, the Benz E Class and the Audi A6. By Jaguar offering many trim levels and engine choices, nearly 8 different trim variations for 2015, the XF has been put in a league to run with the most modest and best of the midsized luxury sedan pack.

The clever use of the Jaguar XF’s 3.0-liter Supercharged V6, signifying a broad middle row of XF trim offerings, brings the best of a few elements to such a vehicle. For one, power from the Supercharged V6 is strong at 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Sending power to the rear wheels or by means of an optional advanced all-wheel-drive system, the Jaguar XF is quite the enduring road going cat. The solid chassis and its stability meet most of enthusiast’s demands on public roads yet appeases to the luxury side for conservative cruisers.

Power from the Supercharged V6 is smooth and predictable. The rear wheels tend to break loose upon hard acceleration while turn in nearly wallows a bit where the rear wheels don’t feel as connected as you expect in this class of a mid-sized luxury sports sedan. Quite possibly, the optional all-wheel-drive system is eager to rectify this slight misnomer. Otherwise, the Jaguar XF feels connected and the ride quality is a nice balance of sport and luxury, never harsh or spongy going over road imperfections.

The efficiency of Jaguar’s 3.0-liter Supercharged V6 falls a little short to meeting the fierce competition with nearly the same displacement and power output. Coupled with start-stop technology, fuel consumption comes in at an EPA estimated 18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. At times I saw just above 29 mpg on the highway while city driving ate into the 18 mpg figure, yielding about 17.1 mpg. I guess this cat’s performance requires a serious appetite for premium fuel.

Inside of the Jaguar XF is a familiar layout that remains to be clean and tidy in design. Much of infotainment controls are simplified and accessed through the smallish 7-inch color LCD touch screen. The interface, one that has been a slight disappointment over the years due to lagging menus and control inputs, shows its age but remains functional if you can get past its few shortcomings. It’s one thing to claim its user friendliness, but only to the point of withstanding a few slow-responding controls at times – it’s rather unpredictable.

Apart from the infotainment system, housing many desirable luxury and Bluetooth connectivity features, the dashboard’s clean slate exudes just the right amount of luxury from its padded leather surface down to the wood and aluminum trim. In true Jaguar style, the motorized closing/opening air vents make the dashboard appear even cleaner when the ignition is turned off. The gauge cluster follows the clean-design theme with neatly-printed small fonts for the speedometer and RPM dials. The center cluster color LCD screen is only put to use with limited vehicle information and a simplified trip computer. Otherwise, it fits a somewhat monotonous premise, which isn’t a bad thing considering how the Jaguar XF’s audacious exterior does most of the talking.

The exterior of the Jaguar XF continues its stylish design that is delightful and pleasing to the eye. The few small changes over the years to the headlight clusters and emblem color all accentuate the XF, helping it to stand out a bit more than it has in the past. Moreover, the only option on my XF test vehicle, the eye-popping Italian Racing Red exterior paint color, does justice for the flowing body lines. Where some colors lose the slopping roofline and bulging hood in translation, such bold a color for an additional $1,500, is well worth admission if you want to be noticed. No timid cat here.

Seating areas for the 2015 Jaguar XF follow the formula that you expect in a mid-sized luxury sedan. Up front, the heated and ventilated leather seats form to your posterior with light bolstering, just enough support for the 3.0 Supercharged XF’s on-road agility. The rear seating proves to be just enough space for someone nearly 6-feet tall, but not much over. The sharply sculpted roofline flowing into the trunk lid cuts down on headroom but you will find just enough slope of the suede-like headliner to place your head – provided you are at or under 6 feet tall.

The sum of the 2015 Jaguar XF’s parts all harmonize for a luxury sports sedan that just about anyone can agree on with its styling. Jaguar has been among the best at their design inspiration in appeasing large crowds, and the 2015 Jaguar XF follows suit in that same aspect.

In the value department it is surprising to find the price point of my nicely-appointed 2015 Jaguar XF 3.0 Supercharged test vehicle having an MSRP of $57,175 and an as-tested price of $59,600. At such a price, the XF remains in a competitive spot to run amongst its direct competition captivating many due to its long list of standard luxury amenities, such as heated/ventilated seats, adaptive HID headlights, and a powerful Supercharged V6 engine. The 2015 Jaguar XF 3.0 Supercharged is the methodical tamed cat with a daily grooming service patiently waiting in its corner for a chance to spring into action.