(Test Drive) New Jaguar XF challenges German brands with style
A new Jaguar XF shows what it can do on a coastal highway in South Jeolla Province. / Courtesy of Jaguar
By Jhoo Dong-chan
British premium brand Jaguar’s stylish new XF sedan aims to boost its presence in the segment dominated by BMW's 5-series and Mercedes' E-Class.
The mid-size sedan has a characteristic British aura inside and out.
The traditional running jaguar emblem on the hood is gone. Instead, a roaring jaguar’s face graces the front grille.
Jaguar Korea held a test drive in the South Jeolla Provincial city of Yeosu, offering a 350 kilometer journey through the region’s costal roads near Namwon, Hamyang and Jinju cities.
The XF’s dynamic hood design offers shades of a sprinting football player, matching perfectly with the sizable front grille and Jaguar’s signature J-Blade LED daytime running lights and headlamps.
The XF’s side lines are more like a coupe than a sedan.
The XF’s leather seats were elaborately stitched, complementing a wood- and metal-colored dashboard.
Although the XF has extended its rear seat space by three centimeters of headroom and knee space, the rear seats are still too small and stuffy. The rear windows are narrow, disturbing the driver’s vision.
The reporter drove the 2.0-liter diesel and 2.5-liter turbo gasoline engine models _ the XF 20d Portfolio and the XF 25t Prestige.
Riding through winding country course, both models offered stable and sharp cornering movement without under- or over steering.
A Jaguar official said, “The XF models have an inside-wheel braking control mode for stable cornering.”
The acceleration of the XF 20d was, however, a little disappointing because its accelerator was a bit too heavy and did not fully respond o the driver’s intention, hesitating one or two seconds.
But the XF 25t Prestige model was a different machine.
The accelerator was much lighter and immediately responsive. Stability during high-speed traveling was also very comfortable over four hours.
Both models have very prompt brake securing safety, even at the high speed.
The XF models also have a 10.2-inch display touch-screen, with which drivers can control navigation and music as well as a smartphone.
On the dashboard, a 12.3-inch full HD screen helps drivers navigate so they do not have to turn their eyes to the center screen.
Clearly distinct from its premium German rivals the XF’s prices range between 63.8 million won and 99.2 million, about the same as BMW’s 5-series or Mercedes’ E-class.