2014 Jaguar XF

As the flashy F-type makes its U.S. debut for 2014, the XF sedan packs a new turbocharged 2.0-liter and supercharged V-6 AWD configurations to capitalize on the additional showroom traffic. The new base engine sends 240-horsepower to the rear wheels through the latest eight-speed box from the Evoque for 30 mpg on the highway.

The 2014 XF sedan is still looking its best since 2013’s facelift. The slimmer headlamps and standard LED running lights are far more beautiful than the previous XF look. The revamp also reshapes the hood but keeps the center power bulge intact and leaping Jaguar hood badge is a no-cost option.

All the Jag’s beauty is paired with a quicker HDD navigation system for 2014, numerous aero styling packs and eight wheel options. Nearly a dozen leathers and woods, and even real carbon fiber make an appearance on the options list, quite possibly making the XF the most customizable $50,000 vehicle of any kind.

Jaguar’s engineers certainly feel the same way about adding engines and drivetrains to match American buyer priorities. The new turbocharged four-cylinder brings the total to six different XF variants offered in the U.S. in 2014. The top three are the V-8 powered performance models and are a crisp $20,000 more expensive in most cases.

Even so, the cheaper three options are bringing a fierce fight to the volume side of the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 ranges. How fierce? The throaty V-6 can screech to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and the new AWD system’s default torque split sends 90-percent of its 340 horsepower the to the rear wheels.

Exterior

The XF is one of those cars that can look so devastingly beautiful in one image but look oddly normal in others. The answer is all in the wheels and the optional aero packs. The huge sill extension looks best with the matching deeper aero bumpers front and rear. The sill graphic is so extreme that the XF’s design really uses it to flow around the rear wheel arch. It also livens up the lower shapes of the car and lightens the trunk appearance.

Unfortunately, the XF’s gorgeous nose job was not matched out back. The familiar taillight graphic is still very tasteful and now comes standard with internal LED optics. The front LEDs form a pure white arc around the lower headlamp shape before flicking upward to the sides.

The lights are stunning on the road and far less common than the BMW and Audi LED signatures. In an unusual touch that mirrors the new Range Rover, the latest XF runs an LED indicator as the inboard headlamp circle. The standard bi-xenon bulbs operate the low and high beams from the outer projector only.

The other major options to turn up the XF’s volume are the Sport Portfolio packs. These are pricey but include new grille finishes that help lend base XF sedans some of the XFR’s menace. These options also add deeper bumper vents with a new chrome trim piece, even wilder sill flares and a new look for the bumper diffuser.

The wheels can grow from 17 to 20 inches and there is a hot new option called Dark Grey Draco Diamond alloy wheels.

All the four-cylinder and V-6 XF sedans have lavish amounts of standard brightwork up front, in the window frames and in back. The effect is not too tacky because it has a satin-like finish that looks expensive.

Worth noting is that all the aero and sport portfolio styling tweaks cannot be paired with the adaptive cruise control discussed below.

2014 Jaguar XF –Exterior Dimensions:

Wheelbase (in.)	114.5
Length (in.)	195.3
Width incl. Mirrors (in.)	81.8
Height (in.)	57.5
Weight (Pounds)	3,660 / 3,902 (V-6) / 4,050 (AWD)

2014 Jaguar XF – Standard Exterior Features:

• Rear parking aid with Touch-screen visual indicator
• Electric glass sunroof
• Bright side windows surrounds
• Bright mesh grille
• Rain sensing windscreen wipers
• LED rear signature lights
• Automatic Bi-function HID Xenon headlamps with automatic leveling, Headlight washers and LED daytime running lamps; LED front indicators
• Stop/Start Technology

2014 Jaguar XF – Optional Exterior Features:

• Jaguar Leaper
• Aero Kit Front Bumper
• Aero Kit Lower Mesh Grille
• Aero Kit Sculpted Chrome Blade Kit
• Exhaust pipe finishers
• Aero Kit Side Sills
• Carbon-fiber door mirrors
• Carbon-fiber fender vents
• Sport Portfolio Pack with 20-inch Hydra ($8,575): Exterior and Interior sport styling pack consisting of 20-inch Hydra alloy wheels, Aerodynamic pack including unique front bumper with stainless steel gloss black painted lower mesh grilles and gloss black upper grille, extended side sills and rear trunk spoiler, 18x14 sport soft grain perforated leather seats and Piano Black veneer.
• Sport Portfolio Pack with 19-inch Aquilla ($7,000): Exterior and Interior sport styling pack consisting of 19-inch Aquila alloy wheels, Aerodynamic pack including unique front bumper with stainless steel gloss black painted lower mesh grilles and gloss black upper grille, extended side sills and rear trunk spoiler, 18x14 sport soft grain perforated leather seats and Piano Black veneer.

Interior

This interior is very special and will be a daily treat to enjoy. The Jag is instantly a very different atmosphere to all other mainstream vehicles with surfaces and materials that justify its price. First-time passengers will be delighted by the (slightly gimmicky) power air vents and the rising gear selector knob.

The broad aluminum panel that forms the dashboard faceplate is a good example. It looks and feels spectacular next to the twin-stitched leather that wraps the top of the dash panel.

The interior is very roomy and the effect of the sporty roofline is not imposing inside the cabin. Previous Jag sedans had a noticeably low step-in and seat height but the XF is far more modern in that regard. The floor panels and dash up front show no intrusion from the structure underneath or from the addition of AWD components. This is in contrast to Mercedes 4Matic sedans, which still have a large bulge in the passenger seat floor that is not present on the rear-drive models.

Two levels of seat and stereo upgrades are on the table for 2014, plus some new navigation hardware that speeds response time and adds a few helpful mapping features.

The optional seats come with the portfolio packages to include 16-way power adjustments, ventilation, softer leather and a suede cloth headliner that resembles Alcantara. The seats look divine and will be a comfortable place to listen to the new Meridian stereo upgrades. The Meridian 380-watt upgrade replaces the previous Bowers & Wilkins premium hi-fi in response to some critiques about the B&W system’s perceived limitations.

The 825-watt Meridian upgrade is a stand-alone option for $2,300 extra that bulks up the car’s amplifiers and adds five more speakers. Bluetooth streaming audio is standard and well-integrated with iPhones in particular.

The infotainment touchscreen is looking a little dainty these days, but fits nicely within the dash layout. All of the graphics and lighting for the central unit match the phosphor blue mood lighting and the customizable TFT main gauge display. The new features are limited to additional mapping functionalities, like zooming in on complex interchanges and offering lane suggestions.

The core system software stays the same and is generally an easy place to operate all the XF’s settings. There is a noticeable improvement in all button response times and navigation processing speed with the $4,250 Premium pack that runs a HDD-based operating system and also includes 30 GB of internal storage for favorite media.

The Jaguar XF’s main demerit regarding infotainment is the lack of a telematics 3G connection for mobile internet. This also means the Jag lacks the Google Maps and Google Earth navigation visuals available from BMW and Audi.

2014 Jaguar XF – Standard Interior Features:

• Jaguar Smart Key System with Keyless start
• Driver information Center
• JaguarSense lighting control, Phosphor blue halo illumination
• Dual zone climate control
• Electric steering column
• Twin front and rear cupholders
• Garage door opener Homelink
• Twin front and single rear auxiliary power sockets
• Jaguar 250-watt sound system with AM/FM radio, single slot CD player, MP3 disc compatibility and 10 speakers
• 7-inch full-color Touch-screen; Media Hub with iPod and USB port; Audio and Video DVD; Bluetooth with wireless audio streaming

2014 Jaguar XF – Optional Interior Features:

• Convenience Pack ($2,500): Pack includes Keyless entry, Blind Spot Monitor, Autodim exterior mirror, Intelligent High Beam and Electric rear sunblind. In addition, if Premium Pack is also selected, InteractiveVoice is included.
• Premium Package ($4,250): Pack consists of hard-drive based navigation system, music storage and DVD player, 380-watt Meridian sound system with 12 speakers, HD radio, Sirius Satellite Radio (includes 3 month complimentary subscription), reverse park camera with guidance lines on display, front parking aid with touch screen visual indicators and adaptive front lights.
• Portfolio Pack ($4,000): Pack offers 16x12 ways heated and cooled front seats, soft grain leather interior with contrast stitch, suedecloth premium headliner and premium carpeting
• Split fold rear seat w/ski hatch ($600)
• Convenience Pack ($2,500)
• Cold Weather Package ($700)
• Meridian 825-watt Surround Sound System ($2,300): 825-watt surround sound system with 17 loudspeakers including a sub-woofer with 15 channels of amplification featuring Meridian Trifield technology, Cabin correction, DSP-tuned performance and Dynamic Volume Control
• Adaptive Cruise Control ($2,300): The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Forward Alert and Advanced Emergency Brake Assist uses microwave radar technology to monitor for slower moving traffic and can alert you to potential hazards ahead. It can also control both throttle and brakes to help maintain a constant time gap to the vehicle in front.