2019 Jaguar XF

The 2019 Jaguar XF has dropped the base trim this year and introduced a new limited-run trim with a higher state of tune version of the base engine. With this, the XF is available in 5 trims starting from the ‘Premium’ trim which is priced at $49,965 all the way up to the ‘S’ with AWD and a supercharged V6 that costs $67,625. The 2019 Jaguar XF competes with the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, and the Mercedes-Benz E Class sedan in the luxury midsize sedan segment.

When it comes to trims and features available for the Jaguar XF, Jaguar provides a wide range of options with 5 trims on offer for the XF. The range of trims starts from the ‘Premium’ trim offered with an RWD drivetrain all the way up to the ‘S’ trim exclusively available with an AWD configuration. The AWD on the other trims can be added for an extra $3,000. The base ‘Premium’ trim offers some really good features such as a Meridian sound system, dual-zone automatic climate control, LuxTec leatherette upholstery, and a lot more while the higher trims add more to the creature comforts, safety aids, and come with a more powerful version of the base powertrain. 

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The XF Prestige AWD seems to be the choice to go for in the wide range of trim choices that the XF comes in. The Prestige trim offers all the features available in the base trim plus a few more creature comfort features. Add to that the AWD can be had for three grand extra and still you won’t breach the sixty grand mark.

The 2019 Jaguar XF is available with two powertrain options and two states of tunes for the base engine. The standard powertrain option on the XF is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 247 horsepower and 269 lb-ft. of torque. The same engine with a higher state of tune is available on the 300 Sport trim and it produces 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. The base engine seems to be the one with better fuel economy but lacks performance while the latter offers better performance with a slight hit at the fuel economy. That said, the base engine feels smooth and refined with well-contained turbo lag.

Both the engines are mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch ZF automatic transmission that works seamlessly to get you an adequate amount of power right when you need it. All the trim levels are offered in an RWD drivetrain configuration and have an optional AWD drivetrain as well. Only the ‘S’ trim is available with just an AWD and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine that puts out a beefy 380 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. This particular engine is the one that does justice to the XF and exploits the full potential of the brilliant chassis that the XF underpins.

Talking about the engine performance parameters such as the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile timings, the XF won’t impress you as much as its German counterparts would. It does a 0-60 mph sprint in 6.4 seconds and can cover a quarter-mile in 15.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 155 mph which is on par with its rivals. 

All the rivals offer a similar 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine but the Audi A6 puts out the best 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Jaguar’s 0-60 mph and quarter-mile figures might not be the best in class, but the engine does perform exactly how it’s supposed to perform. Although it manages to only beat the Mercedes-Benz E-Class by one-tenth of a second in the 0-60 mph run. While the Audi A6 clocks the fastest 0-60 mph timing of 6 seconds and the BMW 5-Series comes next with 6.1 seconds 0-60 mph time.

Ride and Handling

The XF might not seem like the best handling sedan in its class, it still has phenomenal driving dynamics considering it is an executive saloon that is priced lower than most of its rivals. The 50-50 weight distribution along with the lightweight aluminum chassis and modern torque vectoring systems ensure that the XF is a bliss to drive around and has the right amount of grip and confidence around the corners.

The suspension system does a fantastic job of dampening out all the undulations and potholes. This helps the XF achieve great stability on the tarmac without unsettling the occupants inside the cabin. Both the RWD and AWD drivetrain systems offer a decent amount of confidence and the AWD system transfers a significant amount of power to the rear wheels.

Braking Performance

For an executive sedan, the brakes in the 2019 Jaguar XF performed really well in panic braking. The XF is one of the lightest cars in the segment with a curb weight of just 3,590 lbs. This not only gives the XF an excellent drive quality but also aids its braking performance as it doesn’t need the biggest of brakes to stop. The front rotors on the XF are 12.8 inches in diameter and the rear rotors are of the same dimensions too. The lesser curb weight and adequate amount of braking power help the Jaguar XF to brake from 60-0 mph in 116 feet which are decent for the segment.

The Audi A6 with the heftiest curb weight managed to brake from 60-0 mph in just 109 feet courtesy of the biggest brakes it gets in the segment. But the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the real winner of this comparison as it took just 106 feet to brake from 60-0 mph. That is a full 10 feet less than what the XF took to brake from 60-0 mph.

Fuel economy is one of the Jaguar XF’s best attributes as it offers the best in class fuel economy and range in the segment while being on par in terms of the powertrain and performance with the rest of the cars. The EPA estimates the XF to return a combined fuel economy of 28 mpg while delivering 25 mpg and 34 mpg in the city and on the highway respectively. The higher state of tune of the base engine sees a drop of 2 mpg in the city and 3 mpg on the highway. While the supercharged V6 with the AWD manages to return 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Irrespective of the engine options all the XFs come with a 19.5-gallon fuel tank that helps it to offer the best 546 miles of combined range in the segment.

Among the rivals, none were able to beat the EPA estimates of the Jaguar XF. Only the BMW 5-Series managed to come close to Jaguar XF in terms of fuel economy with 24/34/27 mpg in city/highway/combined respectively. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class remained the least efficient among all and returned 4 mpg less compared to the Jaguar XF in the city and on the highway.

Jaguar has proven their craftsmanship and designing prowess throughout the years through various cars that have been equally opulent in the interior as well as the exterior. The XF boasts some really good interior features and creature comforts in the base trim and the list of features just adds on as you go through the trim levels.

The interior layout has signature Jaguar elements like the single curved line that extends from one door to the other through the dashboard as well as the rotary drive selector that pops out once the car is switched on. The dashboard is available in single as well as dual-tone color options along with the metal trim inserts that make the interior seem rich and adds a modern taste to it.

The front bucket seats are 10-way power-adjustable seats with LuxTec leatherette upholstery. The dual-tone interior along with metal trim inserts make the interior a special place to be in. Along with power tilt/telescopic options, the steering wheel is also leather-wrapped with metal inserts. The XF has the best front row legroom in the segment which further adds to space and comfort inside.

The rear seats are 40/20/40 split-bench seats which have a LuxTec leatherette upholstery. There is an excellent amount of space in the second row for the occupants to be seated without feeling cramped or uncomfortable. Both the front and the second row have cup holders and the dual-zone automatic climate control unit does an excellent job of keeping the cabin cool and ventilated.

The cargo capacity too is one of the largest in the segment with 17.8 cu-ft. of trunk space on offer. The cargo opening is nice and wide and has lighting inside as well. There is a metal scuff plate at the edge to protect the paint job from any abrasions caused while loading and unloading your luggage.

The Jaguar XF seems to have an adequate amount of space both in the front and second-row for the occupants to be comfortable and relaxed for a long period of time. Speaking about the cargo space, the XF has the second largest capacity in the segment with the BMW 5-Series leading the segment with its 18.7 cu-ft. of cargo capacity. The Audi A6 that managed to have the better rear legroom than the XF lagged considerably with only 13.7 cu-ft. of cargo space compared to XF’s approximately 4 cu-ft. bigger trunk. 

Some of the noteworthy interior features are listed below:

• Rotary drive selector
• LuxTec leatherette upholstery
• Memory settings for the mirrors and steering wheel
• 3 stage heated front bucket seats
• Full simulated suede headliner
• Keyless remote entry and power cargo access
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Heated and ventilated front seats (available)
• Heated rear seats (available)

How intuitive is the car’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system might not feel as intuitive as the ones that you get in its German rivals. But the infotainment system has some features that make the XF one of the best choices with a lower asking price. The infotainment display is a 10-inch touchscreen multi-information display unit which is really great to look at but lacks the responsiveness and friendly interface that its counterparts offer. 

The infotainment system hosts various features such as HD radio, SatNav, InControl Protect system as well as connectivity features like Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and WiFi internet access hotspot. The music system is certainly one of the XF’s major USPs as it offers a 380-watt Meridian Surround Sound system with 11 speakers in its basic trim level. Choosing the higher trims would unlock the 825-watt Meridian Surround Sound System with 17 speakers.

Some of the noteworthy infotainment features are listed below:

• Infotainment system w/ voice command and gesture control
• SiriusXM AM/FM/HD/Satellite
• Meridian Surround Sound System
• Speed sensitive volume control
• Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity
• Auxiliary audio input jack
• 10-inch touchscreen infotainment display 
• WiFi internet access hotspot

One of the key changes to the XF compared to the previous model year version has been the fact that the 2019 Jaguar XF has a newly developed aluminum chassis that has cut the curb weight by approximately 265 lbs. This change has led to better drive quality and experience and has definitely made the XF quicker and more agile than the previous version. The exterior design looks distinctively Jaguar with the Jaguar head logo on the front grille and the prancing Jaguar logo on the rear. The flowing roofline and wide stance of the XF make it a really handsome car and give it a tinge of British automotive design flair. Standard exterior features include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, etc. Having said that, the higher trims get the choice of 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels. 

At 3,590 lbs., the XF is the lightest car in the segment. Add to that the 50-50 weight distribution and the 116.4-inch wheelbase, and the XF’s ride quality is one of the most balanced and nimble among the rivals. Although at 116.4 inches, the XF’s wheelbase slots in between the largest and the smallest wheelbase in this comparison. As for the other dimensions, the XF measuring 195-inches in length and 78.2-inches in width, is the longest and the widest sedan among the rivals. While the BMW 5-Series with 58.2-inches height remains taller than the XF by 0.8-inches.

Some of the noteworthy exterior features are listed below:

• Sunroof with power sunshade
• Power folding mirrors
• Adaptive headlights
• Cameras and radars for 360-degree surveillance
• 19-inch alloy wheels on XF Prestige
• 20-inch alloys on XF S variant
• XF S gets a new S-body kit and rear-mounted spoiler

The Jaguar XF is nothing short of impressive when it comes to safety features and its overall safety quotient. The XF doesn’t have an overall safety rating from agencies like the NHTSA and IIHS as of now but its newly developed chassis as well as structural integrity paired with the number of safety features onboard all suggest that the XF is one of the safest cars in the segment without a doubt.

The safety features onboard range from simple and basic features such as ABS, Traction Control, and ESC all the way up to the latest safety and driver-assist features like lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and so on.

Some of the standout safety features are listed below:

• Emergency Braking Assist
• Forward collision warning
• Blind-Spot and Lane Keeping Assist (available) 
• Departure Warning System (available)
• Accident Avoidance System (available)
• Post-Collision Safety System (available)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring (available)

2019 Jaguar XF vs. 2019 Audi A6

The Audi A6 is one of the closest rivals to the XF in terms of performance and cabin space. The Audi A6 is only available in Quattro versions which means that there is only an AWD drivetrain irrespective of the trim level. This does give it a fair bit of advantage over the Jaguar but the Jaguar can be had with an AWD and still would be approximately one grand cheaper than the Audi, this kind of negates that advantage. That said, the Jaguar XF has more trim levels and engine choices to offer than the Audi A6 and certainly has the best in class fuel economy.

2019 Jaguar XF vs. 2019 BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 Series sedan is known as one of the best-handling cars in the segment and the XF seems to perform pretty close. The XF offers more options in terms of trim levels and certainly is the cheapest in the segment to start with. Both of these cars have near to identical performance figures and it really depends upon the potential customer and their preferences when it comes to choosing between these two.

2019 Jaguar XF vs. 2019 Mercedes-Benz E Class

The Mercedes-Benz E Class sedan is one of the best cars in the segment when it comes to infotainment and creature comfort features. The Jaguar XF on the other hand is lighter, is more nimble and agile on the road, and certainly packs more cargo capacity which makes it a better value for money and a practical sedan compared to the E-Class.

What the 2019 Jaguar XF truly offers in the segment is value for money and a range of engine options to choose from. This increases the number of potential customers as the XF with its various trim levels and engine options and a price range of $50k to $70k manages to cater to a wide audience. Other than that the XF has better ride and handling and offers the best-in-class gas mileage. It has a bigger trunk space and offers a spacious cabin for the occupant. Thus to conclude the XF is among the best luxury midsize sedans in the segment.