Jaguar XF

The Jaguar XF is an executive luxury sedan introduced by Jaguar Cars in 2007 to replace the S-Type. Serving as a pivotal milestone in Jaguar's shift toward modern design, the XF inherited the design philosophy of the XK sports car, establishing a distinctive British sporting character in the executive sedan segment through its sleek, dynamic styling, lightweight aluminium architecture, and sports car-inspired chassis tuning. The XF lineup was offered in various body styles, including the standard saloon, Sportbrake estate, and the high-performance XFR.

In 2024, Jaguar announced the retirement of six models, including the XF, marking the formal conclusion of this iconic nameplate's production run.

Model Overview

Positioned as an executive sports sedan, the XF primarily rivals established German contenders such as the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Audi A6. In the Chinese market, Jaguar introduced a locally built long-wheelbase variant, the XFL, to cater to demand for greater rear legroom. The imported standard-wheelbase XF was available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. In terms of pricing, the imported XF carried a recommended retail price ranging from RM455,800 to RM1,888,000. The new-generation XF was priced between RM518,000 and RM808,000.

Design Language

Penned by Jaguar’s design team, the XF blends the dynamic cues of the XK sports car with the poised elegance of a modern luxury saloon. The front fascia is dominated by a prominent grille bearing the signature Jaguar growler emblem, flanked by slim LED headlamp clusters that lend the car a low, wide, and aggressive stance. In profile, the sleek silhouette is defined by a long bonnet and a stubby rear deck, resulting in classic rear-wheel-drive sports car proportions. The roofline flows seamlessly toward the rear, marrying visual grace with aerodynamic efficiency.

Inside, the XF pioneered the rotary gear selector (JaguarDrive Selector™) — a rotary dial that rises smoothly from the centre console upon engine start, delivering a striking sense of occasion and theatre. The air conditioning vents, which sit flush with the dashboard when switched off, rotate open gracefully upon ignition — a bespoke touch that became a defining hallmark of the XF. The cabin is trimmed in premium leather, real wood veneers, and aluminium accents, complemented by 10-colour configurable ambient lighting to curate an unmistakably British luxury ambiance.

Powertrain and Performance

The XF was offered with an extensive selection of powertrains. For the petrol lineup, the core offering is Jaguar’s in-house developed Ingenium 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, outputting 240 hp (177 kW) and 340 Nm of peak torque. The higher-spec 3.0-litre supercharged V6 was available in two states of tune: 340 hp (250 kW) and 380 hp (280 kW), both generating 450 Nm of torque. Select early models also offered 4.2-litre supercharged V8 and 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 options. Crowning the performance range was the flagship XFR-S, powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 churning out 550 hp. Power across the range is channelled via a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0T variants complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in roughly 7.9 seconds, while the 3.0T achieves the century sprint in around 5.9 seconds. The latest-generation XF also adopted a 48V mild-hybrid (MHEV) system, further improving fuel efficiency and auto start-stop refinement.

Chassis and Handling

The XF’s chassis remains one of its standout strengths in the segment. Built upon Jaguar’s iQ aluminium-intensive architecture, the body structure incorporates up to 75% aluminium, significantly shedding kerb weight while providing exceptional torsional rigidity. The suspension setup pairs a front double-wishbone independent suspension derived from the F-TYPE with an integral multi-link rear suspension. The suspension links extensively utilize forged aluminium to minimise unsprung mass. Benefiting from a near-perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, the XF features Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) delivering communicative road feedback and pinpoint accuracy. The chassis setup strikes a fine balance between sharp, agile handling and pliant ride comfort, with a low centre of gravity keeping body roll well-contained in corners. Drivetrain options include both front-engine rear-wheel drive and front-engine all-wheel drive.

Cabin and Technology

On the infotainment front, the XF came fitted with the InControl infotainment system. Later facelifted iterations were updated with the Pivi Pro 2.0 system, featuring an 11.4-inch or 14.1-inch curved HD touchscreen with gesture control, voice recognition, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Drivers also benefit from a fully digital instrument cluster. Audiophiles are catered to by a premium Meridian surround sound system from the renowned British audio specialist.

Creature comforts include four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless smartphone charging. For cargo space, the saloon provides a standard boot capacity of 500 litres, while the Sportbrake estate offers 565 litres, expanding to 1,700 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Thanks to its aluminium-intensive monocoque construction, the XF achieves superb structural rigidity and crash protection alongside weight savings. Passive safety gear includes a comprehensive suite comprising dual front airbags, front side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, and a driver's knee airbag. In terms of active safety, the sedan is equipped with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Assist (BSA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Queue Assist, offering Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability.

Market Performance and Reception

Since its launch in 2007, the XF earned widespread global acclaim for its svelte styling and class-leading driving dynamics. However, in an executive saloon segment dominated by the German trio, it struggled to break their market stranglehold. In 2023, the XF recorded global deliveries of only 10,900 units. In China, the Jaguar brand logged total sales of approximately 5,000 units in 2025, representing a steep 55% year-on-year drop. In terms of resale value, Jaguar’s three-year residual value hovered at just 38.6%, trailing behind most competing luxury marques. In 2024, Jaguar confirmed the end of production for six models, including the XF, drawing the curtain on this distinguished nameplate.

Automotive media consensus highlighted the XF’s core USPs as its timeless British styling, aluminium-rich chassis, and driver-focused dynamics. Its double-wishbone front suspension and balanced 50:50 weight distribution delivered standout agility and steering precision. On the flip side, drawbacks included brand cachet trailing the German Big Three (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi), tighter rear cabin space, and steeper depreciation. As an executive saloon that seamlessly merged British elegance with sports car handling, the Jaguar XF has carved out a memorable chapter in automotive history. While the XF’s internal combustion engine era has come to an end amid Jaguar’s full shift toward all-electric powertrains, its engineering innovations and design language will continue to shape the brand's future lineage.