Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Jaguar XF review – design

Not Jag’s finest saloon design of the era, but it’s inoffensive and handsome, if a little benign

Evo rating
RRP
from £32,585
  • Sophisticated chassis with superb ride quality; interior design and tech now a real highlight; priced well below rivals
  • Lacklustre powertrains; imprecise transmission; crying out for a performance derivative

With so much attention lavished on the interior, it’s not surprising to see the exterior has gone through a rather more subtle set of changes focused around the front bumper and wheel designs. New LED headlights, a larger grille and fresh lower intakes signify the bulk of the XF’s changes, and while all are sensitively applied, the XF still lacks the aggressive confidence of the smaller XE or the stature of German rivals.  

Advertisement - Article continues below

The XF’s stretched side profile and tapered tail remain mostly unchanged. Jag’s designers have attempted to draw attention to the rear end’s width with a new lower bumper section around the rear, but it looks clumsy and poorly integrated, with the exhaust and muffler behind visible as the bodywork tapers up towards the rear wheels.

> New Jaguar Land Rover electric car roadmap will see Jag become a pure EV brand

Where the Jaguar saloon goes after this XF has run its course is what we’re most curious about, With the next XJ (if it does indeed ever arrive) eschewing the traditional bootlid for a lift-back, not to mention managing without an internal combustion engine, what this means for the next generation XF, if indeed Jaguar keeps its fingers in this marketplace, remains the more pertinent question. With a new helmsman at the wheel in design director Gerry McGovern’s new JLR-wide oversight, Jaguar’s future product is sure to get a shake up regardless, with this XF most likely to see the chop if the market’s current trendline continues.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

VW Golf GTI Clubsport for £6k off – Akrapovic exhaust effectively thrown in free
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport deal
News

VW Golf GTI Clubsport for £6k off – Akrapovic exhaust effectively thrown in free

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport in Mk8.5 guise makes for a tempting prospect at the right price
3 Jul 2025
New Alpine A290 Rallye is an electric car we actually want, but there's a catch
Alpine A290 Rallye
News

New Alpine A290 Rallye is an electric car we actually want, but there's a catch

The A290 has proven to be one of the best performance EVs yet, and now Alpine's taking it one step further with a rally variant
3 Jul 2025
Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Best used sports cars – proper performance cars for less than a new Golf GTI

With the sun shining and fuel prices palatable, now is the time to indulge your used sports car desires
1 Jul 2025