Jaguar XF Lineup Gets Spruced Up, Pared Down for 2021

Comptes with: Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Looks like: It got tiny, difficult-to-detect nips and tucks outside, but more noticeable changes inside

Powertrain: Two turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinders, one making 246 horsepower and the other 296 hp; eight-speed automatic transmission; rear- or all-wheel drive 

Hits dealerships: January 2021

Jaguar’s XF sedan gets a mild exterior styling update, more upscale cabin materials and a new multimedia system with over-the-air update functionality. There’re also a few things missing on the 2021 XF: The supercharged V-6 engine is gone, as is the Sportbrake wagon variant.

Related: 2019 Jaguar XF Sportbrake Review: Enthusiasts Might Not Rejoice

Exterior 

Updates outside are minor and build off the sedan’s already taut, sprung look. Highlights include slimmer headlights and taillights as well as a new mesh pattern for the grille. The Sportbrake wagon that joined the lineup for model-year 2018 is no longer available for the U.S. market.

Interior 

The biggest updates inside are on the technology front. The 2021 XF uses Jaguar’s new Pivi Pro multimedia system with a curved glass 11.4-inch touchscreen. (It’s also used in the updated 2021 Jaguar F-Pace.)

Jaguar says the new system will be easy to use thanks to a simplified menu structure; the automaker has also added more climate and comfort controls below the screen for quick access and control. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and Pivi Pro allows for over-the-air updates.

Jaguar says the 2021 model’s cabin is a step up thanks to more use of premium materials in front and back like open-pore wood veneers and aluminum trim. Other new creature comforts inside include new waterfall-effect interior lighting and an active noise cancellation system as well as wider, cushier front seats with larger heating and cooling areas. The JaguarDrive Selector got a remake for 2021, too; the prior rotary dial gear selector now looks and feels more like a conventional shifter. Standard interior color choices include Ebony, Light Oyster and Caraway.

Engine and Transmission

Shoppers have two powertrain choices this year: two turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, one making 246 horsepower and the 296 hp. They carry over from 2020 — as does the eight-speed automatic transmission.  Rear-wheel drive is standard;  all-wheel drive is optional with either engine.

The biggest powertrain news for 2021 is what didn’t make it to the new model: The 380-hp, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 is discontinued.

Safety 

A 3D surround-view camera system is standard for 2021. Newly available for 2021 is the Clear Exit Monitor system; it alerts front and rear occupants if a car or cyclist is approaching while they are exiting the vehicle.

Release Date

Jaguar said it expects the XF to go on sale in January.

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