Two Guys and a 2009 Jaguar XF

Our resident Gen Y car buffs took a week to test out a car that’s meant for a completely different demographic, but they still had plenty to rave about. How does a Jaguar win these guys over? Keep reading to find out.  

Scale: Fail, Meh, Win, Epic Win

How does it look?  

Joe Bruzek — Win: The XF is an amazingly handsome sedan that shares many of the qualities I liked so much in the C-XF concept. The XF is more masculine than any Jaguar I can think of — at least when it’s the right color. That masculinity didn’t really translate in our test car, which was a blah “Grand Marquis” beige. The official name of the color is Vapour Gray Metallic and, no lie, I drove past an 80-year-old man driving a Grand Marquis of the same color and quietly let out a sigh of shame.

Eric Rossi — Win: I agree with Joe that the XF is more macho than previous Jaguars (coupes excluded), but mainly when looking at it from the front or front angle. Take a profile of this car, add the Vapour Gray (or whatever you want to call it) paint job and the standard wheels and, I hate to say it, but you’re left with something that just looks ordinary. The interior was very contemporary and had nice materials with a solid feel. Also, I thought the nav was dreadful. The transition between menus apparently deserved a fancy wipe from one screen interface to the next. This would be cool if it didn’t take 8 seconds in which you’re watching a screen instead of the road to change the station or turn on the heated seats.

How does it perform?

JB — Win: Even though we weren’t graced with the supercharged XF, the standard 300-hp V-8 was potent enough, with a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters that performed flawlessly. Many paddle shifters seem like an afterthought, and they rarely shift gears the way I’d like them to, but the XF’s were spot-on and the transmission shifted as fast as I pulled the trigger, making for an engaging driving experience.  

ER — Meh: The standard V-8 was enough to move the XF in a hurry. The transmission was smooth and shifts were definitely quick. The exhaust had a deep, throaty note that added to the fun, but the major downside to me was the suspension. It was so firm I could feel every bump in the road. Those bumps hit hard, too, shaking my iPod and I-PASS in the console. Now, I expect and appreciate this feeling in a Nissan 350Z or Honda S2000, but not in a luxury sedan. The worst part was that the firm suspension didn’t translate to superb handling.

Damage on the wallet?

JB — Fail: Now that there’s something like the Hyundai Genesis sedan, I have to reconsider how far $60,000 goes. I would be just as satisfied in a maxed-out $40,000 Genesis with a more powerful 375-hp V-8. However, passengers consistently oohed and aahed at features like the rotating air vents and retractable gear selector in the XF. But are oohs and aahs really worth an extra $20,000?

ER — Fail: There are a lot of great things about the XF, but none of those things really validate its price (especially not rotating air vents). If I’m going to spend $60,000 on a sedan, it’s going to be a 556-hp Cadillac CTS-V.

Overall: Meh