2012 Jaguar XF 2.2d Premium Luxury: owner review

Owner Review

04:0425 July 2021

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I'd always loved the look of the Jaguar XF.

What we love

Looks and handling, Handling, Economy, Comfort, Boot space

What we don't

Nothing

That it was built when Jaguar had become a division of Ford gave me confidence. I'd grown up with Jaguar owners saying that they needed two cars - one to drive while the other was in the garage being worked on.

I was fortunate to purchase a MY2012 car in mid-2014. It was a one-owner with 32,000km on the clock. In Odyssey Red with barley interior, chrome grille and Lyra 18-inch mag wheels, it was a case of love at first sight. When I first sat in it, I was in heaven.

It was my first diesel-powered car. I had been more accustomed to turbine-smooth BMWs, so was just a little apprehensive when I heard the Jaguar's gurgling diesel engine. I soon got over that.

Being a turbo diesel, it doesn't have the immediate responsiveness of a petrol engine. I soon adjusted to that too. The 8-speed ZF transmission is silky smooth. There are override paddles on the steering wheel which I've never needed to use.

On winding country roads, its handling with Pirelli P7 tyres is competently reassuring. The fact that its braking effort is first directed to the back wheels ensures stability under hard braking. That's also reassuring.

On a flat highway, cruising at 110km/h, fuel consumption is as low as 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres. On winding and hilly roads, it's typically 5.3L/100km. Not too bad for a car with an unladen weight of 1735kg.

The XF has been totally reliable in the 55,000km that I've driven it, mostly on longer trips. It is a superb cruising car. With 87,000km on the clock, it's running sweetly.

Some mates have said that I should trade it in and acquire a newer model. Why would I when I love what I have? What more could I want? A low-kilometre Jaguar XF with a larger turbo diesel? That's unlikely.

If I should ever part with this Jag XF, I won't be climbing into a Jaguar E-Pace or ay other EV. My gratuitous recommendation to Jag's current owners, Sata, is to develop a hybrid. The enjoyment of having a beautiful cruising car should not be compromised by the limited availability of battery charging stations.

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