The under-the-radar luxury sedan that deserves your attention

Jaguar is in the midst of the biggest company-wide rejuvenation the brand has ever experienced and is reevaluating who they are and what they do from the ground up. The reveal of Jaguar’s future has been one of enormous controversy since the Type 00 was announced. With a refresh of values ​​and perception targeting a horizon of top-of-the-range all-electric luxury cars, it’s hard to ignore the decades of stylish and traditional British design being traded in for something that could alienate the core fanbase.

Just before this transition was set in stone for the public, the last fragments of the Jaguar we knew and loved were released to the world, fragments that we could look at through retro-tinted glasses and still discover its pride and heritage. For those longing for a large-displacement British petrol engine with stylish design cues, Jaguar’s new range may not be for you. But consider a few years ago, some of the true end of an era vehicles were still being made. The ones that were not only real Jaguars, but also cars that the industry forgot.

The Jaguar XF had a great heritage heart that was overshadowed

Regardless of what you think of the brand change currently taking place, just a few years ago Jaguar had wonderful options available for those who needed a traditional sedan. Production of the While most people followed the crowds to F-Paces or German alternatives, the XF was a car that refused to sell its soul over the years, and it will be missed.

The Jaguar XF always remained the luxury sedan that followed its own path, rather than one that the rest of the industry tried to follow. With a stylish and simplistic interior that combines an intuitive touchscreen with tactile buttons and dials, the 2024XF felt like the perfect balance of dynamic modern technology, nestled among a beautiful array of leather and aluminum accents.

Fast performance in immense comfort

The 2021 to 2024 XF comes with the infamous Ingenium engine. ‘Ingenium’ has become a word synonymous with catastrophic failure and bicycle chain-like timing chains. Don’t worry, though: these newer The distribution chain was strengthened and due to the greatly improved thermal management, it was no longer worthy of its negative reputation. And two Ingeniums were used for these 2024 models.

2021 – 2024 Jaguar XF P300 AWD

Although the domain of the ‘performance car’ was more suited to the previous versions of the If you want your XF to blast you with pure power, the older But for most down-to-earth people, the more modern Ingenium four-cylinders are the more mundane but wiser choices.

A masterclass in craftsmanship

While German rivals always opt for the functional, technology-focused interior, Jaguar’s later versions of the XF showed the industry how an interior was done right. With HSE models including soft Windsor leather, grippy cricket ball stitching, curved glass, dials, precision engineered button clicks and a range of interior colors to choose from such as Caraway and Siena Tan, you get a space that feels more than luxurious; something that feels extremely detailed and refined. HSE models also come with a 650-watt Meridian sound system, combined with the Jag’s active road noise cancellation technology, which uses buzz frequencies through the speakers to drown out road noise for excellent acoustics.

More interior features and technology

• Choice of 30 colors in the ambient light system

• Simplified user interface means 90 percent of tasks can be accomplished with one or two taps

• Active air purification in the cabin

• 3D rendered surround 360 degree camera

• Choice of digital or standard rear view mirror

The day-to-day practicalities of owning a Jaguar XF

With the later models of Jaguar XF scoring a respectable 7.5/10 iSeeCars As far as reliability goes, it’s clear that the efforts towards improved durability of the newer Ingenium engine have seriously paid off, and with that in mind, it’s a good time to get one, considering the Jag depreciated in its first few years. Since 2021 to 2023 models range from $21,000 to $35,000 depending on specs and mileage, you get a very modern experience with some of the craftsmanship details that are hard to find under $50,000 in something modern and reliable.

With a generous 17.8 cubic meters of cargo space and ample rear legroom, even for adults, the Jaguar XF is a craftsmanship car that the whole family can enjoy. Not only that, but the efficiency is also decent. With a combined mpg of 24-26 depending on whether you choose the P250 or P300, you can expect the massive 19.5-gallon fuel tank to carry you well over 500 miles on a single fill-up.

Why this was the end of an era for Jaguar

The XF represented the final chapter of the Jaguar we have known and loved for 100 years. Although this tradition has arguably been diluted since the early 21st century, the symbol of something with heritage on its sleeve, quintessential Britishness and craftsmanship in a saloon still lived on in the XF’s dying breath. The end of this model turned out to be one of its strongest legacies, redefined for us. Jaguar wanted a clean slate as part of their ‘reimagined’ strategy, and so the death of the XF marked a farewell to Jag’s internal combustion legacy, and a farewell to traditional sedans.

It’s a real shame that we let the XF go under the radar. While it made prices more competitive and provided excellent opportunities in the used market, it ultimately led to a shift at Jaguar. One that can hopefully usher in a new era that Jaguar can be proud of, and not one that we will regret. Whatever happens, we will miss the V8 roar of a Jag, the feel of the rear wheels powered by internal combustion, and what it felt like to sit in the cabin of a car that felt so close to its heritage and pride.

Sources: Jaguar, AutoEdge, iSeeCars