Jaguar XF saloon

Drive

The sporty steering feels reassuringly heavy, and the XF offers masses of grip through corners. The 2.2-litre and 3.0-litre diesel versions impress with a supple ride and good motorway comfort. Brakes are strong, and the rear-wheel-drive chassis is responsive and agile. With 510bhp, the supercharged XFR version delivers incredible pace. There's an almost theatrical quality to the XF's interior that makes driving it even more special. When you turn on the ignition, the air vents swivel dramatically into position, and the barrel-shaped gear selector rises up out of the centre console. This unusual feature controls a smooth shifting automatic gearbox

Comfort

The XF's suspension combines driving enjoyment and comfort. The ride is firm, but flagship versions feature a suspension system called Adaptive Dynamics which constantly makes tiny adjustments to chassis settings to deal with bumps in the road. This feature also boosts stability, allowing you to tackle winding roads with real confidence. Inside, the front seats offer plenty of support, although rear leg and headroom could be better.

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Reliability

Thanks to its solid feel, the XF immediately comes across as being well built. There were two minor recalls in 2008, but none since then. The XF achieved second place for overall appeal in the 2010 Driver Power survey, although it only placed in 47th in terms of reliability. The 2010 JD Power survey also positioned the XF in second place. All cars have traction and stability control as standard.

Practicality

While the XF is more practical than its predecessor, the retro looking S-Type, it's only average when compared to its latest rivals. To maximise the boot capacity you'll need to choose the option that removes the 'space saving' spare wheel and replaces it with a can of tyre repair foam. Inside the cabin  there are plenty of storage areas, though the bin between the front seats is a useful feature.

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Value for money

Jaguar has been very generous with the standard equipment in the XF. All versions boast a leather interior, climate control, electric seats, cruise control and touch-screen satellite navigation. Updates in 2010 brought the entry-level Luxury model's price down and included equipment upgrades to satellite navigation.

Running costs

The new XF range now includes a more efficient 2.2-litre diesel engine which cuts running costs considerably. Capable of 52.3mpg, plus CO2 emissions of 149g/km, the new engine makes perfect sense. Jaguar also claim it can cover 800 miles on one tank of fuel. The 3.0-litre petrol and turbodiesel V6 engines - are efficient, but are still not exactly cheap to run. The 3.0-litre V6 petrol costs nearly as much as the 5.0-litre V8 model  - thanks to 26.8mpg economy and emissions of 249g/km. Both versions of the 3.0-litre turbodiesel emit 179g/km of CO2 and return a more respectable 42mpg.