New Jaguar XF Diesel Driven
A four-cylinder diesel Jaguar XF. Which doesn’t sound like much but it is in fact the model that Jaguar needs most right now, with sales burgeoning everywhere except for in the fleet-friendly, low-emission diesel saloon sector, which the company has been absent from in recent years.
This 2.2-litre turbodiesel motor is the company’s answer to that void in the lineup. Putting out 188bhp and 332lb ft, the engine is fitted here for the first time in a longitudinal configuration and is mated to a new eight-speed ZF auto gearbox, which goes a long way to helping provide the entry-level XF’s headline figures of 149g/km and 52.3mpg.
What comes across immediately is that the new XF, despite its under-cylindered stature next to the rest of the range, is still characterised by the same unflappable, serene sensation that you get in every other XF. Intangible as that is it is significant because it means that this base car feels as well-polished as any other model in the range. The mild upgrades to the interior switchgear and more noticeable changes to the front end undoubtedly contribute to that impression.
In more quantifiable terms the XF proves as thoroughly hassle-free as you would hope. The engine responds well and offers as much urge as you would expect of a car of this class, specialising in the sort of calm, swift in-gear progress that comes from an over-indulgence of torque. Equally, if you choose to slot the gearbox into ‘S’, the whole powertrain perks up a bit, the ZF box responds well whether in auto or in manual, and you can really make good use of the well-sorted chassis.
Equally, engine refinement is acceptable but not exceptional. The diesel grumble does encroach into the cabin and is unmistakably that of a four-pot. It’s particularly noticeable on re-start, though otherwise the stop-start system is effective at responding to the well-judged brake pedal feel, with very little hesitation before the engine fires up when required.
