Jaguar have done the sensible thing and put a small(ish) diesel engine into their slick and stylish XF.
The result knocks six grand off the start price for XF ownership, with the SE version (info below is for this model) starting at £30,950, compared to £36,950 for the cheapest 3.0 V6 Diesel Luxury.
It’s also the slowest XF, but that doesn’t really matter it’ll still do|0-62mph in 8.5 seconds with a top speed double the UK maximum limit.
The 187bhp four-cylinder unit is the same used in the Ford Mondeo and in various Citroens and Peugeots, although it drives the rear rather than the front wheels here and Jaguar have worked hard to make it run more quietly.
The result is an engine that is quiet enough on startup and virtually inaudible once you’re at cruising speed. All models come with eight speed automatic transmission Jaguar’s snazzy rotating dial that sinks away out of sight when you turn the engine off and at 70mph the needle’s barely nudging 1500rpm.
The long gearing in seventh and eighth speeds, coupled with stop-start technology, makes the 2.2 XF the first Jaguar to break 50mpg it returns 52.3mpg on the combined cycle. This is not class leading: the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6 diesels are both more frugal. But for the first time the XF can compete on something close to a level playing field when it comes to fuel economy.
I took the XF for a spin near Crieff and found it as entertaining on country roads as it is refined on motorways. Feeling much smaller than it is, it shows good levels of grip and composure even during the torrential rainstorms the area was experiencing during my visit.
Part of the reason the 2.2 Diesel’s start price is so much lower is Jaguar have created a new entry level model. The SE only has part-leather seats and 17-inch alloys you need to spend £33,950 for the full leather Luxury version. A £37,950 Premium Luxury and £43,050 Portfolio version complete the line-up.
The Portfolio was the model I drove. It’s more lavishly equipped than one of Gaddafi’s palaces but it’s more expensive than the 3.0 V6 diesel in Premium Luxury spec, so I’d save £10,000 and go for the £33,950 Luxury model.
This model opens XF ownership to those who could otherwise not afford one. It’s a stunning car in virtually every respect beautifully designed inside and out, great to drive and (even if Jaguar is now Indian-owned) with a fine British pedigree.
Price: £30,950.0-62mph: 8.5 seconds.Top speed: 140mph. Economy: 52.3mpg. CO2 emissions: 149g/km.