Drive Review: Jaguar XF S (2016) 3.0 V6

A 3.0-litre V6 supercharged engine driving the rear wheels. A configuration that has almost been abandoned in favour of smaller turbo engines driving easier-to-assemble front-wheel drive platforms. But then there is something beautifully organic about the 2016 Jaguar XF S which melds emotion with a meaty powerplant.

With 250kW and 450Nm, our jaguar XF S is second in line to the pumped up 280kW version, working off the same V6 supercharged base.  In a sprint it will clock 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds in a controlled and disciplined manner its hard to actually put into perspective. No fuss from the traction control system or fidgeting from the wheel as it steadily builds speed.

With the traction off and a committed hoof of the accelerator Jaguar XF S will break traction slowly and predictably with a small bit of counter steer required to straighten it out. Yet the XF doesn’t proclaim to be a wild hooligan, rather a suave character that soothes its power through prodigious grip.

Like any supercharged engine, the whine generated off the crank pulley signals the blower’s presence but in the XF S the upper rev range is dominated by a guttural engine roar, almost eliminating that unique supercharged induction.

Maximum torque is generated over 4500rpm and to attain the full 250kW you need upwards of 6000rpm. For those reasons Jaguar XF S lacks some initial punch – the bit makes you gasp with fear – but the gearbox is happy to hang on and let you wind out the power like a normally aspirated car.  Sport mode makes the 8-speed ZF gearbox and throttle response incredibly aggressive – I found it completely schizophrenic around the suburbs and had to revert back to Comfort to prevent further whiplash.

Jaguar XF S scowls at the road ahead, visually more menacing than its German counterparts. The aluminium architecture has shaved nearly 200 kilograms from the previous XF and the styling conveys an image of athleticism. A longer wheelbase is neatly disguised in the taut styling and reduction in front overhang. The new Jaguar XF S sits lower on near 50:50 weight distribution and the aerodynamic drag is lower.

An example that space is possible within a sleek shape, Jaguar XF S offers more of it in any direction you care to measure and the boot is huge and easy to load. The interior design apes the Jaguar XE which means soft rubberised buttons and quirky feature like the rising rotary gearknob and airvents that close when the car is switched off. If occupant space is well thought out, the ergonomics manage their space inefficiently with instances of clutter and nothingness all at once.

The touchscreen integrates features like navigation, Bluetooth and media control but typing in your destination for instance isn’t quite as slick as those systems designed by Jaguar’s competitors. Park assist, lane keeping assist, adaptive headlights, heads up display and active cruise control keep the XF modern even if sometimes these systems work like early evolutions rather than cutting-edge designs that interact with the environment around them.

At the price, the equivalent rivals all offer more power and greater inter-connectivity or personalisation. Bring autonomous driving into consideration and Jaguar might find that they have misjudged what the rest of the segment considers to be the future of the luxury, sporty sedan.