2009 Jaguar XF - Quality Review

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Shopping for a new Jaguar XF?

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The 2009 Jaguar XF has a stunningly high level of craftsmanship, but sensible drivers will want to look for a vehicle with more rear-seat room, road testers from enthusiast and consumer car Web sites report.

Car and Driver says the XF is 2.2 inches longer than the old Jaguar S-Type, the car it replaces. But the slinky new shape cuts into its usefulness, particularly in back. The effect is more sportscar than sedan, but it’s comfortable for front passengers: “You’re belted into a big easy chair, your elbows and trousers cosseted by fine leather,” they report. Road & Track thinks the shape is too tall to give the XF “a completely sporting aesthetic,” but their focus is on sportscars and Jaguar’s heritage.

Motor Trend complains that “its rear compartment is not its strong suit,” and refers to the XF’s “all-but-unuseable rear buckets,” and thinks it feels more “like a roomy four-door coupe than a true five-passenger sedan.” Edmunds.com notes that “the rear doors are wide for ample access and there are nearly 38 inches of rear headroom and 36.6 inches of rear legroom.” And both Road & Track and Car and Driver say the XF’s trunk is large for its class; “with folding rear seats, the XF is indeed practical for a luxury sedan,” Road & Track says.

The 2009 Jaguar XF’s craftsmanship leaves little to be desired, according to the reviews researched by TheCarConnection.com and our own time spent behind the wheel. Automobile calls the XF’s quality “as good as anything in the class,” while Motor Trend takes note of its seats’ “flawless twin-needle stitching” and says the cockpit has “more hand-rubbed tree than in any Jag in decades.” Popular Mechanics picks out details like “aluminum finishes and Motorola Razr-inspired phosphor blue ambient lighting” as its favorites, while Road & Track says that lighting “transforms the car from fancy restaurant to a swanky blue-neon nightclub.”