2021 Jaguar XF P300 AWD R-Dynamic HSE review

In what might be a rather staggering commentary on the large luxury sedan market, Jaguar has reduced the range of its XF saloon to just one model. No choice of engine, no choice of body style.

The 2021 Jaguar XF P300 AWD R-Dynamic HSE sedan is it. The market’s in a strange place, as brands like Lexus have withdrawn from this segment globally, while upstarts like Genesis offer a range of engines and trims.

Overseas, the story is a little different, but in Australia the four-cylinder, all-wheel-drive XF is the only car in Jaguar’s arsenal – lining up against cars like the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6.

While those cars have cheaper entry-level versions aimed primarily at fleet and chauffeur operators, the Jaguar’s $102,376 plus on-road costs opening price sets it apart slightly.

More powerful than base competitors, with standard all-wheel drive and loaded with a range of standard equipment, the Jaguar XF isn’t quite marching to the beat of its own drum, but plays a value rather than cut-price game.

Priority number one for any large luxury sedan has to be passenger space and comfort. Here, the Jaguar XF does not disappoint.

Despite a fairly sleek silhouette overall, there’s decent leg room, head room and width. Enough to sprawl out in the back of, and better than what similar-sized German rivals offer.

With the latest update to the XF, interior styling has been revised. Already fairly slick inside, the new car picks up some user-interface changes, like a larger infotainment screen and new touch-sensitive controls for things like climate controls and steering wheel buttons.

Sadly, Jaguar has retired the ‘start-up handshake’ that used to raise the flat rotary gear selector up to meet the driver. The starter button still pulses with a heartbeat, at least, and note the drive-mode selector pops up, though not electrically, and can be pushed away when no longer needed.

The design is clean, uncluttered, but not particularly minimalist. There’s a judicious use of materials and finishes giving the XF a premium look and feel.

Interior amenities include perforated leather seats (but no seat heating), powered front seats, powered steering column adjust, active interior noise cancellation, keyless entry and start, and dual-zone climate control.

Optional equipment on this car includes wireless phone charging, privacy tint, Jaguar’s activity key wristband, panoramic sunroof, head-up display and ClearSight camera-fed rear-view mirror.

Space is generous all round. There’s plenty of room in most dimensions. Front seat passengers sit low, but not awkwardly so, while at the rear width and leg room are impressive.

There’s a bit of ducking required to get into the rear, and head room simply can’t match something like Jaguar’s own F-Pace SUV. Shorter travellers might find the rear seat base a little long too.

Unfortunately for those in the rear, there’s not much to play with. Heated seats, an independent climate zone, or a rear sun blind are items on the option list, which takes some of the shine off the big Jag’s limo prospects.

At 459L, the boot of the XF trails German rivals that offer 530-540L. It’s depth that’s mostly missing with a shallow space. Utility is also lacking, too, with little in the way of hooks or restraints to boost the XF’s packaging flexibility – or keep your groceries from sliding around the boot.

With a company-wide investment in up-to-the-minute infotainment, Jaguar Land Rover might just be at the top of the premium game right now.

Jaguar’s new Pivi Pro infotainment system uses an 11.4-inch centre touchscreen with a curved display and features satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, digital radio, dual Bluetooth connections, Spotify, and dual-SIM support so that media streaming isn’t interrupted by over-the-air software updates.

The system itself is sharp: crisp graphics, an eye-pleasing user interface, and snappy load times all make it feel very up to date. The system even pre-loads from its own battery when you unlock the car to ensure no lag on start-up.

Pivi Pro’s mix of easy to decipher graphics and menus, sensible layouts, and snappy loading makes the interface feel more immediately familiar for first-time users than BMW’s OS7 and Mercedes’s MBUX.

Standard audio is provided by a 400-watt 13-speaker (including subwoofer) Meridian audio system, but if that’s not up to snuff, a 650-watt 17-speaker upgrade is available.

The driver faces a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Again, crisp and clear graphics feature, but controlling the cluster through the touch-sensitive steering wheel (and indeed the other functions on the wheel) seems a little haphazard, with the touch buttons not registering every input or requiring an unerringly accurate finger positioning.

The XF’s standard safety support tech list is comprehensive, with lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking, 360-degree camera and surround park sensors, adaptive cruise control, semi-automatic parking assist, speed limiter and traffic sign assist.

From launch, the XF carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating tested to 2015 protocols. Passive safety features include rear outboard ISOFIX child seat mounts and six airbags.

Arguably, the Jaguar XF sits in a segment where cut-price value squabbling becomes less of an issue. While the cheapest XF might be more expensive than the foot-in-the-door models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, it also comes with a more powerful engine and all-wheel drive to offset the difference.

Jaguar also sits ahead of many rivals on warranty, with five-year/unlimited-kilometre coverage, matching Mercedes and ahead of Audi and BMW at three years apiece. A five-year service plan is available priced at a trim $1950.

Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.2L/100km. On test – and while Melbourne had the brakes on out-of-town trips – we recorded a much higher 11.2L/100km. While a little more open-road touring would no doubt bring this down, the size and weight of the XF mean it’s never going to be an economy frontrunner.

Ignore the XF’s full title (XF R-Dynamic HSE P300 AWD, if you were wondering), as the R-Dynamic part relates to the sedan’s speedy styling package, rather than any purebred racing dynamic baked in.

The good news here, though, is that the XF is a delightful embodiment of what a big luxury sedan should be. Hushed, comfortable and genuinely luxurious. The plush and relaxing feel of the interior carries over to the drive – and that’s only really a good thing.

While the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine isn’t an outright powerhouse with 221kW and 400Nm, it is enough engine for the job. Not a green-light grand prix winner every time, but spritely enough for urban traffic utilising its eight-speed torque convertor automatic.

It’s all a little one-dimensional perhaps. While four-cylinder Jaguars have always felt slightly sedate, this same P300 engine in something like a Land Rover Discovery Sport feels keen, even a little fizzy if you explore its depths. Here it comes across a touch flat.

No real rush, no reward for exploring high revs, and no rush-of-blood soundtrack.

While it wasn’t offered at the same price point, the older Jaguar XF S and its supercharged V6 was a driver’s delight. A sonorous engine, enticing performance, and a hint of Q-car subtlety made it a standout compared with the four-pot cars it shared showroom space with.

With a new generation of inline-six engines available, it would have been nice to see Jaguar explore this option a little. But no doubt opting for a single model has instead allowed them to pack more features in, while keeping a lid on price.

Adaptive dampers fitted to this particular car allow the suspension to be firmed up for more assertive driving, but at no point does the ride deteriorate or become unruly. There’s no dramatic change in demeanour, but enough to notice if you do decide to explore the Jag’s performance potential.

The XF manages to combine a reasonably cosseting ride with tidy dynamics that make the car feel more compact than its true dimensions. Not that a big four-door like this is likely to be thrown at a serpentine stretch of traffic too often. If you do, though, it will hold its head high.

The all-wheel-drive system makes for a balanced and secure purchase in the wet, and feels all the world like a regular rear-wheel-drive car if you want it to, with none of the numb front some all-paw cars can display. 

It really feels like Jaguar has hit its sweet spot with the revised XF. It’s beautifully presented, well (if not lavishly) equipped, and softly comfortable in a way that a lot of luxury sedans seem to have forgotten.

While Jaguar often talks about dynamism and performance, the XF P300 isn’t a member of that club – which is great news for anyone seeking a crisply styled modern sedan that places comfort above posturing.