Review: New Jaguar XF 2.2 turbo diesel

Jaguar XF 2.2 D

Looking at the Jaguar XF's speedo showing 110kmh doesn't compute when you glance across at the tacho registering a scant 1300rpm. But that's what the new turbo diesel four pot Jaguar XF 2.2 does on the highway. It cruises just above engine idle speed.

FRUGAL

Some cars would be humming away at 3000+rpm sucking fuel like there's no tomorrow. Not the XF 2.2 which is claimed to be capable of 5.4-litres/100km. We couldn't get that but saw a reliable 6.5-litres/100km with mixed driving.

Doesn't matter how you cut it, this sort of fuel economy from a 1700kg medium large luxury sedan car is damn impressive. Needless to say, the XF 2.2 is the most economical Jag ever made.

PERFORMANCE

And it goes pretty well too thanks to the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine made by PSA in Europe. PSA is an offshoot of Peugeot and supplies engines to BMW and Mini.

This engine is also in the Land Rover Freelander and new Range Rover Evoque. It's a good and capable of delivering a handy 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque.

Not as good as the Benz 2.1 turbo diesel rated at 150kW/500Nm but enough not to notice. There's an eight-speed auto driving the rear wheels with seamless precision and paddle shift if you want a sporty drive.

VALUE

The entry level XF Luxury hits the showroom at $78,900 plus on roads but start ticking the boxes for options and up it goes - rapidly. We drove the Premium Luxury model at $86,100 with more kit but you can still crank it up. Happy with the Luxury?

It gets you leather, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, automatic dual climate control, air filtration, auto bixenon headlights, LEDs front and rear, a seven inch colour info ' touch screen and multi' steering wheel controls.

Other goodies include an electric park brake, pop up dash vents, pop up gear selector knob and rain sensing wipers. The XF was revised recently inside and out but still looks like.....an XF with XJ headlights.

THE DRIVE

The 2.2 is great to drive and you wouldn't know it was a four cylinder diesel except under hard acceleration because of low noise and vibration. It hauls the big sedan around with aplomb. Ride quality is supple and controlled and overall drive feel is positive.

DOWN SIDE

But it only gets a four star crash rating, has a space saver spare and there is some lag off idle when you punch the accelerator - waiting, waiting, whoosh.

The test vehicle developed an annoying frequency vibration in the front door area which would drive an owner nuts. We didn't `get' the engine stop/start system that seemed to have its own agenda. The boot opening is narrow.

VERDICT

It's up against some classy opposition in the BMW 520d, Benz E220CDi and Audi A6 2.0 front wheel drive - all around the same money. Hard call.....



JAGUAR XF 2.2L TURBO DIESEL

• Prices: $78,900 (Luxury 2.2 turbodiesel), $86,100 (Premium Luxury 2.2 diesel), $84,990 (driveaway Luxury 2.2 white or black)
• Warranty: 3 year/100,000 km
• Service: 26,000km (diesel), 24,000km (petrol)
• Safety: 4-star NCAP, 6 airbags, ABS, traction control, stability control
• Engine: 5.4L litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel, 140kW/450Nm
• Transmission: 8-speed automatic, RWD
• Thirst: 5.4 l/100km
• CO2: 149g/km
• Dimensions: 4961mm (L);1877mm (W);1460mm (H);2909mm(WB)

Source: Cars Guide