Jaguar's understated, super-fast saloon

published 20 March 2009

This is the saloon that has it all, says David Vivian in Evo. The XFR is the fastest car Jaguar has ever made, and is powered by a "mighty, all-new, supercharged five-litre engine". But to look at it, "you'd hardly guess": it looks more or less exactly like its XF stablemate. So "if you value stealth above conspicuous steroidal enhancement", this is the car for you.

But can it beat Evo's "favourite big saloon for a few years", the BMW M5? Yes, says John Barker, also in Evo. When you're pushing the car hard, then there's no saloon that rewards and involves to the same degree as the M5. "But for the other 99% of the time", the Jaguar has it. It "does long distance comfort and effortless everyday usability" as happily as it does "direct, no-nonsense" performance.

And it is very fast, says Chris Chilton in Car magazine. It hits 60mph in less than five seconds and would go on to a top speed of 190mph if the electronic limiter didn't kick in at 155. But "neither figure conveys how much of a kick you get in more realistic on-road situations". Or how quickly the power arrives once you've put your foot down.