Jaguar XF Supercharged Pt. 2: Interior & User Experience

If there's one thing that has remained a constant throughout Jaguar's tumultuous history, it's the company's interiors. A combination of burl wood veneers and rich Connolly leather, not only have Jaguar interiors smelled fantastic, but they've always felt and looked great as well.

Nowadays, the leather is no longer by Connolly, but the aroma, the feel, and especially the style are still first-rate. Nowhere in the Jaguar product lineup is this more evident than in the new XF Supercharged.

While it's exterior design's success is definitely something that can be debated, the interior leaves less room for argument. It's just beautiful. There is a real sense of occasion that you just don't find in many cars today - at least not many in this price range. The Germans do somber and purposeful like no one else, but only the Brits seem capable of really moving you with their interiors.

From the air conditioning vents and gear selector that come "alive" as you start the car, to the combination of leather, wood, and aluminum accents in the correct proportion, the interior of the XF is the place to be.

That rotating gear selector is probably the most interesting element in the interior of the XF in that it is essentially a redesign of something that didn't really need redesigning. Now, most of the time, the results of such an undertaking aren't good - as anyone who's driven a current 7 series BMW can attest. But in this case, not only is it an elegant solution that takes up less space than a conventional gear selector, but it is also very intuitive in its interface.

As far as space is concerned, there is plenty of it both front and rear - including headroom, something that couldn't be said of past Jaguars. That newfound headroom is the result of the overall vehicle height being increased versus past efforts. Another resulting bonus is that it is much easier to get into and out of the XF than has been the case with past Jags.

The quality of the interior is another area Jaguar has focused on improving. Ford's parts-sharing efforts were obvious in its predecessor - the Jaguar S-Type - with much of the switchgear looking and feeling far too cheap for a Jaguar. With the new XF, there isn't much evidence of this parts sharing at all, and everything you touch has a premium quality feel befitting a Jaguar.

Having lived with the XF Supercharged for a week, I have to tell you that I think Ford really dropped the ball by selling Jaguar. Now, that's easy for me to say because Jaguar wasn't bleeding my bank account for years. But if I could have played Ford CEO for a day, I would have sold off Volvo (sorry Swedes) and kept Jaguar as my halo brand. But hey, that's just me, I could be wrong... But I doubt it.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 3: Performance

2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged

Performance
- Acceleration: Builds speed effortlessly while supercharger whines away sounding great
- Handling: Amazingly composed for such a heavy car - TONS of grip 
- Braking: Very good - repeated abuse makes for a soft brake pedal

Design
- Exterior: Potential candidate for most beautiful 4-door sedan - has to be seen in person 
- Interior: Even stronger case for most beautiful automotive interior (under $100k)

Utility
- Comfort: Trades a tiny bit of Jaguar's slinky smoothness for sporting intent - comfy seats
- Space: A Jag with rear-seat headroom? Yes - quite comfortable front and rear

Safety
- Dynamics: Perfectly judged luxury sports sedan moves
- Technology:  Everything you'd expect at this price point

Value
- Price: When compared with equal options, very competitive
- Mileage: Decent as long as you stay out of the throttle

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Finally a 4-door Jaguar that you wouldn't be crazy to consider
- Fun to spank: It can certainly handle it, but you'll feel guilty beating on this beauty rather than just cruising along elegantly

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 4.2 liter, supercharged, DOHC V8
Power (SAE): 420 hp @  6250 rpm
Torque: 413 lbs-ft @  4000 rpm
Redline: 6250 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4160 lbs.
0-60 mph: 5.0 sec. 
1/4 mile: 13.5 sec. 
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 15 city / 22 highway
Base Price: $62,975
Competitors: BMW 550i, Mercedes-Benz E550, Audi A6 4.2