2020 Jaguar XF

After a brief pause during which it built no vehicles, Jaguar is transitioning to an all-electric luxury brand. In years past, Jaguar was best known for its legendary sports cars, including the E-Type of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and luxurious sedans such as the XJ. The brand was reborn under Ford’s ownership in the 1990s, then sold to India’s Tata Group where it was merged with Land Rover. Eventually, big cars with wood-and-leather interiors gave way to sportier, fun-to-drive models including some compact and midsized SUVs. Jaguar’s first attempt at an EV, the I-Pace, failed to keep up with the competition, and the XF sedan continued on for years without major updates. Both Jaguar and Land Rover share some parts and underlying vehicle designs. Neither brand has shed its reputation for reliability issues, which makes it difficult to recommend used models—even though the XE and XF still offer impressive driving excitement and luxury.

The XF is the sportiest among midsized luxury sedans. It's taut and agile, with lively steering, yet possesses a supple and composed ride. The 340-hp supercharged V6 is punchy, but may have too much of a growling note for a luxury car. A more powerful 380-hp version is also available. We got 21 mpg overall with our all-wheel-drive XF. The front and rear seats are very comfortable, and the trunk is large. However, interior ambience is a bit austere for a Jaguar, and the standard infotainment system is slow and somewhat fussy. The air-conditioning system is rather wimpy. Updates for 2018 included a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and an all-wheel-drive wagon version called Sportbrake. New features for 2019 included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Front and rear parking aids, and an enhanced touch-screen infotainment system are new standard equipment for 2020. The wagon was discontinued for 2021. 2024 is the final year for the XF.