Vehicle Type: Mid-size Luxury Sedan

History/Description: Ever classy! The Jaguar XF launched on Canadian shores for model-year 2009 to compete with comparable machinery from BMW, Audi and Lexus. Today, just a few years later, one can find a used copy of the British posh-cruiser available in the same pricing ballpark as a nicely loaded new Camry. Further, there’s no shortage of higher-mileage, earlier units priced from the mid-teens!

Depreciation is a beautiful thing—especially when you’re able to get into a car once priced in the seventies for under $20,000. Look for earlier models with rear-wheel drive, V8 or supercharged V8 power, and a six-speed automatic. Note that from 2010, a 5.0L V8, with or without supercharger, replaced the older 4.2L unit, and newer models began offering a mileage-focused 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine, or a 3.0L supercharged V6 as well. Look for available AWD on select models. It’s a frisky-pants, rear-biased AWD setup that’s a total hoot in the snow, if you’re into slidey stuff.

High-performance XFR and XFRS models were available too.

Feature content was fitting of a world-class luxury performance sedan, with a Bower and Wilkins stereo system packing 500-plus watts, navigation, authentic wood trim, Bluetooth, push-button start, and the signature shift dial, which rises from the console when the engine is started. Dual zone climate control, climate-controlled seats, rain-sensing wipers and a heated windshield (highly recommended) were also available.

What Owners Like: A finely honed blend of comfort, power, agility, and refinement attracted many shoppers to the XF, with potent on-demand performance from the larger engines, and crisp steering and confident handling helping to seal the deal. Highly apparent interior quality and classy looks, as well as the posh factor, were highly rated too. The up-level stereo system and powerful xenon lights were among the favourite features of shoppers. Most owners rave about the switchable drive modes, which allow the XF to be switched from a comfortable cruiser to a hot-rod rocket sled at the touch of a button.

What Owners Dislike: Some owners complain of a plain and simple central command interface, small and tricky to read instruments and an annoying wiper washer system, which sprays windshield juice right onto the wiper blades, so pre-flooding a frozen windshield isn’t possible. Plus, an annoying re-wipe function often smears frozen washer juice around a few seconds after the windshield is already clear. Grab a Jaguar technician on his lunch break, buy him a coffee, and have him or her disable it.

Here’s a look at some Jaguar XF owner reviews.

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