Jaguar slashes XF price and revises exterior

Jaguar has revised its Jaguar XF in a bid to rejuvenate its dwindling saloon sales and stave off highly successful German rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6.

The updated XF saloon and XF Sportbrake estate have a subtly tweaked exterior and an all-new interior co-developed with the recently revised F-Pace. They are now also offered with a diesel mild-hybrid powertrain.

The interior, a criticism of the outgoing car, is the most dramatic change. Jaguar interior design chief Alister Whelan said: “We really needed to take the interior to the next level. We deliberately planned the F-Pace and XF together to achieve economies of scale. They share new interiors from the ground up.”

Highlights inside include considerably improved materials (“no scratchy plastics”, said Whelan), such as on the headrests and switchgear on the doors shared with the range-topping Range Rover, as well as the Pivi Pro infotainment system that made its debut in the new Land Rover Defender.

As well as Pivi Pro, the XF and Jaguar F-Pace are the first models to receive a larger, tablet-like 11.4in curved touchscreen, which is said to be significantly more responsive and easier to operate. Other new technology includes over-the-air software updates, cabin air ionisation and wireless phone charging.

Jaguar has also introduced more fine detailing – a theme set to become more common on Jaguar models – such as cricket-ball stitching on the gearshifter, an embossed Jaguar leaper in headrests and a set of ‘Est. 1935 Jaguar Coventry’ upholstery tags.

The powertrain line-up has been simplified to one diesel unit and two petrol options, each available with an eight-speed automatic only.

The 201bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system is the most frugal, producing CO2 emissions from 130g/km and fuel economy of up to 57.2mpg in rear-wheel-drive form. All-wheel drive is also available.