Jaguar XF 3,0 V6 Diesel

0 to 100 km/h: 8,70 sec est Top speed: 240 km/h Power: 177 kw Torque: 500 N.m CO2 : 214 g/km CAR fuel index: 8,20 L/100 km

The Jaguar XJ is supremely stately, but there are very few around and the prices for lowmileage examples are outside our budget. There are many XFS available, however, and this remains a great vehicle.

The choice of powertrains is large, including a 3,0-litre V6 in petrol or turbodiesel form, plus a 5,0-litre V8. Earlier on, the 2,7-litre diesel was dropped, and near the end of its lifecycle a 2,2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel was added and the car facelifted. We’d recommend the impressive 3,0 V6 diesel for its refinement, power and frugality. On that note, a search on Gumtree revealed that 70% of the stock is diesel-powered.

When launched, the design was innovative, with many clever, original features, includ- ing vents that swivelled open and a rotating gear knob. To quote our original road test, “Facia design that is unlike anything Jaguar has done before. The result is breathtaking and ergonomically superior.”

The XF also sports a wellsized boot measuring 304 dm3, with folding rear seats taking the utility figure to 1 000 dm3. Rear seat space isn’t the greatest, but that shouldn’t worry our customers.

Watch out for rapid rear disc and pad wear, as well as brake shudder, and remember that the diesels prefer longer trips to avoid clogging of the diesel particulate filter. Parts and maintenance costs can be pricey, so buy a lower-mileage example that’s still inside the five-year maintenance plan.