Performance

You have the option of a 2.7-litre diesel, a three-litre petrol or a 4.2 with or without a supercharger. We haven't had a go in the 2.7 or 3.0 yet, but we already know the engines are excellent. The V8 is sweet, with a soft-edged engine woofle right to the red line, and performance enough to be getting on with. For 300bhp, it's beautifully judged. Floor it and there's a deep, smoothly rounded sound and with it a pretty serious, though not violent, kick forward. This steel-bodied XF is 200-odd kilos heavier than an aluminium XKR, so it's not supercar-fast, but it doesn't hang about. Jaguar says it'll get to 62mph in 5.4 seconds. We tend to believe them.

Driving

There's plenty of feel through the wheel as well as terrific accuracy and progression. You can really lean on the car and get the sense of the front and rear ends sharing the load to best effect. There's also bags of traction for a swift, sure exit. And if you do get it a bit loose at the back, it can be gathered up as neatly as you'd hope. The ride is sublime and so is the quietness of the suspension and tyres. Ok, things can get a fraction bobbly at town speeds, but it flattens out amazingly above 40mph. The brakes work well, but have a slightly spongy feel.

Space

The low roof line hampers headroom for tall adults while a large transmission tunnel effectively deletes the middle rear seat. The boot is generous at 500 litres (540 without the spare wheel).

Build Quality

Brilliantly built. Purists will be happy to learn there's as much wood and leather as in any Jaguar before, but that's not to imply it's 'traditional'. Everything, from the shape of the dash to the textures and the ice-blue ambient lighting, says 21st century. Even starting it is an event. Get in and the start-button backlight pulses a red heartbeat. Press it, and the selector awakes. Then the dash air vents, hidden when parked, motor into position.

Equipment

The Luxury spec includes adjustable leather seats, 7in colour touch-screen display, navigation system, Bluetooth telephone connectivity, 17in alloy wheels, climate control and cruise control. Premium Luxury adds 18in alloys, Jag's 320W premium sound system and heated windscreen. Finally, the SV8 includes 20in alloys, Bi-Xenon headlamps and CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension).

Safety

As well as the usual safety features of EBA, EBD, ABS, traction control and stability control, the XF adds Understeer Control Logic, which has been designed to mitigate, can you guess?, understeer.

Owning

High running costs, but used experts at Glass's predict the 2.7 Luxury will retain 50 per cent of its original price after three years, better than both the BMW 525d SE and Merc E280 CDI Avantgarde.

Value

Not the bargain the S-type was when compared to the 5-series and E-Class, but then the XF is a proper rival.

Verdict

Make no mistake, this is one of the best cars in the world right now: smooth, agile, quiet and impeccably well built. It's unmistakably a Jaguar but, crucially, not one bogged down by too much historical baggage. Makes us - sniff - proud to be British.

Jaguar XF rivals
BMW 5-Series
Audi A6
Mercedes E-Class