When you think of luxury carmakers that have always done things a little differently, Jaguar should definitely spring to mind. After WWII, Sir William Lyons transformed his sidecar company into Jaguar Cars, and started making luxury cars that you would drive rather than ride in. Over the decades, we have seen some truly iconic cars from this automaker, including the original Sovereign and XJ lineup, the appreciating-in-value Mark II, and of course, the legendary E-Type, which went on to become a British icon.

Jaguar stuck to what it knew best for the longest time, which always left them a little behind the competition as a result. By the 2000s, they realized that they had to innovate and introduce better products to compete. In 2008, they launched a new assault on the mid-size luxury sedan segment; the XF.

Overview Of The Jaguar XF

First appearing in 2007 for the 2008 model year, the XF was a direct replacement for Jaguar's ill-fated S-Type. While the S-Type wasn't a terrible car, it had looks that only a mother could love, which was part of the reason why it was such a flop. With the XF, things couldn't be more different. Gone was the Mark II-inspired retro styling, and in its place came a thoroughly-modern design that could make the Bangle era BMWs and round-headlight Mercs blush.

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The front-end used Jaguar's "screaming cat" logo, which is inside the grille, and flanked on either side by a signature set of headlights. For the 2012 facelift (pictured), they included LED running lights and turn signals. The side profile is sedan through and through, and it's smooth making it all fit together perfectly. The rear features a chrome strip above the license plate, as well as a set of pretty large taillights. Elsewhere in the world, Jaguar offered this generation XF as a wagon, dubbed the Shooting Brake, which looked just as good, if not better, but North America only got the sedan. Several trim levels were available, as well as a few different powertrain combos. The XF competed with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the E60 BMW 5 Series, the Audi A6, the Lexus ES, and the Volvo S60.

Jaguar XF Powertrains And Drivetrains

Jaguar offered a decent variety of powertrains on the XF. In the earlier XF models, the base engine was a 3.0-liter naturally-aspirated V6 with 235 hp and 216 lb-ft of torque. Starting in 2012, a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder replaced the V6. It was more efficient, but also slightly more powerful, delivering 238 hp. Next up is a supercharged version of the 3.0-liter V6, developing 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The V8 option arrived in the form of Jaguar's older 4.2-liter V8 for the first couple of years, but a new 5.0-liter V8 replaced it starting in 2009. The 4.2-liter V8 developed from 296 to 414 hp, and the 5.0-liter developed from 380 hp to 503 hp in the full fat XFR.

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This didn't give the XF many points for gas mileage, but all the engines are very characterful, and they certainly give the XF a great personality behind the wheel. All of these powertrains pair up with either a six-speed automatic transmission, or an eight-speed automatic. Both units come from ZF, and Jaguar also offered both RWD and AWD options. The XF really is a driver's car, despite its luxury credentials, and it's definitely a cracking car behind the wheel.

Jaguar XF Comfort And Quality

The XF's interior is definitely a very nice place to be, and it includes a lot of things that pretty much no one had seen before. For starters, the gear selector was not your conventional shifter, it was a rotary dial that slid up from the center console whenever you started the car. Turn off the engine, and the selector slides back down and sits flush with the center console. Leather seats were standard across the lineup, Jaguar never offered a cloth interior on the XF. The climate vents also remained closed and flush with the dashboard until you turned on the HVAC, which is a very nice touch. The pre-facelift XF had a few issues with fit and finish, as well as some slightly tacky silver switchgear, but the facelift tightened things up and received black switches instead. The 7" touch-screen infotainment system also made headlines.

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In terms of reliability, we all know that Jaguars don't have the greatest track record, and that's part of the reason why the residual values are so poor. However, the XF is certainly a fair bit better than, say, its V12 powered ancestors. With that said, make no mistake, this is no Camry, and you should absolutely insist on a car with a full service history. Electrical problems can get pretty expensive and pretty common, but if you maintain it regularly, it's not all that bad. Just make sure your budget allows it. The XF seats five passengers, and boasts 19 cubic-feet of cargo space without the space saver, and 17.6 cubic-feet if it's equipped.

Jaguar XF Prices

The first generation Jaguar XF is definitely a bargain luxury car. Classic.com estimates the average value of the earliest pre-facelift models to be around $12,000, and the 2011 facelift at around $17,300. That's very cheap, and it's definitely a lot of car for the money, particularly if it has the V8, and especially if it's the 500 hp supercharged XFR. In any case, if you're willing to put up with the maintenance, this Jag is a fantastic left-field alternative, and an excellent bargain luxury car with a whole lot to offer.