In Review; Jaguar XF R-Sport Saloon

Thank you to our business leasing customer, a Manchester-based quality engineering and plumbing company, for sending photographs of their latest addition to the fleet – the Jaguar XF Diesel Saloon 2.0d R-Sport 4door Auto.

Finding a compact-executive car is no mean feat with the volume of fantastic options including the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and even the mid-range product with Volvo, VW and Skoda.

While historically the Jaguar was seen as an “older-generation” car, since combining with the Land Rover group, they have created a range of aesthetically–pleasing and well-engineered product. For the XE, they appeal to both the young-driver with their R-Sport range, the cost-conscious driver with the Prestige offering and the older-driver with the Portfolio specification.

In an effort to stay ahead of the field, Jaguar have made some improvements and adjustments to the engine for model year 18 cars. With BMW leading the faster-diesel field with their 335d, Jaguar now have a 240ps AWD option to offer as an alternative. Perhaps an investment into a 300ps diesel option and some cost-effective petrol solutions (akin to the BMW 318is and Audi A4 1.4 TFSI) would see the Jaguar XE grow in the market?

In terms of the car shown here, the Jag 2.0d R-Sport 4door Auto, the customer elected for the following configuration:

· Ammonite Grey Metallic Paint
· Taurus leather – Jet/light oyster
· 17″ 9 spoke silver turbine alloy wheels
· Gloss black veneer
· Jet morzine headlining

As already mentioned, the R-Sport is definitely the younger-driver option in the XF range – this is a competitor to the M Sport and S Line.

Many of our younger-drivers do ask some common questions about contract hire, in particular the notion of insurance. With contract hire, being a “young person” is not a deterrent; as a finance product it is based on your credit, so you must be aged 18 or over. However, the obstacle of insurance is not something which we can assist you to overcome, as we cannot include this within the price of your lease. While there are some limited dealership offers which do include insurance, we cannot offer this to you directly. As a result, we do suggest that young people take some practical steps before leasing a vehicle – 1) check your credit with agencies such as Experian, to ensure you have no detrimental credit issues; and 2) get quotations on the vehicle or vehicles you are considering to lease. Once you have an idea on these, you can make an intelligent and informed decision as to your next car.

Moving onto the R Sport shown here, the car is well-stocked with great specification including gloss black window surround, 8-way manual adjustable seats, 17” alloys, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, InControl navigation, cruise control, bi-xenon lights, jaguar sound system, 8” touch screen, heated front seats, overhead console and sunglasses holder, rain-sensing wipers, tinted glass, hill start assist, lane departure warning system, rear parking sensors, DAB radio, InControl protect, body coloured externals, smart key system, perimeter alarm, grained leather upholstery and sports seats. On additional factory options – consider privacy glass, a black pack and the alloy wheel upgrades for the perfect car.

On the technical-side, the 1999CC engine delivers 163ps which gets you to 62 mph in and around 7.7 seconds while offering MPG of 68.9 combined. For company car drivers note the P11d £35,020.00 of and CO2 at a considerate 106 g/km. Service intervals are set at every 24 months or 21,000 miles whichever lands sooner. This does present questions when looking at a driver-maintained vs funder-maintained contract.

So would the Jag XF be your leasing deal option? Or would you be sticking with the German alternatives?

Let us know your thoughts and comments below!

Click Here to find the best car leasing deals for personal and business use for the Jaguar XF available now from CarLease UK.

You can also see a walk round of the Jaguar XF S below…