Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel India Test Drive Can it retain the JAg DNA

Jaguar is a pretty small company compared to German kings like Mercedes, BMW and Audi. So it is a bit difficult for them to try out new designs and new engines. But without newness the company will still be small. So the company must try something new to become a large company. The jaguar XF 2.2 l diesel is the product of that trying.

Jaguar XF 2.2

The main problem for jaguar dislike by Indians was it's everest high price. But jaguar recently started assembling XF 2.2 l diesel in Tata's plant in Pune. Of course jaguar promised to help Tata with their cars for lending them an assembly line. So thats good news for jaguar lovers. The jaguar 2.2 l diesel will be 12 lakhs cheaper than its predecessor because of local assembling and small capacity engine.

 How will a Jaguar feel on a small capacity engine?Does the 2.2 diesel have the Jaguar DNA in it?The answer is yes to some extent .After getting Jaguar on hands the first thing I did was to be behind the wheel but the crowded Mumbai traffic was testing my patience. I just followed the traffic languidly. At that point I realized the superb flexibility of the engine. Surprisingly the engine has fantastic bottom end grunt which made city driving hassle free. This car has a new 8 speed ZF automatic transmission which is also the reason for this super flexibility. The transmission is well geared and frequently changes gears accordingly to keep the engine on boiling and also for providing optimum efficiency. 

Jaguar XF 2.2 rear

Oh I forgot to say about the engine specs, here it is. This 2.2 l diesel makes 187 HP of power and 45.8kgm of torque. So this are the highest power figures in entry level executive luxury saloon class. But is this power figures applied only on paper? To find out I got out of Mumbai city. To the endless and vast Maharastra country highways.

As soon as I was out of the city I kept on hitting the gas up to the red line. At the moment I put my foot down I noticed a slight delay before the turbo kicks in and boosts the car. This wasn't helping in overtaking in highways .But after the Turbo kicks in the car just rockets own the road. It is best to keep the car on 2500 rpm to get the most out of the 187 Hp of power. The power cuts off well before the red line at 3200rpm.But with the 8 speed gearbox you hardly reach 3200 rpm.

One negative about the gearbox is that it doesn't down shift when you hit the pedal and wants more speed. You need to shift down and hit on the gas for sudden movement. This could be annoying while overtaking in highways.

Once you start moving and when you put your put down on the accelerator you will notice a slight delay before the turbo kicks in. But when the turbo arrives the car just rockets down through the road.

I decided to halt the car in order to test the acceleration speeds. Stopping the jag is esay with smooth progressive brake pedal and strong all wheel disc brakes.

So I rattled towards 100 km in a straight line and it costed me 9.14 seconds to get there.9.14 s to reach is an outstanding figure in XF 2.2s class.

We are  rocketing the jaguar down the road

While cornering the jaguar provides plenty of enthusiasm. Damping and stiffness of suspension Is excellent for high speeds. The car provides a composite feel at highways. The 235 55 R17 alloys provide plenty of grip to corner hard. While cornering really hard which a normal person wont do you will not be impressed with the electric steering as it lacks feel and it is not as precise as you like it would be.

About the refinement the gearbox is fantastic but the engine disappointed us a bit. There is a fair amount of vibration at lower rpm which is not good for a jag. Other than that the car feels quiet and it is well insulated against road noise and wind noise. But you got to say The jaguar is far more refined than the BMW 520 d or the E 350 CDI. Is refinement that important in an executive sedan market?

Jaguar on Bad Roads

Now it is time to see how the jaguar handles the bad Indian roads. So we turned to a pocket road with plenty of potholes. You will feel some large bumps coming through the suspension on really bad roads.

The suspension is a bit stiff and ride is lumpy at lower speeds. But the car handled all the small undulations in the highway without any trouble. So on ordinary conditions the XF 2.2 l diesel provides a comfortable ride at the back. What should be given more importance in this segment? High speed Ride or low speed ride.

Now my party time in jaguar XF is over and it is time to check out the interiors. You will get a strong British luxury and warmth when you enter the cabin which you will miss on the Germans. The car is decorated with plenty of high grade leather and wood. The dashboard layout may look simple and traditional but the quality is superb. What flavor of interior design you like? Traditional elegant design or modern one with swishes and slashes.

Jaguar Steering Wheel

We were not happy about the buttons on the steering wheel and the dash. The switch gear control is difficult to access also a bit unsteady. The cabin may not look modern as the rivals but it is still a well finished cabin in its own way.

Jaguar Seats

The front seats are 6 way power adjustable and offers good support. The back sea space is not as generous as in the rivals but okay. The transmission tunnel will make the fifth passenger uncomfortable if one is traveling.

The car is pretty generous on features and it offers some equipment s which are of higher class.

Standard features are:

• Satellite navigation
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Blue-tooth telephone
• AUX in and UUS connectivity
• Paddle shifters
• Reversing Camera
• Cruise Control
• Key less Entry
• Sunroof

The special additions are a satellite navigation system and buttons for rear passenger to adjust front passenger seats. Storage areas include door bins four cup holders and a deep glove box.

The car is equipped with features to make you safe and secure but it will some things that its rivals have. The safety features are:

• Front, side and curtain airbags.
• Whiplash protection headrests
• ABS and EBD
• Traction Control
• Stability Control

Jaguar XF 2.2 l Diesel is priced 44.2 lakhs ex showroom which maybe still steep. But assembled in India it is 10 lakhs cheaper now. Jaguar XF would be a good choice for people who want something different than the German taste. The Jaguar has a certain enthusiastic DNA in it and the 2.2 l XF retains it without any fuss. The car's linear power delivery, good refinement and smooth shifts are impressive. So those always wanted the fierce some Jaguar style and was held of by steep price the new more affordable jaguar will be waiting for them. What actually makes jaguar special than other cars. comment your opinions in the comment box.

Pros

• Good Responsive and Refined Engine
• Retains the Jaguar DNA
• High quality interiors
• Sporty Exterior Design

Cons

• Still Steep Price
• Lumpy ride at low speeds
• insufficient safety

Engine
Power	187 HP and 3500 rpm
Torque	45.8 kgm
Type	4 cylinder common rail turbo diesel
Transmission	8 speed automatic
Dimensions
Length	4.961 m
Width	2.053 m
Wheel Base	2.909 m
Height	1.460 m
Kerb weight	1738 kg
Tyres	235/55 R17 (17 inch alloys)
Brakes	Ventilated Discs(both)
Suspension	Independent double wishbone(front and rear)
0-100	9.14 s