Private Reserve Cabs: Luxury Sport Sedan - 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged - Comparison

Savor

You don't have to be Stephen Hawking to calculate that Americans are a bit more smitten with the shape of Jag's new four-door fastback than they were with its bug-eyed-calzone forerunner, the S-Type. Just look at the numbers: Jag moved 1161 of the XF in its first month of sale, compared with only 3524 takers for the S-Type in all of 2007. Of course, the XF formula is more than simply a sexy, coupelike shape with hints of Aston Martin DB9-it's also about a thoroughly reworked chassis and, in our Supercharged tester, a 4.2-liter, 420-horsepower blown V-8.

Objectively, the XF SC's test results are imposing: 0 to 60 in 4.9, the quarter in 13.4 at 106.9 mph, 60 to 0 in 105 feet, lateral acceleration of 0.90 g, and the figure eight in 26.0 at 0.70 g, with the last three representing best in test. More important, subjectively, the XF is the finest Jaguar sedan we've ever driven. "A sublime automobile," asserts St. Antoine. Mortara declares, "They finally did it! Jag has made a sedan that offers more than just good looks and a strong engine." Indeed, the XF's steering feels light to the palms but provides just enough weight to relay precise feel, sharp turn-in, and exquisite linearity through the fingertips, which, by the way, get the tactile pleasure of clicking the ultra-responsive six-speed's paddle shifters, relishing rev-matching throttle blips with every downshift. This, as we discover, comes in handy when chasing game on the aptly dubbed Cat Canyon Road, a most challenging wiggle of curves and undulations. But whether the road is straight or sinuous, heavenly or harsh, the XF, riding atop CATS active dampers, always feels poised and ready to pounce.

Once nestled in the cabin, you'll want to pounce on a glass of pinot, if only it were legal. Adorned with an elegant blend of leather, wood, and aluminum, and with such techno touches as motorized air vents and gearshift, the XF's interior is classic yet modern, an English study on wheels. As tough critics, though, we constantly have something to whine about; for the XF, that would be compromised rear-seat headroom, a thirsty V-8 (we see only 14.8 mpg), and narrow front seats.

But for those who appreciate a superb sport sedan as much as a world-class wine, the XF Supercharged is the purrfect pour.

1st Place Jaguar XF supercharged
Bold, complex, luscious: a vintage worthy of celebration.

2nd Place Mercedes-Benz E550
Full-bodied and smooth: a standout effort for everyday consumption.

3rd Place BMW 550i
Strong fruits produce sharp, fast flavor, but the finish is rough.

4th Place Lexus GS 460
Commendably competent, but lacking crispness and character.

Half Bottles
For less money, lower-level trims uncorck around 300 horses and better fuel economy