Jaguar XF 2.2d: month two

On fleet since: July 2012
Total mileage: 17,780 miles
Official combined mpg/CO2: 52.3/149
Actual mpg: 41.2mpg
Costs: none

Pros: great motorway manners, refinement, fun drive
Cons: start-stop system has a mind of its own

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Where have I been?

Wedding duty is something that the Jaguar XF seems to excel at. MSN Him Editor Craig Butcher borrowed the XF for a long weekend for his wedding in Dorset. He wanted something British to tie in with his nostalgic ceremony. Did the XF disappoint?

Craig said: "When you're fronting up at a church on your wedding day, there are some car marques that cut the mustard, and others that, well, just don't. Jaguar is firmly in the mustard-cutting group. For me, it's ticking all the right boxes. Well-respected British marque? Tick (ish... that one could run and run). Upmarket exterior without being too ostentatious? Tick. Spacious, luxurious interior for your entourage and, if things go well at the altar, your future wife? Tick, tick and tick again.

"That doesn't even begin to cover how it actually drives. Motorway driving is effortlessly easy, the smooth suspension and calming interior taking the edge off any fraying nerves. Believe me, with a hundred other things going on, a complicated, lively motor isn't what a groom needs. Not if he's expecting to survive until the honeymoon. There's plenty of room for passengers in the rear and ample boot space for the surprising volume of clobber it takes to get hitched.

"Any car can shout at the top of its voice - but on your wedding day, it pays to get a car that speaks volumes - about the groom."

When it's not ushering wedding parties around the country (although it has been booked already for another wedding), the XF has been called into action as a camera car on a recent video shoot with the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster. It seems that the video crew weren't bothered by the fact they couldn't sit in the boot to photograph out of. They ingeniously clamped their camera to the roof of the Jag and sat in the rear seats in comfort and out of the less-than-summery elements. They found its comfortable ride gave the smoothest footage yet of all the camera cars they have tested.

What do I like?

As a car to commute in, the XF is unrivalled. Like I mentioned above, the ride quality puts the German executive saloons to shame, thanks in part to the smallish wheels our car rides on, but largely down to the fact this car is built and tuned for bumpy British roads.

The engine, too, is more impressive than a four-cylinder diesel ought to be. Maybe that's down to good sound insulation or the fact this is a very mature unit that has aged well. Whatever it is, I appreciate that it is no slouch in the performance stakes.

I love the sporting character of the XF, too. The steering, balance and grip all work to provide a great cross-country driver's car.

What don't I like?

I'm not a huge fan of stop-start systems and I've recently been cajoling myself into not switching it off every time I get into the XF. Driving in London traffic, the car is perpetually cutting in and out, which drives me barmy. On the plus side, though, the Jaguar system is quick to respond unlike some others I have tried. However, if I'm stationary for a prolonged period, the stop-start sometimes powers up again without any intervention. Odd.

What's next for the Jaguar XF?

The Jaguar is being pounced on again by another colleague at MSN, News Editor Andy Young. He's heading up to Edinburgh in a couple of weeks for his nuptials and, of all the cars on our fleet, it is the Jaguar he most coveted for the journey. I've impressed upon Andy that he needs to try and best my fuel economy average of 41.2mpg. Let's find out next month how he gets on...

Need to know
Trim: Premium Luxury
Performance: 0-62 in 8.0 seconds/ 140mph top speed (limited)
Power/torque: 190hp @ 3,500 / 332lb ft @ 2,000rpm
List price: £37,200
Options fitted: digital television (£700)
Price as tested: £37,900

Jaguar XF: arrival
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