Jaguar XF Saloon (2015 -) Safety & Reliability

• Full five-star crash test score from Euro NCAP
• An inherently safe executive saloon
• Further safety kit is optionally available

When crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, Jaguar XF was awarded a full five-star rating.

All XFs are equipped with six airbags, electronic stability control, lane departure warning, pedestrian contact sensing bonnet, all-surface progress control (extra traction at low speeds for automatic versions), traffic sign recognition and a pair of Isofix child seat-mounting points in the back.

A suite of further options are available in two of the optional packages.

Integral to the Advanced Parking Assist option is a 360-degree camera function, including self-park and drive-out facilities, as well as a junction-view camera which splits the screen to show what’s to the left and right as you ease out of obscured junctions.

Second is the appropriately titled Active Safety Pack which includes adaptive cruise control to monitor the speed of the vehicles in front, as well as Lane Keep Aid (LKA) and Driver Condition Monitoring (DCM) to measure the apparent state of alertness of the driver. A Reverse Traffic Detect feature – sensing the oncoming presence of vehicles as you back out of a parking space – is also integral to this pack.

• Reliability issues are becoming less frequent…
• But there have been two XF recalls already
• Engine range seeing service across the line-up

We didn’t expect the Jaguar XF to be compromised by any unfortunate surprises as the brand continues to perform well in reliability surveys, but so far it’s been subjected to two official recalls.

One relates to a fuel cut-out issue, the other – more seriously – to a potential fire risk. Both recalls were in 2016 so all affected models should have been remedied by now.

While 83% of the componentry in the Jaguar XF is new for this generation, it’s built using 15 years of knowhow about producing top-drawer aluminium-intensive cars.

Similarly the mechanical components, are either developments of existing engines and gearboxes or are already proving themselves in other Jaguar Land Rover products.

Build quality feels first rate, the switchgear feels robust yet expensive with well-damped controls and the stiffer bodyshell should ensure fewer squeaks and rattles develop over time as there’s less potential for it to flex.