2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged- Jaguar Sport Sedan, Fleet Update

A year ago, after editor-in-chief Jean Jennings traveled to Arizona for the world debut drive of the XF, Jaguar's new sport sedan, she reported that she was "ready to drive the XF home to Michigan." Her wish has now been partially fulfilled, as we have taken delivery of an XF Supercharged at our Ann Arbor office. For its $64,475 starting price, the big cat comes loaded to the whiskers, riding on twenty-inch wheels and featuring a 440-watt Bowers & Wilkins stereo that has drawn early praise. We added adaptive cruise control-the only available option aside from special paint-to bring the total to $66,675.

Packing 420 hp and featuring a sumptuous but very contemporary cabin, the Jaguar has become an instant staff favorite and already has a cross-country road trip under its belt. We look forward to seeing how the S-type's replacement, with its mind-numbing array of interior technology (including a proximity-sensor-operated glove box and map lights, as well as an electronic, rotary gear selector), holds up to a year of use.

The Specs
Price: $66,675
Engine: 4.2L V-8
Power: 420 hp
Torque: 413 lb-ft

Notes
1126 miles "The ride is ever so slightly rough at low speeds, but the high-speed ride and handling are class-leading, especially given the car's big twenty-inch wheels," notes road test editor Marc Noordeloos.

5259 "The XF was a nearly perfect road-trip vehicle for two people, with plenty of room in the trunk for a week's worth of clothing and camping gear (that we never used)," writes a staffer after driving 3717.5 miles through the South and the Midwest. "I was never tired or sore after getting out of the car."

5717 "I am weary of the touch-sensitive glove box. It has now lost its novelty and simply doesn't work every time," concludes executive editor Joe DeMatio, adding to several staff members' comments about inconsistent interior quality.