Skip advert
Advertisement
Long term tests

Jaguar XFR

IS F versus XFR - far from a foregone conclusion. Time for the big Jag to get rid of its winter tyres.

I had a ball in the revised Lexus IS-F we had in last month. Partly because I ran one a year or so ago, so fond memories were rekindled, but also because it felt more hardcore, keener and feistier than the XFR.

This in itself isn’t too surprising as the Lexus is a smaller, lighter car, but I also realised that I’d been pussyfooting in the Jag for the last couple of months while the winter tyres have been on. Two days later I was at Tyres Northampton switching back to the Dunlop SP Sport summer rubber.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Instantly the Jag felt sharper and more precise, keener to turn in and less likely to trigger the traction control on the way out of corners. More than that, I enjoyed the process of rediscovery, of finding handling traits about the XFR that had been covered up for the last three months. Yet another reason to love the big Jag. 

Running Costs

Date acquiredJune 2009
Total mileage26,113
Costs this month£11.99 (coolant)
Mileage this month2713
MPG this month21.4
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Puma review – the best-seller that’s still no patch on the Fiesta
Ford Puma
In-depth reviews

Ford Puma review – the best-seller that’s still no patch on the Fiesta

The Ford Puma melds some of the Fiesta’s charm with big-selling crossover form factor, but we still miss a proper small Ford hatch
21 Aug 2026
Lotus Exige V6 (S3, 2011-2021) review – a mini supercar for Golf GTI money
Lotus Exige S V6
In-depth reviews

Lotus Exige V6 (S3, 2011-2021) review – a mini supercar for Golf GTI money

For the S3 generation the Lotus Exige got a lot brawnier, trading the four-cylinder engines it had hitherto utilised for a supercharged Toyota V6
21 Aug 2026
Lotus wants to save its Norfolk factory by developing and building other company's sports cars
Lotus factory
Features

Lotus wants to save its Norfolk factory by developing and building other company's sports cars

The Emira will live on and there's an Esprit supercar on the way, but Lotus has another plan to keep Hethel active
18 Aug 2026