Jaguar XF 4×4 does the business

SPRING may have been in the air at launch time, but it’s only now as Jack Frost encrusts our windscreens that drivers will realistically reap the rewards.

We’re talking all-wheel drive, which is now available on a car that continues to raise the bar, attract new buyers and notch more industry awards – the Jaguar XF.

While the XF is up for grabs with a choice of outputs, including two V6 units, the higher capacity 180PS unit from its pair of four cylinder 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engines, now has four-wheel drive.

The popular big cat’s efficiency is already a given – it’s one of the most cost effective premium executive saloons, attracting fleet and business customers in particular with its low insurance costs and the highest residual values of 53% after 3 years or 30,000 miles.

Now the addition of all-wheel drive is making a timely difference as the weather closes in.

Jaguar’s AWD set-up features something called Intelligent Driveline Dynamics – a control technology launched in the F-TYPE sports car.

It delivers rear-wheel drive character and agility but can switch the right amount of torque to the front axle when needed.

And as its performance coping with early morning frost and slimy, putrefying leaves showed, the system is both composed and reassuring.

But then XFs featuring AWD have a system based on Land Rover’s Terrain Response to capitalise on the car’s traction even on icy roads.

That’s while still claiming a smart fuel consumption figure of an official 57.7mpg – my own return was 52.2 – and CO2 emissions of only 129g/km.

Performance is nonetheless strong as the car is capable of firing from 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds and on to a potential top speed of 136mph.

In mid-range R-Sport trim you pay an extra £1,800 for all-wheel drive compared to the rear-wheel drive variant with the same engine.

Taking into account what you’re getting though, it’s money well spent on a car that comforts and excites in equal measure.

The latest XF is even more refined than its award-winning predecessor, and it’s not merely down to agile handling, sweet auto gearshifts and leather-clad comfort.

The original Jaguar XF was a car pulsing with automotive theatre and technology and the theme is continued here, but with the cabin emphasis on connectivity, accessed via a touchscreen and Jaguar’s smartphone style InControl system with sound, sat-nav and apps operated by pinch and swipe.

Interior space is also better, especially in rear, while the boot offers a useful 540 litres of space – as good as you’ll get in a premium saloon model.

Of course there’s always scope to spec up the car with options, and to demonstrate how easy it is to add a princely £10K to the tab Jaguar included stuff like 20-inch Venom diamond-turned wheels at £2,050, carbon fibre veneer at £1,125, a Black Pack at £665 and illuminated treadplates for an extra £310.

It all makes for a car that looks the business and presents a compelling business case too.