Jaguar XF 20d AWD

You've suddenly outgrown your BMW 3-series and well the next step logically would be to climb into the 5-series. However, what if the new promotion allows you to sort of treat yourself to something even nicer. You'd think a nice 7-series would tickle your fancy?

How about a Jaguar XF? You won't regret it one bit.

20d trim comes with or without all-wheel-drive and a decent four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. 180Hp for many many not sound like much but it is enough for most buyers who desire luxury and also somewhat respectable running costs. The new 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 247hp is a sweet spot in the range. It has plenty of torque at low revs and feels so much more flexible when you want it the most. What's a Jag without the option of a six-cylinder engine? Well you get two of them to choose from, both 3-liter supercharged with 340hp and 380hp. Our tester car wasn't any of the gasoline engines, we had the diesel engine with all-wheel-drive and a R-Sport package. Exterior styling is great and well the larger alloys seem to compliment the XF style more. Driving the diesel engine in the XF isn't like what you'd expect because we surely expected a smoother engine. It's not all bad just not as smooth as it should be, but at relaxed speeds it's fine. Besides, most people aren't going to flat out flog it at every given opportunity and with the low running costs you get with this car it's a home run. Diesel fueling stations are hard to come by but if you find one and you desire this particular XF we'd say go for it. You won't find a Mercedes E-class diesel until 2018 and you also won't find a 5-series diesel anywhere either. Jaguar pretty much owns this segment.

Long gone are the days when you'd say Jags are for those who are more into luxury and very little sport. The new XF has steering feedback that was sent from the gods and the chassis can pretty much handle every twist and turn tossed at it. You'll appreciate that the diesel engine doesn't have much horsepower because you can really see what the car is capable of achieving without feeling like you're going to overpower each turn and flog it when it isn't needed. 319Lb-ft torque at only 1750rpm is a lot. Road noise is decently suppressed as well as wind noise. The engine does have more clatter than we'd like, but we still would choose this happily over the 2-liter turbo four.

The interior has a minimalistic feel to it. Most would feel there should be buttons where there are none at all and well we are fine with that. It makes you appreciate the space that you have around you and the attention to details is stellar. We just wish that it had a bit more spice to it, more refinement in certain areas where you'll be greeted with cheap plastics. They do feel sturdy and long lasting but for the price that our tester car had we were expecting a bit more. The front seats do offer decent comfort but some may find the seats are a bit narrow and the cabin is also feels narrower than a 5-series. The rear seat can seat four comfortably but a fifth person will find themselves straddling the center transmission hump and sharing out the foot space.

Out tester car came kitted with every single option that you could possibly ask for. Adaptive Xenon-headlamps, lane keep assist, 825 watt sound system and 20-inch alloy wheels. You'll have to pay extra for ventilated leather front seats, upgraded infotainment screen and 360 view camera. These features all came with our tester car and yes while it is nice, many of them we hadn't had the chance to try them due to time. One feature that our tester car didn't come kitted with was the Adaptive Dynamics Package which we did find a bit strange.

The Jaguar XF is a great sedan that you should short list if you aren't impressed with the latest Audi, BMW and Mercedes offerings. Driving dynamics are spot on excellent and you won't regret the diesel engine for it's low running costs. Everyone else will find the 2-liter turbo four offers good flexibility. Power hungry will be very satisfied with the supercharged six-cylinders offered. The only letdown that Jaguar still needs to work on is reliability.

Likes: The XF was sent from the gods. It's dynamically the best sedan we've ever driven. Classic British luxury inside out. Diesel engine has low running costs. There's an XF for everyone.

Dislikes: Jaguar isn't known for having reliable products. Resale value is a bit scary. Be careful with the options as it may induce sticker shock, our tester car certainly did.

20d AWD *** (We were finally able to test drive the XF with the 2-liter turbo-diesel engine option. While it was met with divided opinions, the XF 20d AWD certainly isn't a bad option for those who do worry about running costs, or do tons of highway miles. It's not the quickest diesel engine you'll encounter, but it does make a lot of financial sense for us if we were to option for this Jag. It has plenty of torque at low revs which helps it feel light on its toes, and while you'll wake up everyone in your neighborhood just turning on the thing. We love the charm that this car has that other German Rivals seem to lack.) 

We respond to articles on the internet

In its most general sense, a fair use is any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.

I decided to respond to an article I found on the internet that list reasons why he won’t buy a luxury car. I understand that some people just don’t want to have a flashy car, but these few people don’t understand that regardless of what car you own, people will have some type of pre-judgement about you regardless, and with that being said let’s jump right in. Six reasons why I don’t want to own a luxury car. 

People will assume things about me that I don’t want them to assume.

[It won’t matter what car you own, people will have some form of assumption about you. Whether you buy a $90k BMW or a $20k Kia, people will assume things about you that aren’t even true. You bought a new car you must have money, etc. If you want that BMW buy it, or if you want that really nice Volkswagen buy it. We only live once and to allow assumptions of other people to dictate what car you drive is pretty stupid. People will assume things about you whether you drive new or not. It’s up to you if you choose to listen to those people or not.]

I become a more obvious target for theft.
[The most stolen new car is a Nissan Altima and the most stolen used car is a 1996 Honda Accord. Both of these vehicles are far from being luxurious. I also looked up the most stolen luxury car and that’s a Mercedes S-class, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. Older cars tend to be a higher target for theft because they are easier to steal due to lack of theft protection. Also, there are some older vehicles with parts that are much easier to sell and make a profit off of, as with most luxury cars the parts are marked which makes them harder to sell because some parts can’t be reused on any other car once removed. I don’t understand your ‘target’ reason for not wanting a luxury car. You can have a Honda and be a target; you could have a Kia and be a target. Thieves go after the easiest cars they can get their hands on.]

Depreciation is even more painful.
[It depends upon the brand you buy from. Audi and BMWs tend to hold their value way better than let’s say Mercedes or Maserati. Most cars depreciate the most within the first three years of ownership. So, unless you’re leasing your cars and give them back so you won’t have to worry about the hit in depreciation, this reason is also a weak one.]

I have to travel much further to get repairs done.
[No matter what car you purchase, some repairs will have to be done at the dealership and yes you will have to travel to the dealership. I’d rather make the drive to the dealership and get my vehicle properly fixed under warranty than to go to my mechanic who may or may not know how to work on newer vehicles with all these high tech features. You can buy a new Kia and still have to take it to the dealer for certain repairs.]

The normal behavior of children is more costly.
[Leather seats are actually a lot easier to clean than you’d think. Cloth seats tend to absorb moisture which makes them harder to clean if your kids spill juice on them. Regardless if I have a Honda Pilot or Mercedes GL, I will be very upset if my kids spilled juice in the car. This is why if you have kids in the car, buy spill proof products for them or have them wait until they are at home or at the destination you are intended to go to.]


I would be scared to breathe in it.
[So what you’re saying is, you’d feel better in a $20k Kia? Here’s my thing about this statement here, you can have a new car and have that new car anxiety. You can have a used car still have that same exact anxiety. When you switch from one car to another, you have to readapt yourself to that particular vehicle all over again. It doesn’t matter if it’s an Audi, Mercedes or BMW. When you buy a new car you have to readapt to that vehicle because it’s a totally different vehicle. I fear people hitting my car and I drive a $20k Mitsubishi. It doesn’t matter the price of the vehicle, the fear of others being jealous of what you have is an actual fear for anyone.]

Devon test drives an Audi A3 (Used)

If you acquire the taste of luxury but the price tag leaves you running for the hills. Fret not because the Audi A3 is here.

There are two engines to choose from. The standard 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 170hp while the top of the range 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 220hp. Picking between the two is all a mere matter of taste. The 1.8 only comes with front-wheel-drive and is our pick of the range. It makes the most sense financially and running costs are decent too. It’s nice though that you can have more power with the 2-liter turbo but you can only have it with all-wheel-drive. Both versions don’t even offer a manual gearbox, in both cases however you’ll have to go with the upcoming redesigned Volkswagen Golf/GTI to satisfy that desire.

Unless you’re downgrading from a Bentley, the interior won’t be as classy in comparison. However both are classy and both won’t disappoint. Audi's interior decors are some of the best in the industry. Even the optional infotainment display that sort of leaps out of the dash is a welcome touch; everything is within easy reach of the driver’s hand and the seats are comfortable with plenty of support. Rear passengers however may suffer a bit in legroom.

Premium trim offers leather seats, Xenon headlamps, dual zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof. Premium plus trim adds keyless start, 18-inch alloy wheels and heated front seats. You’ll have to step up to the Prestige trim to full LED headlights, 14 speaker 705watt sound system and voice control navigation system.

The A3 may seem expensive compared to indirect rivals such as the Mazda3 and even Volkswagen GTI. But for those who crave the Audi badge but can’t afford the A4 we strongly suggest sticking with the standard form and you’ll be fine. Resale value is too soon to call since the A3 is new to the market.

The A3 is a classy offering and is worth considering if you want a four-door sedan with premium image. However it’s just not as compelling to look at compared to the Mercedes CLA and it’s not as fun to drive as a BMW 2-series. It is the best between the two and we think it’s the top pick for those who want a classy well rounded sedan.

Likes: Both engines have strong pull. The standard kit is impressive for such a low asking price.

Dislikes: Bland exterior looks. There are so many indirect rivals that offer more for similar money.

Devon’s Choice: The A3 Premium 1.8t is where our money would go. It offers enough kit to satisfy most needs without being too expensive. Plus running costs are decent too.

[Updated] Audi Allroad

If you take an Audi A4 raise the suspension slightly and throw on plastic body panels. You get the Audi Allroad, it's designed to compete with the Volvo V60 CC and Subaru Outback. With standard Quattro all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, can Audi give a justifiable reason to buy an Allroad over a luxury crossover?

Performance: The Allroad only comes with a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder upgraded to 252hp with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. We love how there’s tons of torque at low revs which helps make the engine feel much more flexible around town and on the highway. It also comes with decent running costs too, despite the increase in horsepower over the outgoing model.

Ride & handling: Even though the Allroad has a raised driving position for mild off-roading. The downside is that the Allroad is that there's a bit more body roll than the A4 Avant on which it’s based on. The ride comfort is vastly improved over the previous generation and steering feedback is also much more responsive.

Refinement: The Allroad is quiet and smooth at highway speeds. There's a bit of wind noise, but it can be easily drained out with the radio. Suspension and road noise are also well suppressed.

Behind the wheel: There's a wide range of adjustments for the driver's seat and steering wheel. The instrumental panel is easy to navigate and visibility is great thanks to large glass area.

Space & Practicality: There's enough space for four adults and their luggage. Headroom and legroom and plenty and the boot is a good size as well. The rear seats fold down to add more space, but they don't fold completely flat.

Equipment: Premium trim comes with leather seating surfaces, xenon headlamps, Audi drive select with off-road mode and Audi smartphone interface. You’ll have to step up to the Premium Plus trim to get Full-LED headlights, Bang & Olufsen sound system and Audi’s advanced keyless start with hands-free boot release. Top of the range Prestige adds Audi’s virtual cockpit, head-up display and MMI navigation system with voice control.

Buying & Owning: The Allroad comes with a hefty price tag which is similar to the Volvo V60 CC. Even though the Subaru Outback is much cheaper to buy, it doesn't have the styling appeal of the Audi Allroad. Gas mileage a combined 23 miles to the gallon which is decent for a wagon that has all-wheel-drive and weighs near 4,000lbs. Resale value should be good as with all Audis.

Reliability & Quality: The interior quality is excellent for its class. All the materials feel upscale and the overall impression is superb. Audi hasn't really enjoyed the best reliability record in the past, but from what we've seen in recent years. The question still remains over the longterm reliability of the mechanicals and electronics.

Security & Safety: The Allroad comes with lots of safety equipment, including six airbags and stability control. Rear side airbags are optional. Deadlocks and an alarmn are fitted as stanard to guard against theft.

The Allroad is a nice wagon with plenty of luxury features galore. The engine is decent for the task, and fuel economy is respectable. However the bigger question remains. Why Audi didn't offer the A6 Allroad instead of the A4 based Allroad. The price tag would've been a little more justifiable and overall packaging would've been more convincing seeing that the Volvo V60 CC and Subaru Outback are both larger vehicles with more space. However, if you want a splash of style, wagon practicality and desire the Audi Quattro all-wheel-drive, the Audi Allroad is the perfect car that blends all three very well.

Devon's Pick: Premium Plus adds Xenon headlamps which look better on the Allroad than the halogen headlamps that come standard on the base trim. Plus it feels like an alround better deal than both the base trim and top of the range.

Likes: Restyled exterior is a breath of fresh air. Turbo engine adds the punch you need and still offers decent running costs.

Dislikes: Priced rather steeply and reliability record is still iffy. On road dynamics aren’t as sharp as the sedan.