Most car enthusiasts will agree that the top players for outstanding executive saloon models are Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes. Recent news however points emphatically to the conclusion that when it comes to the best executive car on the market, Jaguar is top. The Jaguar XF has risen to the occasion to win What Car? Magazine’s ‘Best Executive Car 2011’ award.

Editor in Chief of What Car?, Steve Fowler, summed it up: “This is the fourth year running the XF has won our Best Executive Car Award, and this year it has had to work harder than ever to beat its rivals... We love everything about the XF: it looks fantastic, drives brilliantly and makes real financial sense, too.”

But let’s not take Steve Fowler’s word for it. The following guide will outline the main advantages that the Jag XF has to offer when it comes to choosing the best executive car currently available on the marketplace

Body Work

One of the greatest achievements of the Jaguar XF is its exquisite body style. The lines flow from the grill to hug the road and flow seamlessly across the car’s sleek and sporty frame. Its sophisticated curves and angles simply need to be seen to be fully appreciated.

Performance

The Jaguar XF has earnt an undisputed reputation for being a high performance machine - with the top end 5.0l supercharged V8 under the bonnet you will have over 500BHP at your toes, enabling you to go from 0-60mph in a smooth 4.3’s. This kind of powerful drive is normally reserved for sole purpose sports cars. Even the Mercedes Benz E-Class saloon, a strong competitor, doesn’t have the pure thrust of the XF and feels rather conservative by comparison.

What’s more, you can choose the following engine options for the XF:

·         2.2 Litre AJ-i4D Diesel

·         3.0 Litre V6 Diesel

·         3.0 Litre V6 Diesel S

·         5.0 Litre V8 Petrol

Cost and Features

Price wise, the XF is highly affordable for all that it offers, and you will have a range of additional features to add if you choose. Currently, a brand new Jaguar XF will range from £35,000 to £65,000, depending on the level of customisation you desire.

These are a few of the nifty additional features you can request:

·         Bluetooth

·         Navigation system with HDD mapping

·         Front and rear parking aids with Touch-screen visual indicator

·         Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

·         Blind Spot Monitor

·         Heated windscreen with timer

·         Electric glass sunroof

·         Premium, Special or Race-Inspired paint

·         Heated front seats

·         Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

As usual, opting for a second hand XF will be much cheaper, provided you have time to shop around to find the exact features you’re looking for. It must also be said that high end vehicles such as Jaguar models do depreciate in value more rapidly than cheaper models, so buying a used Jag could save you quite a packet if you’re on a tight budget.

All in all though, even when buying a brand new XF model without any additional frills, the mandatory features are much more impressive when compared to competitor luxury car brands such as the BMW 5b series saloon.

These are just some of the standard features you can expect:

·         7 inch colour Touch-screen

·         Front Media Interface

·         Jaguar 400W sound system

·         Jaguar Smart Key System with keyless start

·         Suede cloth seats with four-way electric adjustment

·         Bi-function HID Xenon headlamps with washers and LED daytime lights

·         Libra alloy wheels.

Conclusion

As an avid car enthusiast, I have to say that the Jaguar XF ticks every box for me when it comes to the best executive car that also has an affordable price tag to match. It’s always important to thoroughly do your research when shopping around however, so you can be sure you really are making the right choice. These days, there are a wealth of websites which allow you to easily compare the features and specs of different car manufacturer models so you can see at a glance which car comes out top for your needs and preferences.

About the Author: Stephen Gransville is a car enthusiast and independent advisor on best executive car types.