Yahoo Autos Engine and Transmission
Engine and Transmission Rating:
All of the wagons in this group have impressive powertrains, and all of them are quick. But despite having at least 50 horsepower more than every other vehicle tested here (and 128 more horses than the smaller turbocharged four-cylinder Audi A4 Allroad), the Sportbrake turned in acceleration numbers that, although solid, are far from the best; in fact, they’re strictly mid-pack. The segment’s speed crown belongs to the twin-turbocharged, V-6–powered Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo wagony thing, which zooms from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, nearly a half-second quicker than the 5.1-second time we recorded for the Jag. Still, we don’t think customers will complain about the quickness of any of these wagons.
As in more and more of today’s new cars, the Sportbrake eschews the time-honored shift lever. Instead, Jaguar’s party trick is a pop-up rotary shift knob located in the center console. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission runs through its gears unobtrusively but doesn’t shift as crisply as we’d like for a car with such high-performance aspirations. When you ask for a quick burst of acceleration around town, the XF takes its sweet time in delivering the required downshifts.
Test Results: Acceleration
Manual Shifting Capability
The XF Sportbrake relies on paddle shifters to allow drivers to manually sift through its eight-speed automatic’s gear ratios. Downshifts are quick and properly elevate the sporting feel of this wagon.
Automatic Stop/Start
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