Jaguar F-Type Review 2024
Written by Andrew Brady
Quick overview
Pros
- Damn, it’s pretty
- Those V8s sound magnificent
- It’s not a Porsche, and that’s a good thing
Cons
- You still want an Aston Martin Vantage, don’t you?
- Those V8s will be scarily expensive to run
- Infotainment still lags behind rivals on user friendliness
Overall verdict on the Jaguar F-Type
"In this Jaguar F-Type review, we are looking at a sports car that went a long way to putting Jaguar back in the game. When first introduced, the Jaguar F-Type was a big step forward from its predecessor - the XK, offering a more modern and engaging driving experience. It's aged gracefully too, and although some of its rivals are now a little younger, the Jaguar F-Type is attractive and still great to drive - don't scratch it off your shortlist."
Jaguar introduced the F-Type back in 2013, and it didn't feel the need to refresh the looks of it sports car offering until 2019, taking the opportunity too to rationalise the range a bit, slimming down the engine line-up, all of which made choosing your Jaguar F-Type simpler.
For all its age, the Jaguar F-Type remains a real head-turner, which, in this class is a real virtue. It helps it’s not one of the Porsches it competes against, with the Jaguar F-Type’s range and pricing spanning the 718 Cayman/Boxster models, as well as Porsche’s 911 Carreras, the Jaguar F-Type a more deliberate choice than the somewhat predictable Stuttgart cars.
While we’d have applauded you for buying the old Jaguar F-Type on its looks alone, the facelifted car’s revised styling really does elevate it to a new level. There’s some real elegance to the front end, the sharper rear lights adding some definition around its tail too. At the Jaguar F-Type’s launch back in 2013 a lot of noise was made about it evoking its E-Type ancestor, that never really ringing true back then - now the link is a bit more tangible.
Inside, it’s largely the same as it has always been, but through time Jaguar has sensibly concentrated on improving the material qualities, as well as the fit and finish. Think finessing rather than widespread changes inside, which given its design was fundamentally correct when it was launched is no bad thing. There’s improved, if still imperfect, infotainment in the newer models, while the simplified engine line up makes it easier to decide which F-Type to choose.
Previously the Jaguar F-Type’s engine heartland was a choice of V6s, but they’ve been dropped, Jaguar now offering the Jaguar F-Type with either a turbocharged, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, or a supercharged 5.0-litre V8. There’s quite a gap between those powerplants, with that entry-level engine delivering 300PS and 400Nm, compared to the 450PS and 580Nm that the supercharged V8 develops.
If 450PS isn’t quite healthy enough an output for you then there’s another version of that supercharged V8 available, it being tuned to deliver 575PS and 700Nm of torque – numbers that better Jaguar’s old XJ220. Sensibly, given that monstrous output, the range-topping Jaguar F-Type is only available with four-wheel drive, with the 450PS version being offered with either four- or rear-wheel drive, and the four-cylinder entry-level car being rear-wheel drive only.
Unambiguously, Jaguar names its Jaguar F-Type line-up using its power outputs, so that entry-level car is the P300, with the P450 and P575 above it. All are available in either closed coupe or opening convertible forms and are two-seaters.
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Is the Jaguar F-Type right for you?
You’ve discounted the idea of a Porsche, either the 718 models or 911s, Audi’s R8 is a bit too compromised, and BMW or Mercedes-Benz don’t appeal, either. An Aston Martin Vantage is still a bit out of reach, for now. The Jaguar F-Type range’s breadth really is wide enough to cover all those bases, mostly.
Chances are you’ve owned Jaguars before or have always loved the E-Type and want some of that in a more modern package. Being a two-seater the Jaguar F-Type is always going to be a bit of an indulgence, and while there are obvious compromises because of that, like boot space and running costs, if you can afford the price tag then you've earned it.
What other cars are similar to the Jaguar F-Type?
The Jaguar F-Type really does stack up against a broad church of potential rivals. At one end, it’s in the smaller, relatively affordable end of the sports car spectrum, and at the other, it’s chasing supercars, on pace, if not necessarily outlay.
That’s between around £67,000 and £100,000, so there’s the Porsche 718 Cayman and 911 line ups, cars like the BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SLC/SL, purist sports cars like the Alpine A110 and Lotus Evoras or Exiges, as well as things like Audi TTs to R8s.
An F-Type buyer might also consider Aston Martin’s Vantage, too, even if you could have a pair of Jaguar F-Types for the sort of money you’d need to find for one Aston Martin.
Comfort and design: Jaguar F-Type interior
"The Jaguar F-Type’s interior might now be pushing on in years in its basic architecture and layout, but it’s testament to the quality of the original design that it still looks good today. As standard the Jaguar F-Type features six-way electrically adjusted sports seats covered in ebony leather and suede cloth as well as an electrically adjustable steering column – for rake and reach. Getting comfortable behind the wheel is easy enough."
The 75 Plus adds 12-way electric adjustment to the seats, and the electric, folding mirrors gain a memory function. The range-topping R model, limited to the P575 engine, gets keyless entry, memory added to the steering column adjustment and, if you’ve gone for the convertible, a wind deflector for when the roof is down. All convertibles get a powered hood, which drops quickly and easily at the push of a button.
Jaguar hasn’t gone as far as angling all the centre-console controls towards the driver as you might find in some cars, but it does delineate the passenger and driver’s spaces with a broad transmission tunnel, and older models have a distinctive grab handle for the passenger.
While that's likely to be welcomed by a passenger hanging on during a bout of spirited driving, it also makes passenger operation of the climate control a little less easy than it could be in older F-Types. There’s a bit of theatre getting in, too, from the pop-out door handles outside, to the way the air vents rise out of the top of the dashboard, small things, but ones that amuse and entertain.
Quality and finish
Get inside and the initial impression is one of a nicely finished interior, and you’d be largely right. The materials that are in your sight look good, even if they lack the tactility of those in something like an Audi TT (or R8 if you’re further up the range). Likewise, nobody at Porsche is going to be benchmarking the Jaguar F-Type for trim materials, but, in fairness, both Audi and Porsche do set a very high bar in this regard.
In isolation, it’s a special enough cabin, taking into account that Jaguar probably had a budget to develop the entire Jaguar F-Type’s interior comparable to what Audi might spend designing a cup holder, and its actually rather good. There’s a but though, and that is it’s okay at P300 levels of outlay, but it less tolerable when you’re dropping more than £100,000 on it, as you will with a P575 R.
You should be enjoying it too much to care about the odd cheap bits of plastic secreted away out of your sight, but they are there if you go looking for them. It all feels decently screwed together, though every time we get in the Jaguar F-Type we do wonder how problematic and costly those electrically powered vents that rise from the middle of the dashboard would be to fix should they ever go awry.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Jaguar F-Type
Like the overall interior, Jaguar’s infotainment offering can’t quite offer the polish of its bigger rivals. It's fiddly to the point of distraction, with sub-menus galore, and a touchscreen that needs a good prod at times to respond to inputs. Superficially it all looks good, but it requires some learning, and even once you’ve mastered its peculiarities, patience. It’s some way behind Porsche, Audi and BMW in regards to user friendliness, and we’ve encountered a few that are just plain buggy, with the entire system freezing.
The 10-inch central screen contains the sat nav, an online pack, Bluetooth and USB connectivity and controls a standard 380W 8 speaker Meridian sound system with DAB. That can be upgraded to a Meridian Surround Sound System, which boasts 770W and gains another pair of speakers. There’s Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connection as standard, while Jaguar’s remote App allows you to track your journeys, check fuel levels, heat or cool the car before you get in as well as lock and unlock it with your smartphone. It's shame the F-Type's interior architecture doesn't allow for the much better 11.4-inch Pivi Pro set-up seen in the F-Pace SUV.
In addition to the main infotainment screen, the instruments are replaced by a 12.3-inch interactive display, which offers configurability to display maps, switch between music tracks and much more, too.
Space and practicality: Jaguar F-Type boot space
It’s a two-seater sports car, but the cabin will fit a pair of taller adults without any problems, with good headroom, and plenty shoulder space. The impression of space is reduced a bit with the convertible, thanks to the proximity of the folding roof over your shoulder, but it’s still not claustrophobic in there.
There’s a big transmission tunnel dissecting the interior but it doesn’t impede your space too much, and gives room for a pair of cupholders and a small lidded storage box. The glovebox is typically small, while the door bins aren’t exactly huge, either, but this is a sports car, so it’s difficult to be too critical about that.
You’re unlikely to be surprised to hear that the boot space isn’t exactly vast, either, falling into the clichéd ‘squashy bag’, and ‘best leave your golf clubs in the locker room at the clubhouse’ category. The coupe significantly betters its convertible sibling here, which again is no shock, with the coupe’s hatchback giving better access over the small boot lid of the convertible.
The coupe’s measured volume is actually a respectable 310-litres, with the convertible being 207-litres, both of which are smaller than something like their Porsche 718 Cayman/Boxster rivals, but with the Jaguar F-Type coupe the space on offer is arguably more usefully shaped. There is no ISOFIX child seat mounts in the Jaguar F-Type’s passenger pew, though Jaguar does offer child seats for various age ranges for the Jaguar F-Type.
The Jaguar F-Type dimensions are 4470mm long, 2042mm wide and 1311mm tall.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Jaguar F-Type like to drive?
"The Jaguar F-Type covers a wide price spectrum and brief, so it’s not surprising that it lacks the clarity of focus of some of its rivals. Most will be happy with it though, the Jaguar F-Type’s ride being supple and composed. Only when you start asking bigger questions of the chassis does the Jaguar F-Type fail to deliver quite the incisive, predictable responses of the best of its rivals, and at road speeds, it’s not really a concern."
The entry-level Jaguar F-Type P300 makes do with standard passive suspension, which means there’s no possibility to adjust the damper settings via mode buttons inside. That’s not really an issue, as it rides commendably, particularly given the standard 20-inch wheels.
Earlier models came on wheels starting at 18-inches in size, which help the ride qualify further, but do nothing in the style stakes.
The simpler suspension of the four-cylinder P300 cars works well enough, largely because they are lighter than their V8 relations. Thanks to the P300’s lighter engine as well as the lack of four-wheel drive (the P450 offered in both rear- and four-wheel drive), its lesser mass definitely making the entry car feel a bit more nimble than its bigger performance relations.
The P450 and R both weigh significantly more, at worst carrying over 220kg extra, and while their engines have the performance to cope with it, that bulk needs controlling. Jaguar fits all the V8 cars with adaptive damping as standard, which helps, the does the addition of an Electronic Active Differential with torque vectoring by braking – the P300 getting an open differential but featuring that torque vectoring.
That all helps the V8 cars provide prodigious cross country pace, but they lack the finesse of the best of their competition, the steering not as precise or full of detailed feedback. Though the four-wheel drive system does, largely, retain a rear-wheel drive feel, overall they feel softer, a little bit more GT in character than the best of the Jaguar F-Type’s rivals.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Jaguar F-Type?
There are two engine choices with the Jaguar F-Type, and it’s a decision between the cylinder count of four and eight. Both the four-cylinder and V8 engines feature forced induction, so there’s turbocharging with the smaller 2.0-litre unit, while that 5.0-litre V8 gets a supercharger to increase its performance.
Unsurprisingly, they’re quite different in character, but don’t think that the P300 is a poor relation, as 300PS and 400Nm of torque is enough to allow a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds, which might be bettered by some hot hatches these days, but feels brisk enough in reality. The engine does need working hard to produce its best, but that’s part of its appeal, and when you’re not in a hurry it works well with the eight-speed automatic transmission – there's no manual offered with the facelifted Jaguar F-Type.
The V8 is a different animal, in performance and voice. It’s offered in either 450PS (580Nm of torque) and 575PS (700Nm) in the R, allowing a 4.6 second 0-62mph time in that P450, or 3.7 seconds in the R. That latter figure isn’t far off supercar quick, as is the R’s 186mph top speed.
Again, the V8 is mated to Jaguar’s eight-speed automatic, which works well enough when you shift it yourself, but it can be a bit slow to react at times when in fully automatic mode. Switching the drive modes helps, with Dynamic speeding up both the gearshift and changing the engine map for a quicker response.
Refinement and noise levels
Sports cars should make a bit of noise, and the old V6 F-Types were particularly overt in the sounds emanating from their exhaust pipes. The P300 four-cylinder is a little bit more muted in character, but use the now-standard switchable active sports exhaust and you can liberate some more appealing notes, though it’s never going to have the character of its V8 relation.
It’s a particularly vocal engine, though with that switchable exhaust you can quieten it down if you don’t want to drive everywhere with a burbling, muscle car-like soundtrack accompanying you.
There’s a bit of tyre roar with all, and some wind noise at speed through the convertible’s hood, but in these respects it’s no worse than its rivals, the Jaguar F-Type is a car that actually does a long distance cruise rather well.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Jaguar F-Type?
Commendably, Jaguar’s safety equipment is broadly identical across the entire Jaguar F-Type line up, so you don’t lose elements of it if you opt for a cheaper, entry-level model. As standard all come with Emergency Braking, Emergency Brake Assist, a Driver Condition Monitor, Anti-lock Brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and either four airbags in the convertible, or six airbags in the coupe.
Driving assistance includes the usual traction and stability systems, while there’s also cruise control with a speed limiter, Lane Keep Assist, front and rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera and a traffic sign recognition system with an adaptive speed limiter. That’s fitted to every model, including the P300 F-Type entry trim. There’s also a tyre pressure monitoring system fitted to all. A Blind Spot Assist system and rear traffic monitor is a £460 option on all.
The Jaguar F-Type hasn’t been independently crash tested, but it should protect you just as well as its sports car rivals in the event of an impact.
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Jaguar F-Type cost to run?
"If fuel consumption’s important in your Jaguar F-Type, there’s only one choice: the P300."
On the WLTP combined test it scores 30.1mpg as a coupe or 29.7mpg for the Convertible, and on a longer run that’ll be possible. Under real-world use you can shave a few mpg off that, and if it’s occasional weekend blasts, then think early 20mpg or less.
The convertible uses a little bit more fuel, as it’s a touch heavier, but it’s unlikely you’ll really notice the difference. You will with the V8s though, with the P450 and Rs returning a WLTP combined consumption of around 26mpg, use them as intended and it’ll be way less. As for the SVR, it's not as thirsty as you might fear with 27mpg cited officially. Of course, that is more of an ambition than reality when you use the performance available.
How reliable is a Jaguar F-Type?
Jaguar scored a highly impressive 90.5% in the most recent HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, which put the company in fifth place out of 29 manufacturers. The F-Type has also fared well as an individual model in our experience for reliability, though this is from a relatively small number of cars included, so some caution is needed here.
Insurance groups and costs
All are going to be costly to insure, even that P300 attracting a group 41 insurance rating, largely down to the fact that the aluminium structure won’t be cheap to repair if you crash it. The fastest models sit in group 50, which is to be expected.
Elsewhere it’s comparable to its competition for running costs. Jaguar offers the Jaguar F-Type with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Jaguar F-Type?
CO2 emissions are in line with class expectations, and with all being in excess of £40,000 when bought new, you’ll pay the premium rate. On the basic P300 you'll pay £1650 in the first year plus the £490 levy for cars costing more than £40,000. The P575 R with AWD is an eye-watering £2745 in the first year and £190 plus £490 in the years that follow, which is the same as the P300.
How much should you be paying for a used Jaguar F-Type?
"Early, high mileage Jaguar F-Types start at around £23,000, for V6 supercharged models. The premium between coupes and cabriolets isn’t particularly noticeable in the used car listings. Even a four-year old V6 supercharged model with under 20,000 miles can be had in the mid-£30,000 sphere."
If you’re after a newer, 2.0-litre four-cylinder car you’ll pay from £50,000 for a car with circa 5,000 miles that is one-year old. The V8s will cost around £55,000 for the P450 with 10,000 miles at the same age, and an SVR will require a spend of £65,000 for a similar age and mileage example.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Four different trim levels with the Jaguar F-Type, spanning the three different engine choices. Jaguar F-Type is standard specification for the coupe and roadster with the P300 engine, R-Dynamic is standard specification for the P450 and available on the P300.
First Edition is available with either P300 or P450 engines, throughout 2020, and the 575R comes with its own specification.
All Jaguar F-Type versions come with electrically adjusted sports seats with leather and suede finishing, LED headlights, a Meridian sound system, interactive driver display, climate control and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic adds 19-inch alloy wheels to the P300 – the 450 gets 20-inch items, an R-Dynamic body kit, a switchable Active Exhaust, and Configurable Dampers and an Electronically Controlled Active Differential.
Jaguar F-Type First Edition cars get 12-way electrical seat adjustment, 20-inch wheels, smarter interior leather and suede coverings and First Edition metal treadplates as well as a Dark Satin Grey exterior design pack.
Jaguar F-Type R gets R branded highlights throughout, keyless entry, an R specific body kit.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
What is the cost of a Jaguar F-Type?
Are Jaguar F-Types reliable?
Is the Jaguar F-Type fast?
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