Jaguar F-Type review

Despite being on sale for around a decade, the F-Type is still a thrilling sports car that handles superbly. Available either in coupe or convertible form, it has enough dynamic talent to stand toe to toe with rivals from the likes of Porsche, BMW and Mercedes, while buyers also have the choice of lighter, four-cylinder models or the bombastic V8 versions which feel every inch the super car. 

The (2020) facelifted F-Type not only looks sharper, but drives much better, too, with sweeter steering, a crisper chassis, a mildly improved interior and, in 575 R guise, thundering performance to match. 

When it first appeared in 2013, the F-Type quickly showed itself to be the perfect flagship sports car for Jaguar. Whichever version you chose, it gave a thrilling driving experience and was almost universally acclaimed as one of the best-looking sports cars on sale. Together, these two points explain the F-Type’s success, as it satisfied the demands of driving enthusiasts and the style-conscious in one package.

But, the rate of progress in the car industry has always been fast-paced, to a point where the F-Type was starting to feel dated. In order to catch up with its rivals from Germany and America, Jaguar unveiled a heavily revised model at the beginning of 2020. 

With the F-Type range priced to take sales from both the Porsche Boxster S/Cayman S and the larger 911, higher-spec F-Types provide more value for money, although you wouldn’t be making a mistake if you picked the entry-level F-Type over a Boxster or Cayman.

At the bottom of the range, the four-cylinder engine brings a welcome extra dimension to the line-up. And, if you’re thinking of a V8 F-Type, you can pick up a 4×4 version for around £5,000 more than the rear-drive version. The upgrade is worthwhile, because it makes the car safer and more secure without sacrificing any driving thrills.

Priced at more than £100k, the massively powerful 567bhp R flagship model is a serious investment, but in its favour it does have a top speed approaching almost 200mph. Previously, it didn’t have the sharpness to beat the best of its rivals on the road, but the refreshed line-up feels much more honed, far lighter on its feet, and has a level of agility to its handling that was simply not there before. 

There aren’t many cars for sale that can beat the Jaguar F-Type for head-turning looks. Whether it’s coupe or convertible, or in F-Type, R-Dynamic, R-Dynamic Black or R specs, the revised model remains a striking piece of design that echoes the classic E-Type, while still delivering a contemporary look.

With price tags ranging from around £56,000 to £100,000, the F-Type has a lot of coupe and convertible rivals. Entry level models can count the Porsche Boxster and Cayman as competitors, as well as more expensive versions of the Audi TT, BMW Z4, Alpine A110 and possibly even cars like the Ford Mustang and BMW M2.

At the top end of the range, the V8 F-Type can challenge the likes of the Aston Martin Vantage, Mercedes SL and AMG GT, Porsche 911 and Audi R8 supercars.

Power comes from a variety of engines. The entry point is the P300, which uses a 296bhp version of Jag’s Ingenium 2.0-litre turbo, four-cylinder engine. The range then jumps to the P450 and P575, which both use Jaguar’s powerhouse 5.0-litre supercharged V8 unit, making 444bhp and 567bhp, respectively.

The F-Type P300 is only offered with rear-wheel-drive, whereas the P450 V8 versions come with a choice of either AWD or rear-wheel-drive. The top-of-the-range P575 manages its monstrous 567bhp output by rather sensibly putting its power through all four wheels. All models use a revised version of Jaguar’s great eight-speed auto transmission.

For an alternative review of the Jaguar F-Type, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk…