2017 Jaguar XF

Car shoppers looking for a midsize luxury sedan can be forgiven for limiting their search to the German contingent. After all, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz created the class and have benchmarked it ever since, despite impressive incursions by American, Asian and other European automakers. But the 2017 Jaguar XF gives shoppers a very good reason to expand their options. The XF's extensive aluminum construction makes it light, fuel-efficient and quick to respond to driver commands. Its plush cabin melts away time spent sluicing through traffic. And it cuts a dashing British figure on an open road.

The 2017 Jaguar XF now offers a fuel-efficient diesel engine along with optional all-wheel drive.

New for 2017 is a 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, which should broaden the XF's appeal to luxury shoppers who prioritize fuel economy. With more than 300 pound-feet of torque waiting to be uncorked as you dig into the accelerator, the diesel XF doesn't sacrifice thrills for frugality, either. Jaguar hasn't announced the new engine's fuel economy yet, but figure somewhere in the high 30s for highway mpg just to keep pace with the offerings from Audi and BMW.

The new diesel is the perfect complement to the XF's existing power plant, a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that comes in two strengths -- one with 340 horsepower and the other with 380. There's plenty of performance on tap, of course, but you also get a solid 30 mpg on the highway with the standard rear-wheel-drive setup.

The 2017 Jaguar XF stands out for the emotional impact it delivers. Enter the cabin, for example, and you see an ignition button that pulses red like a heartbeat; press it, and a rotary shift dial rises from the center console. Of course, what the Germans might lack in dramatic presentation, they make up for with clinical precision, as in the impeccably engineered Audi A6, the enduringly competitive BMW 5 Series and the superbly stolid Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which is also redesigned for 2017.

The all-American Cadillac CTS vSport undercuts the performance-oriented XF S model on price and offers more power and exceptional handling. But if you're drawn to Jaguar's signature pairing of grace and pace, you may find the 2017 XF hard to resist.

Standard safety features on the 2017 Jaguar XF include traction and stability control, antilock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and, on all but the base model, a rearview camera. As detailed above, certain other safety technologies are included on the R-Sport and S, while the more advanced Driver Assistance pack is optional on those trims, and the Vision pack enhances the safety of the base Premium and Prestige.

The 2017 Jaguar XF is a midsize luxury sedan offered in five trim levels: base, Premium, Prestige, R-Sport and S.

Standard base trim features include 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, automatic xenon headlights, LED running lights and taillights, nighttime approach lighting, automatic wipers, push-button ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette upholstery, eight-way power front seats, a power-adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel with shift paddles, a 5-inch driver information display, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity and an 11-speaker Meridian sound system with HD radio and a USB port.

The interior of the 2017 Jaguar XF S, shown here, features 12-way power front seats and ebony veneer trim. Gloss black, satin, and carbon-fiber accents are also available.

The Premium trim adds auto-dimming side mirrors; a power-adjustable steering column; memory settings for the driver seat, side mirrors and steering wheel positions; 40/20/40-split-folding rear seats and a rearview camera.

The Prestige trim builds on Premium features with 19-inch wheels, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, blue interior accent lighting, heated front seats with four-way power lumbar, voice controls, smartphone-app integration and a navigation system with SD-card mapping.

The R-Sport trim includes different 19-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, automatic high-beam control, a rear spoiler, a collection of safety technologies (lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking), sport-themed exterior and interior styling accents, sport front seats and satellite radio.

The S trim gets a more powerful engine, 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension with adjustable settings, red brake calipers, unique exterior styling flourishes with gloss black and satin chrome accents, 12-way power front seats, front passenger seat memory and special interior trim.

Jaguar offers more than a dozen option packages and stand-alone options. The Premium trim, for example, can be outfitted with a Cold Climate pack (heated seats, steering wheel and windshield) and a Vision pack (adaptive LED headlights, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert).

The Prestige's Vision pack consists of the Premium's Vision pack minus the parking sensors, which come standard. All trims except base and Premium can opt for a Comfort and Convenience pack (cooled front seats, heated rear seats, power-closing doors and a power trunk lid).

Optional on Prestige, R-Sport and S trims is the Technology pack, which includes an upgraded infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, hard-drive-based navigation, a full LED gauge cluster and a 17-speaker sound system.

The R-Sport and S trims offer a Premium Interior Upgrade pack (power rear sunshade, manual rear side window shades, four-zone climate control, simulated suede headliner, adjustable multicolor ambient lighting and illuminated door sills) and a Driver Assistance pack (adaptive cruise control, a self-parking system, a surround-view camera system and speed-limit recognition). The Black pack for the XF S adds gloss-black trim to the grille, vents and trunk.

Stand-alone options include various wheel designs, a head-up display, mobile WiFi and different interior trims and veneers.

The 2017 Jaguar XF offers two engine choices: a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and a new turbodiesel 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The V6 makes 380 hp in S trim, and 340 hp in all others, and 332 lb-ft of torque in both cases. The four-cylinder is rated at 180 hp and 318 lb-ft of torque.

With restrained lines and uncluttered body panels, the 2017 Jaguar XF cuts a dashing figure on the road and in the valet line.

An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard with either engine, with your choice of either rear- or all-wheel drive on every trim.

The standard All-Surface Progress Control system helps the XF get moving in low-traction situations. When engaged, you set a target speed with the cruise control, and the XF selectively applies power to maximize traction. Adaptive Surface Response mode (included on AWD models optioned with the adaptive suspension) senses the quality of the surface on which you're driving and adjusts the throttle, brakes, transmission and stability control for optimal grip.

Jaguar says rear-drive XFs with the lower power rating will do zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, while the S trim shaves a tenth of a second. All-wheel drive also shaves a tenth in both cases. These are competitive times for the segment among similarly powered models.

The EPA rates the rear-wheel-drive XF at 24 mpg combined (20 city/30 highway) for both V6 engine tunes, while all-wheel drive yields 23 mpg combined (20 city/28 highway). Fuel economy estimates for the new diesel are pending.