The interior of the 2008 Jaguar XF has the fine leather and beautiful wood the automaker has always offered.

Jaguar

DETROIT — Whatever else you say about Ford, there’s no denying the Dearborn, Mich., automaker is a good host.

For a lovely parting gift as it sold its Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands to Indian automaker Tata this year, Ford presented Jag with its best sedan in decades: the lovely, luxurious and thoroughly contemporary XF midsize sport sedan.

The XF is a radical break from such recent Jag sedans as the S- and X-type, which wore nostalgia for cars the brand built in the 1950s and ’60s with all the grace of a mob informant wearing cement shoes.

Jaguar’s decision-makers had forgotten that early Jags became legends because they were new and fresh, advanced and sumptuous. Jaguar reminisced the brand into irrelevance while competitors such as Audi, BMW and Cadillac blasted past their pasts into the 21st Century with new designs and technology.

Jag built its reputation as a trendsetter, and the elegant new XF has the goods to regain that position.

A couple of minor quality glitches in the cars I tested are the only things standing between the XF and best-in-class status, and the only reminders of Jaguar’s checkered history.

Prices for the 2009 XF start at $49,200 for a base car powered by a smooth 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8. A step up in price, performance and equipment, the top model, the XF Supercharged, features a 420-horsepower version of the same engine and a base price of $62,200. A six-speed XF automatic transmission comes standard on all models. It shifts smoothly in automatic mode and responds with quick precision when you finger the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters to seize control.

I tested both a lavishly equipped normally aspirated XF that stickered at $62,350 and a nicely optioned XF Supercharged that cost $64,700.

The XF competes with some of the best sedans in the world: the $56,300 Audi A6 4.2, $58,800 BMW 550i, $52,715 Cadillac STS V8, $53,020 Lexus GS 460 and $59,700 Mercedes-Benz E550.

It can hold its head high in that exalted company.

The XF’s prices put it at the affordable end of the group, but its looks, handling and performance all rank high. At 195.3 inches, it’s longer than all but the STS. The XF’s low and coupe-like body encloses a comfortable interior that provides plenty of room for four passengers. Jag’s claim to hold five adults is contingent on the rear-middle occupant being exceptionally compact and complacent, however.

The 17.7-cubic-foot trunk is the largest in its class.

The XF offers a host of advanced features, including a fine Bowers & Wilkins stereo with excellent iPod compatibility, automatic cruise control, front and rear ultrasonic parking assist, rear video and blind-spot alerts.

The interior breaks as dramatically from Jaguar’s past as the XF’s shape does. You’ll find the fine leather and beautiful wood Jaguar has always offered, but with a modern and restrained aesthetic. The soft trim’s contrasting stitching is attractive, but highlighted the spots where pieces on the doors didn’t quite line up with their counterpart on the dash.

The leather upholstery is soft and comfortable, though it could use a bit more texture to distinguish it from a good synthetic. The oak veneer in the cars I drove had a low-gloss finish and beautiful fine-grained look.

The most eye-catching interior feature, however, is the gear selector, a polished aluminum cylinder that rises from the center console when you press the start button. The cylinder comes easily to hand, and its rotary action is perfectly intuitive. This control is much more attractive and user friendly than BMW and Mercedes’ awkward attempts to reinvent the gear lever.

Jag’s touch-screen control for navigation, climate, audio and other systems has improved greatly in usability and reliability since debuting on the XK coupe and convertible.

Reliability glitches have plagued Jaguar’s history, and the XF Supercharged I tested stayed true to form when a message warned that the fuel cap was not sealed. It was, but the warning stayed lit for three days.

If electronic faults are the dark side of Jaguar’s past, a stellar blend of comfortable ride and responsive handling are a highlight. The XF takes that virtue to new heights, cushioning bumps in the road and hugging curves.

The XF Supercharged features very low-profile, 20-inch sport tires that nudge that balance from comfort to performance. The handling is exhilarating, but most XF owners will probably be happier with the softer and quieter ride in the XF’s less aggressive models.

The Supercharged V8 is smooth and strong, delivering powerful acceleration at all speeds. The normally aspirated engine’s 300 horses are also eager to run, giving the base XF plenty of punch.

The XF’s fuel economy is among the best in its class. The normally aspirated engine scored 16 m.p.g. city and 25 m.p.g. highway in EPA tests, while the Supercharged engine notched 15 city and 23 highway.2009 JAGUAR XF

Reasons to buy: Looks, comfort, performance, value

Shortcomings: Minor electronic fault, misaligned interior trim

Base price: $62,200 excluding destination charges

As tested: $64,700

Standard equipment: Antilock brakes; active brake booster; electronic stability control; active suspension; winter driving mode; front-seat side air bags; curtain air bags; active head restraints; tire pressure monitor; remote security system; alarm and engine immobilizer; 20-inch Volans wheels; 440-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system with six-disc in-dash CD changer, AM/FM; one year of Sirius satellite radio service; iPod compatible auxiliary input; heated and cooled seats; blind-spot monitor; rear parking camera; soft-grain leather seating; navigation system

Options: Adaptive cruise control; heated leather steering wheel

SPECIFICATIONS AS TESTED

Engine: 4.2-liter DOHC 32-valve supercharged V8

Power: 420 horsepower at 6,250 r.p.m.; 413 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 r.p.m.

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Fuel economy: 15 m.p.g. city/23 m.p.g. highway

Wheelbase: 114.5 inches

Length: 195.3 inches

Width: 73.9 inches

Height: 57.5 inches

Curb weight: 4,194 pounds

Where assembled: Castle Bromwich, England

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