We all know that Jaguar has on at least a few occasions struggled to come up with the goods as manufacturers of luxury, top-notch cars that people want to buy (in preference to, say, BMW or Mercedes-Benz). But when it comes to the fabulous XF series, they have really pulled the rabbit out of the hat.

The comfort is truly sumptuous; you’ll find luxurious seating with masses of space front and back (and this is especially true of the large diesel version). Add to this a mammoth-sized boot – 540 litres, no less – and you’ll quickly appreciate that elegant luxury is the name of the game. The interior ambience, enhanced by ingenious lighting solutions and high quality gadgets, is opulently splendid.

The car comes in petrol and diesel versions, although the petrol V6 doesn’t quite match the performance of the diesel models or the larger 4.2 litre 286 bhp V8 petrol, which hits 60 mph in 6 seconds. This is very much a grown-up’s car – the young may feel it doesn’t fit a boy-racer image. It doesn’t and it shouldn’t (although some have noted that it resembles an Aston Martin from the back): it’s a class act rather than a ‘fast and furious’ gimmick.

The Jaguar XF gives you a beautifully cushioned ride and you can sense the fabulous suspension as you cruise along. It isn’t averse to cornering at relatively high speed, either, hugging the road securely. A real beauty all round.