Jaguar XFR

Any four-door that makes it into the top 10 has to be pretty special – and the Jaguar XFR is certainly that! At the heart of its appeal lies a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 which provides the kind of straight-line speed that used to be the preserve of bona fide supercars… and it sounds incredible.

Thanks to its epic engine and slick paddleshift automatic gearbox, the big cat devours straights on the track. And the fun continues when you hit the corners, where long and controllable power slides are just a flex of the right foot away. In the wet it requires a careful hand, though, because once the electronic stability control systems have been disengaged, the saloon is a real handful.

It’s this lack of grip that stops the Jaguar from achieving an even higher ranking – trying to extract the fastest possible lap time proved an exercise in self-restraint. It’s too easy to break traction and revel in the XFR’s muscle car performance by indulging in tail slides that take up precious seconds.

On the road, and with its safety systems back on, the car is a very different beast – but no less impressive. Huge reserves of torque and that seamless auto make it one of the most effective high-speed cruisers money can buy. Comfort is second to none and refinement impeccable – add the precise steering and tight body control, and it’s a really talented all-rounder. On top of that is one of the world’s most desirable car interiors, which completes this enormously capable package.

We also love the Jaguar’s understated looks. Only real performance car fans are likely to be able to tell the hot XFR from lesser models – so the flagship is a real wolf in sheep’s clothing.

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