Jaguar F-Type vs Porsche 911 Cabriolet: 2013 twin test

Few new cars have created as much of a stir as the sensational Jaguar F-Type. With its jaw-dropping looks, supercharged performance and thrilling handling, the British roadster has been hitting the headlines since it debuted a month ago.

We’ve already brought the F-Type face-to-face with its E-Type spiritual successor, but this is the first time it’s been subjected to the intense heat and scrutiny of an Auto Express road test. In range-topping V8S guise, the car has a muscular 488bhp supercharged V8, on top of a traditional rear-wheel-drive layout and a cosseting cabin that upholds Jaguar’s luxury tradition. Better still, it costs an eye-catching £79,985.

Lining up against the F-Type is one of the most accomplished drop-top sports cars around: the Porsche 911 Cabriolet. It has a price and power disadvantage, weighing in at a hefty £94,964 with the PDK twin-clutch box and offering 385bhp. Yet with its lower weight, roomier cabin and scintillating driving experience, it still represents a very stern test.

Verdict

The range-topping F-Type makes a very strong impression, thanks to its film star looks and spine-tingling soundtrack. But has it done enough to beat the brilliant Porsche 911?

When pushed to the limit on the road and track, the Jag can’t quite match the Carrera S’s finely honed driving dynamics. However, for 90 per cent of the time, the characterful F-Type is every bit as engaging from behind the wheel. You’ll never tire of its blistering acceleration and crackling exhaust note. It also benefits from a luxuriously appointed interior and head-turning looks. Only the cramped boot undermines the British bruiser’s bid.

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After a spin in the F-Type, the 911 actually feels a little muted. Yet after a few miles, the beautifully balanced handling, responsive flat-six engine and incredible brakes will have won you over. Factor in its classy cabin, surprising practicality and decent refinement, and the Carrera S makes an impressive case for the win.

However, there’s one major obstacle: the price. At £94,495, the 911 is around £15,000 more expensive than the better-equipped Jaguar. In a contest that’s this finely balanced, this is hard to justify. So, by the very narrowest of margins, the engaging and soulful F-Type takes the spoils.

First place: Jaguar F-Type V8S

With its bellowing V8 engine and accessible rear-wheel-drive handling, the F-Type delivers traditional sports car thrills. Yet the cosseting cabin, surprisingly supple ride and decent refinement make it a relaxing long-distance tourer – although boot space is limited. Stunning looks, blistering pace, a top-value price and strong residuals complete the Jag’s winning formula.

The F-Type has arrived with a real fanfare. With its classic two-seat roadster layout, head-turning looks and engaging driving experience, the new Jaguar has dominated the headlines for the past few months. But this is the first time we’ve put the range-topping V8S to the test.

At a glance, the most expensive F-Type appears identical to lesser versions, so you get the same long bonnet, bulging rear arches and subtle nods to the legendary E-Type. Look more closely, though, and you’ll spot the V8’s unique quad-exit exhausts and 20-inch Turbine alloys, plus the bold red calipers of its upgraded Performance Braking System.

Inside, you’ll find that the layout has been carried over unchanged from the V6 models. This means you get the same ground-hugging driving position, wraparound dashboard and simple layout. And while it can’t quite match the Porsche for top-notch materials and build quality, the Jag’s cabin is packed with eye-catching features, such as air vents that rise out of the top of the dashboard and a large grab handle incorporated into the centre console.

There’s also loads of standard kit, including leather-trimmed seats, climate control and sat-nav – although the touchscreen system looks a little dated and is fiddly to use. But Jaguar has learned a few tricks from Porsche and a number of must-have items have found their way on to the options list, such as the £215 wind deflector and £350 heated seats.

More disappointing is the poor practicality. On paper, the 196-litre boot is 61 litres bigger than the 911’s, but the shallow and awkwardly shaped layout makes it far less usable.

Still, all thoughts of practicality will be banished the moment you lower the fabric hood – an operation that takes only 13.9 seconds. This leaves you much better placed to enjoy the F-Type’s brilliant 5.0-litre V8, which erupts into life with a purposeful bark.

Once the revs rise, baffles in the supercharged engine’s exhaust open to deliver an intoxicating, rumbling NASCAR growl, while lifting off the throttle results in a symphony of crackles, pops and bangs. Go for the £350 exhaust override switch, and you can access the F-Type’s bellowing soundtrack at any revs and any speed.

As you’d expect, the 488bhp Jag has a bite to match its bark, blasting from 0-60mph in only 4.4 seconds. Yet with a muscular 625Nm of torque available at a mere 2,500rpm, it’s the electrifying mid-range acceleration that really makes its mark and allows you to overtake slower traffic in the blink of an eye. Adding to the effortless feel is the eight-speed transmission, which serves up crisp gearchanges via the steering wheel-mounted paddles or silky-smooth shifts in auto mode.

Head down a twisty back road and the quick steering and compact dimensions inspire confidence. And while the F-Type doesn’t have the rock-solid body control or outright grip of the Porsche, it’s still lots of fun to drive.

Its classic rear-wheel-drive layout and huge power output mean you can adjust the line through a corner using a combination of steering and throttle – although in anything other than bone-dry conditions, the traction control will be working overtime to keep the car’s wayward tail in check. Engage Dynamic mode and the F-Type’s throttle, steering and suspension deliver even sharper responses.

Yet when you want to take it easy, the blend of easily accessible performance and surprisingly supple ride makes the Jaguar a comfortable long-distance tourer. And while the fabric hood isn’t as well insulated as the 911’s, it keeps out the worst wind noise and helps give the cabin a snug feel.

The running costs are a concern, though. With 259g/km emissions and 18.6mpg test economy, the F-Type won’t be cheap to own. However, a price of £79,985 means the V8S undercuts the Porsche by nearly £15,000, which goes a long way to offsetting the fuel and tax bills. It also puts the Jag in pole position here.

Second place: Porsche 911 Cabriolet

The 911 Cabrio is still a class act. In convertible guise, it mixes the coupé’s breathtaking driving dynamics and performance with plenty of wind-in-the-hair thrills. The well insulated hood and roomy cabin also make it practical to use on a daily basis. Yet it’s hard to ignore its limited kit and near-£100,000 price tag.

If any brand can match Jaguar for drop-top tradition, it’s Porsche. Ever since the company revealed its first car – the 356/1 roadster – in 1948, it’s been producing class-leading convertibles.

The latest in this long line is the 911 Cabriolet, which has already tasted road test success following its victory over the Audi R8 last year. However, in this encounter, it’s first blood to the Jaguar.

Although the 911’s classic lines still turn heads, they don’t come close to the extrovert F-Type for jaw-dropping kerb appeal. Still, the fabric roof is neatly integrated and helps the car retain the same distinctive profile as its Coupe cousin, while a wider rear track gives the range-topping Carrera S a more muscular stance than the standard 911 Carrera. You don’t get the classy full-width rear lights of the Carrera 4S in our pictures, though.

The well insulated, powered fabric hood folds in 15.9 seconds, and the mechanism is stowed underneath a flush-fitting panel behind the rear seats. With the roof lowered you get a grandstand view of the 911’s first-rate interior.

Not only is quality a cut above its British rival’s, but the driver-focused layout and low-slung position are hard to fault. Neat touches include Porsche’s trademark five-dial instrument pack and very effective, automatic wind deflector that glides up from behind the rear bench at the touch of a button.

The 911 is surprisingly practical, thanks in part to a deep 135-litre boot that’s more usefully shaped than the Jag’s shallow luggage bay. There’s also a pair of rear seats that can be used by small children or as extra load space.

Yet it’s the performance that really impresses. Despite the supercharged Jag’s 93bhp advantage, on the track the launch control-equipped 911 blasted from 0-60mph a full three-tenths faster, in only 4.1 seconds. In the real world you have to work the naturally aspirated Carrera harder to keep pace with the F-Type, but the combination of lightning-quick PDK box and hard-edged exhaust howl means this is no hardship.

With so much performance on tap, it’s reassuring to find that the Cabriolet handles with the same precision and poise as the Coupé. The steering is beautifully weighted and delivers just the right amount of feedback, there’s even more grip in corners than in the Jag, and the hugely powerful and progressive brakes are among the best in the business. And thanks to the Porsche’s rear-engined layout, there’s also much more traction out of corners than in the occasionally wayward F-Type.

Fortunately, the Porsche’s first-class agility isn’t at the expense of comfort. For instance, the standard adaptive dampers deliver a remarkably smooth ride, while the multi-layer fabric roof is superb at cutting out wind noise.

However, there is a catch. At £94,495 the Carrera S is £14,510 more than the Jaguar. It’s not as well equipped, either, and suffers from much weaker residuals. Plus, even if you take into account the lower CO2 emissions and smaller thirst for fuel, our current favourite is still left with a mountain to climb in pursuit of a second straight road test victory.

Facts and figures