2015 Jaguar XF 3.0 AWD: Against The Wind

The 2015 Jaguar XF's flowing muscular lines, ultra-long hood, sneering muzzle, and long roofline suck the eyeballs out of pedestrians and passers-by.

The Jaguar XF won't be for everyone, but that's exactly the point.

My tester featured the Luxury trim level's 'London Tan' leather seats and panel trim, along with a 'Warm Charcoal' dash and suede headliner.

The 2015 Jaguar XF comes with three engine options.

It's perhaps not fair to pick on the XF for its digital shortcomings as there's an all-new model coming for 2016.

Unfortunately for the Jaguar XF, the vehicle's interior also plays host to a few reminders that the current model is riding on an aging platform.

Given its curb weight of nearly 2,000 kilos, it would be a stretch to expect the 340 horsepower XF to provide an athletic driving experience.

I was satisfied with the supercharged V6's strong mid-range acceleration as well as its smooth highway operation.

The vehicle I drove for a week was outfitted with the XF's mid-tier motivator, a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 good for 340 ponies and 332 lb-ft twist.

A dynamic driving mode is available to add extra sharpness to the excellent ZF transmission's shift habits.

By not walking in lock-step with its segment-mates, the British brand has been able to build something worthy of a second look.

All-wheel drive is both a blessing and a curse for the XF.

The driver's gauges also come across as a bit old school, especially the centre information display's basic LCD functionality.

The 2015 Jaguar XF 3.0 AWD is an exceptionally comfortable automobile that delivers a sleekly styled alternative to the current stable of mid-size luxury go-tos.

If you're a Jaguar customer then you've already decided to walk a different path than the middle manager who parks his BMW beside you in the office lot.

The XF might not be the perfect ubermensch designed to conquer all luxury demographics, but that's a distinct part of its draw.

The XF starts out with a modest 240 horsepower, 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit and finishes with both 470 and 510 horsepower versions of the same 5.0-litre, supercharged V8.

I understand completely why an all-wheel drive version of the XF had to exist, as Jaguar's prior lack of four-wheel traction had seen its sales numbers marginalized by the clever marketing campaigns of its AWD luxury rivals.

There's a further Sport mode accessible via the shift dial on the centre console that locks out higher gears.