This car is also a delight to the ears, thanks to a touch of whine provided by its mechanical atmosphere multiplier. The supercharger’s siren song is enthralling and totally unexpected in a luxury vehicle. Unfortunately though, the Jaguar’s engine is not quite as well isolated as the powerplant its rival brandishes and a little extra vibration can be felt inside, which, coincidentally, is another one of this car’s downsides.
The cabin in the XF is disappointing; there’s simply no other way to describe it. It’s cramped and unacceptably flimsy, with various creaks and groans making their presence felt within the first block I drove it. This means one of two things, either the test car was infested with poltergeists or it was on the verge of falling apart. Not being a particularly superstitious person, I’d bet money on the latter.
Beyond this, the control stalks feel sloppy and frail, like they could divorce themselves from the steering column without notice, the lids on the center console that cover the cup holders and storage cubbies feel insubstantial to the touch, and even the gauges look like they belong in a budget hatchback, not a luxury sedan.
Unlike the Jaguar, Hyundai’s Genesis is graced with an impeccable cabin. The assembly quality, materials implementation and attention to detail are all first-rate and arguably even rival the abovementioned German cars. Engineers and designers alike have done a truly outstanding job with this vehicle’s interior.
The Hyundai’s infotainment system and secondary controls are logically laid out and simpler to use than much of the technology found in the XF. It’s also incredibly silent inside when you’re driving at speed, but to be fair, so is the Jaguar.
