2015 Jaguar XF S 3.0 V6 380PS first drive

At the moment, this is the most potent version of the new Jaguar XF. Packing the same 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 as the most powerful six-cylinder Jaguar F-Type, it puts 375bhp under your right foot.

Not only is it considerably more powerful than the range-topping diesel – that only has 296bhp – it also weighs 40kg less. Considering the diesel has an iron engine block as opposed the aluminium one fitted to this variant, a lot of that weight is coming off the front axle.

While that should assist handling, there's always the worry that the most powerful V6 could overwhelm the chassis. Our cold December test in the UK proved a stern test for the petrol XF S.

Impressively controllable. Despite the power increase, there’s still plenty of purchase on the road even when you disable the traction control. Sure, it’ll spin up the rear tyres quite happily in first gear, but a quick shift to second soon restores order.

Before long you learn to stop worrying about the rear tyres being overwhelmed and start to enjoy the drive. It has the same surprisingly swift feel to the steering that you get in lesser models and the same level of precision. Feedback is the best in class too.

This allows you to place the XF easily on the road and get a good idea of what the front end is doing. As you up the pace, you can feel the inherent balance of the chassis allowing you to carry speed across country with consummate ease.

Over a wide variety of surfaces – from four-lane motorways right the way down to single tracks with broken tarmac – the XF has exemplary body control. While it does always err on the firm side, this seems entirely in keeping with its sports saloon remit.

Even on 20in wheels, it's hard to fault the way it deals with bumps, compressions and potholes. There’s enough pliancy that it never becomes uncomfortable, while float and wallow are absent even with the suspension in Normal mode.

Wind things up to Dynamic and it can feel too hard for a typical UK B-road, although the added roll resistance and tighter body control is welcome. For normal use it’s unnecessary, but on smoother roads it certainly helped it feel even more sporting.

Indeed, our only complaint regarding the suspension is that the occasional sharp ridge or particularly nasty compression could send a thud through the chassis. It’s worth mentioning that this is something you hear much more than feel.

As for the engine, it’s certainly an effective unit once the revs have passed 3000rpm - no surprise when peak torque is up at 4500rpm. Those expecting a diesel-like shove from barely above idle may be disappointed, but then the oil-burner won’t spin round to 7000rpm.

As you’d hope from a supercharged unit, there’s no sudden lump of power. The ramp-up of urge is linear and very easy to judge with your right foot. It’s not as creamy as you might expect from a V6 though.

Nor is it particularly sonorous. You can tell there are six-cylinders and a supercharger under the bonnet, but the exhaust note doesn’t egg you on. Even cracking a window open doesn’t improve things; there’s none of the aural fireworks you get from an Jaguar F-Type.