Jaguar F-Type Review & Prices

Just like the new London Bus is the modern interpretation of an icon, the Jaguar F-Type is very much the modern interpretation of one of the world’s most beautiful cars, the iconic E-Type.

It’s a sleek, two-seat coupe with a long bonnet and powerful engines, doing battle with cars like the Aston Martin Vantage and Porsche 911. However, if you like your coupe with less roof, there’s an open-top Jaguar F-Type Convertible model too.

But, much like the E-Type that inspired it, the F-Type is destined for the history books, because 2023 will be the final year of production for this gorgeous sports car. To mark the occasion, Jaguar has given it some minor revisions, such as bigger alloy wheels and some new badging, as well as a new trim level to mark 75 years of Jaguar sports cars.

Its last major update was back in 2020, when it received some slim new headlights, giving the car a sleek yet aggressive appearance with the long bonnet and wide grille. Around the back, not much has changed over the years, but that's no problem, because it still looks fantastic.

Not much has changed inside, either. The F-Type can’t rival Porsche in terms of quality but it still feels pretty special behind the wheel. The 10.0-inch widescreen infotainment system is clear enough but isn't the most up to date or user-friendly. It's responsive, but there are easier touchscreen systems to navigate through and the built-in sat-nav is better ignored in favour of your smartphone navigation app via the car’s standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Unlike the Porsche 911, which has a couple of small seats in the rear, the Jaguar F-Type is a strict two-seater. That said, the space for two adults is very good, but don’t expect to have much room to take along luggage for a week away. Better make it a weekend trip instead.

There are three petrol engines to choose from, with a 300hp four-cylinder opening the range, and two V8s sitting above it with power outputs of 450hp or 575hp if you go for the R model.

The price gap between 2.0-litre and 5.0-litre cars is substantial, but then, so is the performance. The four-cylinder feels smooth at a cruise but spritely when accelerating, whereas the V8 models feel outright blistering when pushed hard.

The R is the most raucous, and the most agile thanks to its sportier set-up, but the fact is, a Porsche 911’s more precise steering and more predictable handling will appeal to keen drivers more. Still, both V8 models can be specced with four-wheel-drive, so grip isn’t an issue, and the F-Type does steer well.

Subtle changes for its final year have done little to change the F-Type recipe. It still looks superb, sounds fantastic and is comfortable yet fun enough to excite the majority. If you’re looking for the best lap times, a Porsche will be for you, but if you want to stand out and smile, check out carwow's Jaguar F-Type deals, or get a great price on a used F-Type. You can also browse other used Jaguar models from our network of trusted dealers. Need to sell your current car? Well, carwow can help with that, too.

The F-Type range starts at just over £58,000, but prices rise to over £100,000 for the range-topping F-Type R, which puts it in the same bracket as a Porsche 911. Such is the strength in depth of this segment, buyers could consider anything from the sub-£50,000 Alpine A110 to the BMW 8 Series that starts at over £75,000.

For 2023, the F-Type range has been simplified. The most affordable option is the four-cylinder engine, which is only offered in R-Dynamic trim, but even this is well-equipped with a Meridian sound system, leather and suedecloth upholstery and 20-inch alloy wheels. V8 models get the new '75' trim level, which includes some choice extras such as leather performance seats that are 12-way adjustable as well as being heated and cooled.

There’s plenty of performance on tap, but even the fastest F-Type is relatively comfortable around town, although visibility might be a problem when parking or navigating tight urban spaces

In town

For such a performance-oriented car, the F-Type manages rougher roads – or those with cobbles – reasonably well. It’s never going to be the most comfortable, especially in the more powerful models, but it’s bearable.

It might all be tailored towards performance, but the F-Type is more than happy at slower speeds, particularly with the base 2.0-litre engine which almost feels out of place with the relatively slow acceleration time of 5.7 seconds to 60mph. The pace is OK, but if you’re buying a car such as this one, you will probably be wanting more oomph to show for your money.

Visibility is good out of the front of the car and the side windows – there is a slight blindspot caused by the front pillar, but it is not enough to make a huge difference. The sloping boot line and thick rear pillars mean that the view out of the back of the car is limited.

On the motorway

One feature of the Jaguar F-Type that will make itself clear when on motorways or when pressing on is the prominent exhaust note. Particularly on V8 models, where every press of the throttle is accompanied by a wonderfully angry burble, this is usually cause for celebration. But if it does get tiresome there is a button to quieten down or emphasise the exhaust as you please.

Certain models don’t have adaptive cruise control, which is a must for some drivers who regularly undertake long motorway journeys. Just the standard system is not really enough for a vehicle in this class. Lane keeping assist technology is welcomed here, although it’s not the most effective system and sometimes takes a while to spring to life.

On a twisty road

The Jaguar F-Type is not all show and no go. Head down a winding B-road and there’s plenty of grip, so cornering can be done with confidence. Acceleration is progressive and encourages you to get the most out of the performance, regardless of which model you are in.

It's the V8 models that feel most at home in this environment, though. The 450hp version has enough power to put a smile on your face, but the 575hp R is the one that will make you giggle uncontrollably, particularly because it just sounds fantastic.

All that being said, if you really want to channel your inner racing driver, a Porsche 911 is a better bet. It feels a touch less cumbersome and more eager to turn into a corner. Lower-priced models don't quite have the theatre of the F-Type, but they just feel that bit sharper and focused.

There is plenty of space up front and a reasonable amount in the boot, although if you’re looking for a Jaguar that will carry more than two people or much ‘stuff’, you’ll have to look elsewhere as there are no rear seats

The F-Type is no car for a family. We’re used to seeing pretty compact and small seats behind the driver that can’t accommodate anyone other than a small child in performance coupes, but the Jaguar is strictly a two-seater. However, no rear seats in the F-Type means that there is plenty of room for the driver and passenger, so there should be no complaints about feeling cramped inside the cabin. The roofline is fairly low, but that is pretty customary in this class of car and adds to the sporting prowess of the car.

A Jaguar two-seater is never going to be the most sensible, user-friendly car in the world, however F-Type drivers may be frustrated at the lack of storage options. The door bins are very shallow and narrow, meaning you’re limited as to not just how much you can put in them, but also what – there's little room for bottles to stay carefully stowed as you navigate twisty roads at speed, for example.

The centre armrest offers a bit more storage, but not a great deal. It also houses USB ports and a 12V socket. There’s an additional 12V socket near the main controls, should you wish to use a different sat nav system, dash cam or anything else.

Space in the back seats

You won’t find any back seats in the F-Type, unfortunately. Therefore, a Porsche 911 might be a better option for those looking for a little practicality with their performance.

Boot space

There is 300 litres of space in the boot, which isn’t bad, considering the style of car we’re talking about. If you are travelling with a lot of luggage, it might take a bit of thought to ensure that everything fits in the boot, but it’s a decent shape, which means loading and unloading is fairly straightforward.

The Aston Martin Vantage actually has it beat, though, with a frankly cavernous 350 litres (even if it is quite an awkward shape). Both offer considerably more than the 132 litres you get under the bonnet of a Porsche 911, though.

The Jaguar F-Type interior is fairly spacious and feels pretty special, but it doesn't have the luxury feel of a Porsche 911

The infotainment screen might be the same size as the one in the previous generation car, but the execution and appearance has been given an overhaul. When the latest F-Type was released by Jaguar, it came with a new digital instrument display, replacing the analogue dials of the old car. That makes the car much more user-friendly, although the system in a Porsche 911 is better overall. 

Drivers have better control over heating, audio and navigation settings, which is important, although the on-screen icons for these are a little on the small side. The two-screen setup works well, with the driver’s display being large enough to clearly show maps for navigation or any other information required in the ideal location.

The system works seamlessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too, which will be the go-to connection for many drivers. This may be the favoured way to go because the Jaguar’s navigation system isn’t great, and the same can be said for the infotainment system as a whole, which is fairly quick and responsive but not the most intuitive to use.

The cabin is a high quality affair for the most part with a nice mix of materials, including decent plastics, apart from the door handles. The aluminium gearshift paddles located behind the steering wheel are another nice touch in terms of material choice. But again, that pesky Porsche 911 is just so good that, when compared, the German just feels that bit more luxurious.

The seats are supportive and comfortable, but with a sporty feel to suit the character of the car. Thankfully, they stand the test of time, so over a long period spent behind the wheel, you will still get out relatively refreshed and not feeling like you’ve spent hours in a sports car. They might not be as comfortable as you would find in, say, a Bentley Continental GT, though, which is much more geared towards long motorway drives.

The F-Type range starts with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that offers 300hp and 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds. Next up is a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 version with 450hp, which can sprint to 60mph from a standstill in just 4.4 seconds. Finally the range tops out with the F-Type R, which uses the same V8 but with a massive 575hp available. It will hit 60mph in just 3.5 seconds from a standing start.

Other costs – both financial and otherwise – are probably not priorities when buying an F-Type, which is lucky because the CO2 figures are pretty high – ranging from 217g/km in the 2.0-litre to 242g/km for the supercharged V8. Fuel economy isn't considerably better in the less powerful car, registering about 27mpg in official tests, compared with 30mpg for the V8.

When considering first-year tax rates, all V8 models fall into the second-highest band, while four-cylinder models are the one below, saving about £700 in the process. All F-Types will have to pay extra in years two to six, though, because they cost more than £40,000.

No version of the F-Type has undergone assessment by Euro NCAP since it was introduced in 2013 due to the low volumes produced. This stance is unlikely to change any time soon, but regardless of that, the two-door offers a wide selection of safety technologies.

For example, the base model features an active bonnet, seatbelt reminders, emergency brake assist and pedestrian contact sensors. There is also a full complement of airbags at the front, rear and side, offering plenty of protection for the two occupants.

Security-wise the F-Type comes with an engine immobiliser, two-stage door unlocking and doors that lock when you move off from a standstill. There’s also an anti-theft alarm across the entire range.

All models in the F-Type range get an industry standard three years of cover, with unlimited mileage attached to that package. Extended 12-month warranties are available direct from Jaguar, should you wish for extra peace of mind during the first years of F-Type ownership.

The coupe has performed pretty well in industry reliability surveys and there seem to be few complaints or concerns from owners. This is encouraging news for the brand, which has a bit of a chequered past when it comes to reliability and build quality.