Three supercharged Jaguar petrol engines are available. The entry-level (335bhp) V6 car is quick, and the V6 S (375bhp) and V8 R (543bhp) are both seriously fast. The V6 S needs to be revved hard to get the best from it, whereas the R is rabidly fast even from low revs. The eight-speed automatic gearbox can be lazy to change in full automatic mode, but it responds quickly when you use the steering wheel-mounted paddles.
The engines are quiet enough at low revs and with the switchable sports exhaust (optional on the S; standard on the R) turned off, although wind and road noise are noticeable on the motorway. Even so, the Jaguar is a hushed enough cruiser, and both the S and R models sound fantastic when you turn the switchable exhaust on by pressing a button on the centre console.
The engines are sufficiently peaceful at low revs and with the switchable games deplete (discretionary on the S; standard on the R) killed, in spite of the fact that wind and street commotion are detectable on the motorway. All things being equal, the F-Type Coupe is a quieted enough cruiser, and both the S and R models sound phenomenal when you turn the switchable fumes on by squeezing a catch on the middle reassure.
The F-Type Coupe isn’t cheap, but it looks good value next to most rivals, including the Porsche 911. That said, resale values won’t be quite as good as those of the Porsche, and the Jag’s higher CO2 emissions mean it’ll cost you more to tax and to run as a company car.
The cabin is done with thick, delicate touch materials and the switches are all around damped, making it feel fittingly rich. A Porsche 911’s inside is more tasteful still, however.
With four airbags as standard, plus the full array of electronic braking, traction and stability aids, the F-Type Coupe is as safe as you’d expect a modern sports car to be. It also has a bonnet that rises automatically in a collision, to help minimise pedestrian injuries. A blind-spot warning system is available as an option, as is a system that warns of traffic approaching from either side when you’re reversing.
The cabin feels very driver focused, thanks to deeply cowled instruments and a central grab handle that seems to fence the passenger off from the dashboard controls. These include simple rotary temperature dials, but the touch-screen infotainment system is a little distracting to use on the move. We’d definitely consider the Performance seats (standard on the R) because they’re more supportive than the standard ones and consequently more comfortable.
The F-Type Coupe has a 315-litre boot, which is fine for a weekend’s luggage or (at a push) a couple of sets of golf clubs. However, the load bay is shallow, and if you spec an optional space-saver spare wheel, you lose the vast majority of the useable space. Unlike a Porsche 911, the F-Type doesn’t have rear seats; it’s a strict two-seater. There also aren’t many storage cubbies in the slightly narrow-feeling cabin.
