Used 2023 Jaguar F-TYPE

The 2023 Jaguar F-Type luxury sports car drives against the tide of modern automotive trends. It rides low to the ground, it’s only a 2-seater, and it looks 100% Jaguar. Thank goodness for that.

There isn’t much in the car world with the F-Type’s kind of driver appeal, where the thrills begin just by walking up to it and casting an eye along the length of this sleek body, in either coupe or convertible form. Climbing in, firing up the V8 engine and then hitting a few favorite roads takes those thrills to higher levels.

Some automotive trends are worth following, though, such as offering advanced safety features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, or blind-spot monitoring. The former is standard in the 2023 F-Type, the latter is an affordable option.

These days, everyone demands technology as well. The F-Type lets iPhone and Android phone users integrate their devices. And to underline its credentials as a sports car from a luxury marque, every new F-Type has a digital driver information display along with an adaptive suspension.

One thing that the F-Type doesn’t have the power to override is time. As great as this car is, it’s been around since 2014. That’s an age in this business. As the world changes around it, the F-Type remains a desirable outlier.

No need to gripe about the absence of a manual transmission. Jaguar used to offer one, but it wasn’t that great. With paddle shifters beneath the steering wheel allowing more driver involvement whenever the whim strikes, the 2023 F-Type definitely feels like a sports car.

All the other ingredients are present as well. The steering actually has some feel and feedback, while responding crisply to driver inputs. The standard adaptive suspension can firm up with the selection of the appropriate driving mode before winding through a series of tricky corners. And the engines are glorious, delivering their power progressively and quickly, while sounding awesome in the process — although the exhaust system can be turned down for the good of the neighborhood.

There’s always something special about how a Jaguar drives. In the F-Type, the company has put that quality into a sports car. On the road and on the track, the F-Type is immensely enjoyable.

It’s not the most accommodating cabin in the 2023 F-Type. But then, how many sports cars really are? These are the kind of machines where the driver is almost assimilated, turned into yet another component of a thrilling whole. Those of a bigger build may find the Corvette to be a better fit, though.

The quality of materials used is suitably upmarket, but the overall interior design is arguably not as sweet as the F-Type’s exterior. In keeping with the car’s driver-focused nature, the standard digital driver information display features a prominent rev counter, although it can be configured to show other information such as navigation directions.

One sign of the F-Type’s relative age is the infotainment system. Other, newer Jaguar vehicles have a more modern setup that’s faster in its responses and generally easier to use. But the earlier, less popular model remains here.

For the golfers, an F-Type coupe can handle a couple of bags of clubs in its 14.4-cubic foot luggage area. Anyone with the convertible version might want to take up tennis instead — its trunk space of 7.3 cubic feet should be able to accept two racquets and a pair of gym bags.

Anyone serious about buying a new Jaguar F-Type luxury sports car probably had their interest piqued by the looks. That’s perfectly understandable. This thing couldn’t create an unflattering angle if it tried.

Just as the F-Type drives like a Jaguar (never a bad thing), it also shares aesthetic qualities with its stablemates — flowing lines make the car appear ready to leap forward at any second. And they’re melded into the classic sports car shape of a long hood, low roof and short tail, using a lot of lightweight aluminum.

All new F-Type models come with 20-inch alloy wheels, complemented by a choice of red or black brake calipers. The convertible has a black fabric roof as standard, but offers red or beige.

Premium paint can be expensive, from $750 up to $12,050 for Icy White on the R convertible — which could well send a chill down a financial advisor’s spine.

STYLING
To all those people who complain that no one makes beautiful cars these days, we say look at the Jaguar F-Type. Ian Callum was head of design when this luxury sports car was created. His previous work included the DB7 and Vanquish for Aston Martin, so he knows a thing or two about style.

ACTIVE EXHAUST SYSTEMS
Those standard quad pipes can sing like a cathedral’s organ, or they can be hushed just by pressing a button. It’s the neighborly thing to do. Once out in the canyons, though, the engine management system can also add to the excitement by squirting a little extra gasoline into the cylinders for a chorus of crackles and pops on the downshifts.

Even the least expensive new Jaguar F-Type luxury sports car comes with 20-inch alloy wheels and an adaptive suspension as standard. This inventory also includes a 12.3-inch configurable digital driver information display, LED headlights/taillights/daytime running lights, heated side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, front/rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, single-zone automatic climate control, self-dimming review mirror, power-adjustable steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel, plus 6-way power-adjustable seats covered with a combination of leather and simulated suede.

Among the safety features are forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and a driving mode for slippery conditions.

The infotainment system is based around a 10.1-inch touchscreen. It also has Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio, navigation, Bluetooth, USB port, and a 10 speaker/380-watt audio system from the highly respected Meridian company.

Convertible versions have power-folding fabric tops, plus rollover protection.

Changes to the option list for the 2023 F-Type include some items no longer available individually. Such as the heated steering wheel and heated windshield, both of which are still part of an optional Climate package).

The upgrade to a suedecloth (simulated suede) upholstery is no longer offered. Nor are red seat belts.

Choosing an R-Dynamic version brings all-wheel drive, plus 12-way power-adjustable seats — with memory settings that also include the steering wheel and side mirrors.

In addition to the 575-horsepower V8 and all-wheel drive, the R models come with keyless entry/ignition, sport seats covered with higher-quality leather, and a powered tailgate in the coupe.

A fixed panoramic roof is offered for coupe versions. It seems a little stingy of Jaguar to charge $200 for a wind deflector in the two lower convertible models. All 2023 F-Type variants are eligible for heated seats, blind-spot monitoring, premium paint, wireless charging, Wi-Fi, and a 900-watt Meridian surround-sound system.

In those versions of the 2023 F-Type sports car with the P450 drivetrain, propulsion comes courtesy of a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 developing 444 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. This is really quite enough for most drivers.

Then again, buyers of luxury sports cars are rarely satisfied with the merely sufficient. So Jaguar also offers the R setup, also consisting of a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, but tuned to produce 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Both engines connect to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The P450’s basic configuration is rear-wheel drive (RWD) with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option. The R sends its drive to all four wheels exclusively.

There are no differences in fuel economy between the coupe and convertible body styles. Jaguar recommends using premium gasoline. These estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relate to 2022, but we don’t anticipate any changes for 2023.

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (P450)
444 horsepower @ 6,000
428 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg (RWD), 16/24 mpg (AWD)

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (R)
575 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/24 mpg