Overview
With a classically beautiful body and V-8-only engine options, the 2022 Jaguar F-type is a throwback sports car of sorts. Unlike the Chevy Corvette or the Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, the Jaguar’s powerplant resides in front of the driver rather than behind them. This gives the F-type dramatic proportions and an altogether different driving experience. The thrilling sound of its supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, making between 444 and 575 horses, is another distinction. While the Jag doesn’t stop, go, and grip as short, quick, and strong as its peers, both the coupe and convertible will still excite the senses. Unfortunately, its upscale cabin is claustrophobic and drop-top models have smaller storage space than the already cramped coupes. The 2022 F-type also has a higher starting price than its classmates, but perhaps its elegance and old-school charm are enough to offset that disparity.
What’s New for 2022?
The F-type is now only available with a V-8 engine under the hood. For 2022, Jaguar drops the previously standard turbo four as well as the optional supercharged V-6. That means the least powerful F-type–the newly christened P450–features a 444-hp supercharged 5.0-liter. It’s a detuned version of the 575-hp V-8 that motivates the higher-performance R variant, which continues to only be offered with all-wheel drive. The new P450 comes standard with rear-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels, larger rear brakes, and an active exhaust system. The P450 R-Dynamic adds all-wheel drive, black exterior trim, and a different set of wheels.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Since we prefer our sports cars to be rear-wheel drive, we’d choose the regular F-type P450. We’d also relish the ability to drop the top and listen to the unfiltered roar of its V-8, meaning we’d go with the convertible over the coupe. It comes standard with leather and microsuede seats, a power-adjustable steering column, a Meridian stereo system, and front and rear parking sensors. We’d finish ours in attractive British Racing Green, but Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has a wide selection of interesting colors if that’s not your thing. Inside, we’d upgrade to the leather performance seats, which add lateral support and include additional interior luxuries (customizable ambient lighting, illuminated metal door sill protectors). This also allows us to select the 12-way power seats with heated and cooled surfaces as well as memory settings for the seats, steering column, and exterior mirrors. The only other option we’d add is the Climate Pack that includes a heated steering wheel and windshield and dual-zone climate control.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Apart from the Corvette, the 2022 F-type is the only other sports car in its class to offer a V-8. Even the base P450 model, with its 444-hp supercharged 5.0-liter engine and rear- or all-wheel drive, is more powerful than the most potent six-cylinder Boxster and Cayman, which top out at 414 ponies. Then there’s the even mightier F-type R that boasts 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. With standard all-wheel drive and the same eight-speed automatic as the P450, the R coupe we drove roared to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds at 121 mph. While the V-8-powered Jags sound fantastic, their front-engine layout contributes to a different driving experience than their mid-engined rivals. We were particularly pleased with the R’s civilized ride and talkative, albeit touchy, steering. It also delivered a notable 1.0 g of cornering grip and stopped from 70 mph in a tidy 155 feet. Although those numbers are pretty common among modern sports cars, they’re not quite as impressive as you’ll find on the Corvette and the Porsches.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
We expect the 575-hp, all-wheel-drive F-type R to be rated at 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. While we don’t know how efficient the less powerful P450 will be, it should be slightly thriftier at the pump, especially the rear-drive model. We ran an R coupe on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, and it exceeded expectations by returning 27 mpg. For more information about the F-type’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the 2022 F-type maintains a driver-centric design that’s accentuated with a mix of racy and rich materials. These include stitched surfaces, faux-suede accents, and chrome trim. Fancier models will offer even better interior appointments that include aluminum pieces, embossing, and more faux-suede coverings. Two differently styled seats are available and can be upgraded with heated and cooled surfaces. The F-type’s excellent driving position carries over as well, and the driver will now face a large 12.3-inch fully digital gauge cluster. Unfortunately, the coupe and convertible’s notoriously tight cabin and the convertible’s hilariously small trunk will also remain.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every 2022 F-type features a 10.0-inch touchscreen that supports the company’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment software. The system includes popular content, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, as standard. The sports car is also available with a premium audio system, Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless phone charging.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Jaguar provides its sports car with an assortment of standard and optional driver-assistance technology. For more information about the F-type’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Jaguar provides competitive limited and powertrain warranties that align with luxury alternatives from Audi and BMW. However, the British automaker one-ups both rivals with its industry-leading complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage.
- Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for five years or 60,000 miles
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