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When the 340bhp ‘entry-level’ V6 is this good, we can’t see the point of the ‘S’, now if only it was cheaper

By Shahzad Sheikh

I drove the Jaguar F-Type V6 S Convertible nearly two years ago (read that review here) and after the briefest of drives in the V8 Convertible, we ended up liking it so much, we gave it an award – read about those here – dubbing it the ‘Sideways Sensation’.

Watch my video review by clicking below

Frankly I shouldn’t have expected too much from this latest test car, being the ‘base’ V6 with ‘just’ 340bhp. But for the first day or so that I drove it, I thought it was the ‘S’ version (40bhp more).

Admittedly performance-wise there isn’t too big a gulf between the two supercharged V6 engined F-Types – 0-100 in 5.3 seconds for the V6, 4.9 for the V6 S, top speed of 260kph (limited) for the V6 and 275kph (limited) for the V6 S, and even less in terms of torque, 332lb ft versus 339lb ft.

Unsurprisingly then the regular V6 feels urgent, its light-weight all-aluminium chassis making it sprightly and startlingly eager. A subtle rear spoiler goes up at 113kph to provide up to 120kg of downforce (lowering automatically at 80kph), so you don’t need to worry about things getting too light through the twisties.

And if the surprisingly racy engine note on full throttle and the crackles, bangs and pops delight under acceleration and deceleration (and you love what is one of the best resolved eight-speed transmissions – ZF-sourced – around right now, both equally happy left to fend for itself as it is to play along with you through the paddle shifts) then wait till you get it to a winding road.

The steering is accurate, well-weighted and reasonably talkative, the chassis balance is astonishingly neutral for a front-engine rear-drive car with great poise and precise turn-in. The initial dartiness is followed by a hint of understeer to give you a little safety margin and then apex-slicing finesse that frankly shames my mediocre driving skills. The back is planted and there’s little to suggest this car will get you into any trouble even in the more giving ‘Dynamic Mode’.

But more than that it’s fun and different from the Convertible. It feels more lively and urgent, whereas the Convertible seemed a little more attuned to touring. This is more chuckable and responsive, and I can only surmise it’s down to the increased rigidity – in fact this is the stiffest Jaguar ever.

I do like convertibles, but in this case, I think I prefer the Coupe version of the F-Type. It has a comfy ride, as you’d expect from a Jag, despite the fact that our car had 19-inch wheels rather than the standard 18-inch. Great body control too, with hardly any float or wallow.

The interior is a wonderful place to be, surprisingly comfortable and spacious even for my tall frame, all the controls make sense, there’s a nice set of toggle switches (they seem to be the thing now for a lot of manufacturers), good visibility out the front, less so at the back, but the reversing camera helps.

A storage bin between the seats is useful, otherwise spaces for your bits and pieces are at a premium, there’s no space at all behind the seats and even the boot on this particular car was taken up with a spare wheel, leaving little room for anything else, forget about the two golf bags that can allegedly fit in there.

Is there anything else I don’t like? The electronic gear-shifter, they always leave me a bit confused. Yes I appreciate that Jaguar ditched its usual knob selector for the sportier look and feel of this thing, but it’s just not as practical in my opinion.

And then there’s the price. This is a car that should compete with the likes of the Porsche Cayman which starts at AED209k now in Dubai. The Cayman S would be a closer rival to this car though with 325bhp, 0-100 in 4.9secs for the PDK auto and a top speed of 281kph – and that one is priced at AED241k.

Personally I find the latest Boxster / Cayman is not quite as sharp to drive as they used to be, and for me the F-Type would definitely be the more appealing buy. Except that the starting price on this F-Type V6 is AED299k! The V6 S is AED339 and you add AED20k each for the Convertible versions.

As much as I loved the F-Type, and I really genuinely enjoyed my time with the car, for that sort of money I’d get a Lotus Exige S Roadster, which in my warped mind is almost equally practical, but more driver-focussed. But then I’m a bit bonkers. The rest of you should save up the extra money and buy a Jag, meantime I implore the dealers to bring prices closer to Cayman levels, then they’d have a sure-fire winner on their hands.

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe V6 – The Specs

Price: AED299,000 ($82k)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6, 340bhp @ 6500rpm, 332lb ft @ 3500-5000rpm
Performance: 0-100kph 5.3secs, 260kph, 8.8L/100km
Transmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Weight: 1577kg

Let us know what you think of the 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe V6