Jaguar F-Type coupe - Engines, drive & performance

The F-Type is available as both a coupe and a soft-top convertible, however, the former is slightly better to drive thanks to increased body stiffness. A mid-life update in 2020 brought with it an electronic limited-slip differential as well as a tweaked suspension setup, meaning the F-Type is more engaging behind the wheel than ever before.

Whichever model you choose, the steering is very accurate and the eight-speed automatic gearbox is smooth. All in all, the F-Type Coupe really is a great car for driving enthusiasts, with F-Type R models allowing you to tailor the car’s setup to your taste, thanks to adaptive suspension dampers.

For many buyers, the best news is that the most expensive F-Type isn’t necessarily the best. Indeed, the 2.0-litre has a few distinct advantages. The compact engine is much lighter and situated a long way back in the chassis, so the 52kg weight saving is over the front axle – exactly where it needs to be. This means the car feels more nimble and even more immediate in the way it responds to steering and brake inputs.

Choosing a four-wheel-drive model increases the F-Type’s roadholding limits still further. While these cars are slightly heavier and not quite as playful as their rear-driven siblings, they offer plenty of grip and can be used more often in slippery conditions.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe petrol engines

Buyers have a choice of three different powertrains, dubbed: P300, P450 and P575. The entry-level P300 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine which produces 296bhp. While this can’t quite match the old 3.0-litre V6 engine in terms of drama or occasion, it’s significantly lighter and still gets from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds. All P300 models are rear-wheel-drive and will go on to a top speed of 155mph.

The mid-range P450 is arguably the sweet spot in the range for buyers looking for strong performance. Available in both rear- and all-wheel-drive guise, the P450 gets a much larger supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces 444bhp. Not only does this sound much more exotic than the four-cylinder, but it is significantly faster – Jaguar claims the P450 takes just 4.6 seconds to reach 62mph.

Sitting at the pinnacle of the range is the Jaguar F-Type R P575; this utilises the same powerplant as the P450, tuned to a more-powerful 567bhp and comes as standard with all-wheel-drive. As is the case with the lesser V8 in the range, this sounds fantastic and will complete the 0-62mph sprint in just 3.7 seconds.