I'm considering the purchase of what's listed as a 2015 XF. I plugged the VIN into this forum's decoder and it confirmed the model year as 2015.

I'm guessing that a redesigned XF was introduced in 2015 as the X260. But is the 2015 I'm considering an X250 or X260? In the forum categories, X250 is listed as 2007-2015 and X260 2015 onwards. Is there overlap? Should the X250 category be 2008-2014 and X260 for 2015 and onwards or are some 2015s X250 and some X260?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

I've seen this weird model year overlap stated as well. Most likely if you looking at a 2015 it will be the original XF and not the updated x260. Got a picture?

 

Part of the problem being that 2016 models started selling in 2015. The big change in 2016 was the aluminum body. I understood that started with the 2016 model.
P.

 

I've done a little bit of research and think maybe the x260 started selling world wide as a 2015, but in the US as a 2016. I'll post a picture later but this car has the vertical vent behind the front wheel and I think the x260 has a horizontal.

 

The biggest and most obvious visual difference between the X260 and the X250 is the bonnet (hood) front shut line.
On the X260 it is a distinct straight line a few inches from the end of the bonnet, on the X250 there is no such shut line and the front of the bonnet goes all the way to the end.

 

X250 vs X260

 

Thanks. That's one of the articles I had found.

 

Got another look at the car and based on the above, it's definitely an X250. The hood shut line is right down at the top of the grill. Guess I'll start looking for a 2016 instead.

Thanks everyone for their help.

 

The X260 is almost all constructed of aluminium, so take a magnet with you ! I think the doors are steel, and maybe the trunk lid, though. The construction uses rivets and aerospace glue to bond the panels together, so if you lift the trunk lid, and look at the aperture below the rear screen you should see a line of rivet heads. Also if you open the hood you'll see the very distinctive cast aluminium turrets for the suspension springs. I think the later car is better, but then, I am convinced of the use of aluminium in cars, I'm now on my third, (2 x XJs (X350s) and an XE)

 

Don't get fooled though, the X250 bonnet is also aluminium and always has been!
(but the quarter panels/fenders, doors and roof are steel).

 

Don't just jump to the X260 by default. The styling is so similar that only us enthusiasts can tell them apart. I suggest you drive both. You'll find there are differences in the character and driving experience. And its important to research the different trim levels and options too as Jaguar is more "bespoke" than most luxury cars. Auto-Brochures.com|Car & Truck PDF Sales Brochure/Catalog/Flyer/Info Once you choose, be sure to frequent these forums because no matter what sort of problems your Jaguar may experience in the future, somebody here will rack up the miles faster than you, have trouble before you do and we will have figured out what relatively inexpensive preventative repair/maintenance to do ahead of time to prevent it from happening to the rest of us.

 

On the Pommy XF forum there is a never ending debate (and lots of banter) about the X260 vs the X250, and the generally agreed points are;
- the 260 handles much better than the 250, it sits flatter and wallows less, but the ride is a little firmer. The 250 has a "plusher" ride (while still firm), much more befitting a "luxury cruiser".
- the 260 has appreciably more rear legroom than the 250 which is important if you regularly carry adult passengers in the rear.
- the 260 infotainment and GUI is a huge improvement on the 250.
- the 260 interior quality, materials, fit and finish are far inferior to those in the 250. The 250 just feels more luxurious and more "special".
- the engine choices in the 260 are a lot less than those in the 250, especially the complete lack of any V8 in the 260.

 

The difference between the two cars is that the basic body shell is steel for the X250 and aluminium for the X260. Jaguar seems to have stepped back from total aluminium construction. My two XJs (X350s) were all aluminium except for the subframes; my XE has steel subframes but also steel doors and trunk lid. The E-pace, based on a Land Rover model, is steel shell so weighs more than the larger F-pace