Jaguar F-Type review

No question, the P300 - kicking things off at £62,235 for the coupe and £67,825 for the convertible - is the one to have if running costs are an issue, with Jag claiming 30.1 and 29.7mpg respectively. We would add that all variants of the F-Type post official fuel economy in the mid 20s anyway, so there’s not much in it. And the figures you’ll see in the real-world pinch that gap even more.

The P450 may be the range sweet spot and a surprising bargain (we’re using the word loosely here) at just under £80,000 for the coupe: only a Ford Mustang or Lexus RC F gets you in a V8 sports car for less, with the new Mercedes C63 having ditched eight cylinders as an option. But hey, you’re buying a sports car. Live a little. Prioritise such sensibleness only as much as you need to.

Finally you’ve got the top-of-the-range, AWD, V8-engined P575 F-Type R. There’s no way of sugar coating it: hard- and drop-tops are priced at £102,870 and £108,065 apiece before options. Still feel like playing fast and loose with your bank balance?

Both P450 and P575 engines are now additionally badged with the number 75 as part of Jaguar’s limited-edition send-off. With these you get the company’s adaptive dynamics system as standard, as well as rear knuckles made from aluminium die castings, larger wheel bearings and an active electronic rear differential. R 75s also get revised upper ball joints.

The 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, sat nav and Bluetooth connectivity are all standard features, as are things like a reversing camera, traffic sign recognition, rain-sensing wipers and front and rear parking sensors. But bear in mind you’ll be paying extra for useful bits such as a heated windscreen, steering wheel and dual-zone climate control; all rolled into a climate pack for £685.

And while there’s a modicum of active safety equipment on offer, it’s an area the F-Type lags behind its rivals. There’s no active cruise control. You can’t even have a head-up display. Not big issues if you relish its old-school appeal, but it does distance the Jag just a little further from the competition as those technologies can be found in so many of its rivals.