18 MPG combined. That number might surprise you now that there are so many hybrids, but it’s what you get with the 2015 Jaguar XF that has the 5.0L supercharged V8. The car wasn’t made to get the same gas mileage as a Prius. It was built to provide a refined, yet exciting driving feel, wrapped in British luxury, and the fuel economy shows this priority. The person buying this XF probably cares more about effortless power, a unique exhaust sound, and the Jaguar prestige. They’re okay with using more gas.

City and highway performance

The EPA estimates of 15 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway show the situation clearly. The XF drinks the most gas in stop-and-go traffic. The powerful, supercharged 5.0L engine requires a lot of fuel to constantly accelerate a car this size. It gets better on the highway. Cruising at a constant speed lets the eight-speed automatic transmission use its higher gears, which lowers the engine RPMs and saves fuel. However, even on the highway, using the accelerator enthusiastically, which is easy to do given how responsive the engine is, will quickly reduce these savings.

Annual fuel cost

The EPA estimates the annual fuel cost for the 2015 Jaguar XF 5.0L V8 is $3,200. This is based on driving 15,000 miles per year. 55% of those miles are in the city and 45% on the highway. The calculation also assumes a national average fuel price. This is only an estimate. Your driving habits, local fuel prices, and traffic can change the total amount you spend on fuel. Expect to spend more if you mostly drive in stop-and-go traffic or like to drive fast.

Real-world expectations

The EPA provides a standard to compare cars, but numbers in the real world often vary. Owners of the 2015 Jaguar XF 5.0L V8 usually report numbers close to the EPA estimates, but slightly lower for combined driving. You can expect urban fuel economy in the low to mid teens. Highway numbers can match or briefly exceed 23 MPG if you drive carefully, but anything beyond light acceleration will substantially lower average MPG. Driving consistently and carefully is critical to getting close to the EPA numbers.

How it compares

You can understand the 2015 Jaguar XF’s fuel economy better by comparing it to other cars. A similar BMW 550i from the same year, with a 4.4L V8, gets a little better fuel economy at 20 MPG combined. The Mercedes-Benz E550, with its 4.7L V8, gets about the same at 19 MPG combined. Even the Audi A6 3.0T, with its supercharged V6, gets 24 MPG combined. This matters because people often compare models from different manufacturers. The XF might win on style or how it feels to drive for some, but the MPG difference could change the mind of a practical buyer. To see all Jaguar fuel economy data, the XF 5.0L V8 is one of the least efficient choices. To see XF MPG across all years, see our data.

Tips to maximize efficiency

How hard you press the gas pedal greatly impacts fuel consumption in a supercharged V8 like this one. Accelerate smoothly and avoid sudden bursts of speed. You can watch the fuel economy gauge to train yourself to drive more efficiently.

Make sure your tires have enough air. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance. This forces the engine to work harder and burn more fuel. Check your tire pressure and inflate them to the manufacturer’s specifications. You can find these on the door jamb.

Reduce extra weight in the car. Removing items from the trunk and passenger area can subtly increase fuel economy. The less weight the engine has to move, the less fuel it will use.

Don’t let the car idle for long periods. Modern engines warm up quickly. You don’t need to let the car idle for more than a minute or two, even when it’s cold. Idling wastes fuel and increases emissions. Turn off the engine if you expect to stop for a while.

When possible, use cruise control on the highway. Keeping a speed helps save fuel, as cruise control avoids the slight changes in speed that can happen when driving manually. This results in smoother and more efficient driving.