Buyers looking for a luxury midsize sedan with a lot of oomph should take a look at the 2011 Jaguar XF. This year, its naturally aspirated 4.2-cylinder V8 engine has been replaced with the larger 5.0-liter engine in the Base trim.

So the two least powerful trims now get 385 horsepower, with the Base and the XF Premium sharing the same power numbers as well as 0-60 times of 5.5 seconds. Moving up to the 2011 XF Supercharged offers sub-5-second 0-60 times thanks to a 470-hp supercharged V8, while the XFR bumps that up an additional 40 hp to 510.

While the three available engines provide different acceleration numbers, the 2011 Jaguar XF Base and Premium still have decent 16/23 mileage, while the XF Supercharged and the XFR come in at 15/21.

All trims come equipped with Jaguar's six-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle shifters attached to the wheel. Drivers can adjust how quickly it shifts using the JaguarDrive selector. Similarly, drivers will use their hands to operate the reading lights and glove compartment; both come with proximity sensors.

Staying in the front, most controls are operated via a touchscreen that in previous model years earned compliments for the relative ease of accessing the menus compared to other luxury cars. Some have issue with the extra buttons for climate control as well as the lag time caused by excessive graphics.

For comfort, the Jaguar XF offers leather seating with wood trim around the console and in the window sills. A non-engine trim option is the XF Portfolio, which upgrades the Premium package with suede headliners and deeper floor mats. The Portfolio option also includes a heated steering wheel and front seats adjustable in 12 ways.

Safety features abound for all XF trims. Even the Base includes heated windshields and side mirrors, as well as a rear parking aid that uses sensors to monitor the proximity of objects when backing up. Since reviewers have noted a lack of rear visibility, this could be welcome for some motorists. The other trims also include front parking aids, a blind-spot monitor, and a rear parking camera. It uses the console-mounted LCD screen to offer drivers an unobstructed view while parking.

The 2011 Jaguar XF includes a two-stage front airbag system for the driver and front passenger. In addition, there is an anti-whiplash system that controls the seatbelt tensioning system to minimize injuries in collisions. Front and rear occupants have side curtain airbags, while there are also torso-level airbags in the front seat. With no all-wheel-drive option for the 2011 Jaguar XFR, the company has introduced technology controlling the braking and throttle systems to minimize understeer and oversteer in adverse weather.

Reviewers have argued that the Jaguar XF is a tourer with bite, as it provides comfort on long trips with power and great handling in a modern, luxury package. Jaguar changed little for the 2011 Jaguar XF outside of its engine options, but it should still be on the list of luxury sedans to check out in its price range.