With a classically beautiful body and V8-only engine options, the 2022 Jaguar F-type is a throwback sports car of sorts. Unlike the Chevy Corvette or the Porsche 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman, the Jaguar's powerplant resides in front of the driver rather than behind them. This gives the F-type dramatic proportions and an altogether different driving experience. The thrilling sound of its supercharged 5.0-liter V8, making between 444 and 575 horses, is another distinction. While the Jag doesn't stop, go, and grip as short, quick, and strong as its peers, both the coupe and convertible will still excite the senses. Unfortunately, its upscale cabin is claustrophobic and drop-top models have smaller storage space than the already cramped coupes. The 2022 F-type also has a higher starting price than its classmates, but perhaps its elegance and old-school charm are enough to offset that disparity.

What's New for 2022?

The F-type is now only available with a V8 engine under the hood. For 2022, Jaguar drops the previously standard turbo four as well as the optional supercharged V6. That means the least powerful F-type­–the newly christened P450­–features a 444 hp supercharged 5.0-liter. It's a detuned version of the 575 hp V8 that motivates the higher-performance R variant, which continues to only be offered with all-wheel drive. The new P450 comes standard with rear-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels, larger rear brakes, and an active exhaust system. The P450 R-Dynamic adds all-wheel drive, black exterior trim, and a different set of wheels.

Since we prefer our sports cars to be rear-wheel drive, we'd choose the regular F-type P450. We'd also relish the ability to drop the top and listen to the unfiltered roar of its V8, meaning we'd go with the convertible over the coupe. It comes standard with leather and microsuede seats, a power-adjustable steering column, a Meridian stereo system, and front and rear parking sensors. We'd finish ours in attractive British Racing Green, but Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) has a wide selection of interesting colors if that's not your thing. Inside, we'd upgrade to the leather performance seats, which add lateral support and include additional interior luxuries (customizable ambient lighting, illuminated metal door sill protectors). This also allows us to select the 12-way power seats with heated and cooled surfaces as well as memory settings for the seats, steering column, and exterior mirrors. The only other option we'd add is the Climate Pack that includes a heated steering wheel and windshield and dual-zone climate control.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Apart from the Corvette, the 2022 F-type is the only other sports car in its class to offer a V-8. Even the base P450 model, with its 444-hp supercharged 5.0-liter engine and rear- or all-wheel drive, is more powerful than the most potent six-cylinder Boxster and Cayman, which top out at 414 ponies. Then there's the even mightier F-type R that boasts 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. With standard all-wheel drive and the same eight-speed automatic as the P450, the R coupe we drove roared to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds at 121 mph. While the V-8-powered Jags sound fantastic, their front-engine layout contributes to a different driving experience than their mid-engined rivals. We were particularly pleased with the R's civilized ride and talkative, albeit touchy, steering. It also delivered a notable 1.0 g of cornering grip and stopped from 70 mph in a tidy 155 feet. Although those numbers are pretty common among modern sports cars, they're not quite as impressive as you'll find on the Corvette and the Porsches.

STARTING AT $69,900