Adult occupant
The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal impact. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of the front seat occupants. However, structures in the dashboard posed a risk of injury to occupants of different sizes and to those sat in different positions and protection for the knee/femur/pelvis body region was rated as marginal. Maximum points were scored in the side impact barrier test, all parts of the body being well protected. In the more severe side pole impact, rib deflections in the dummy indicated weak protection of the chest. The seat and head restraint provided marginal protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear end collision.

Child occupant
In the frontal impact, movement of the head of the 3 year dummy, sat in a forward facing restraint, was not excessive. In the side impact, both dummies were properly contained within the protective shells of their restraints. The front passenger airbag cannot be disabled to allow a rearward facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. The labels warning of the dangers of using a rearward facing restraint in that seating position were not sufficiently clear. The restraint of the 18 month dummy had instruction and warning labels which were not permanently attached and points were lost as a result.

Pedestrian
The XF is equipped with an active bonnet. When sensors in the bumper detect that a pedestrian has been struck, an airbag system lifts the bonnet away from hard structures in the engine bay. This additional space offers better protection to a pedestrian's head. However, tests showed that the system was not as sensitive as Euro NCAP now requires so the protection offered to the head of a struck child was assessed with the system undeployed. In most areas tested, child head protection was poor although some areas were good. Similarly, for the head of an adult, different levels of protection were offered in different areas: most tests on the bonnet surface showed good protection but the results elsewhere were generally poor. The front edge of the bonnet did not score any points for the protection provided to pedestrians' legs but the bumper scored maximum points.

Safety assist
The XF is fitted with electronic stability control as standard. A seatbelt reminder system covering both front seats is also standard. An active, driver-set speed limiter is standard equipment but did not meet Euro NCAP's requirements, and was not rewarded.