It’s like going from a hot girlfriend to a not-so-hot girlfriend. A few weeks ago we tested the 2016 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe with its feral 5.0L supercharged V8 and AWD system. We cherished and reviled in its gun-blazing exhaust and dizzying acceleration that got us from point A to point B in the blink of an eye. Now we’ve been handed the keys to the wolf in the middle of the pack, the F-Type S Coupe AWD. It has two less cylinders, weighs 133 kg less, and hits the decibels with a softer touch. Does it still strike our hearts with the same ferocity? We went for a quick drive to find out.

Under the hood is a smaller and more compact 3.0L supercharged V6 that is also used in many of Jaguar’s sedan models such as the XJ and XF. Here it’s been tuned to produce 380 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. Though it doesn’t match up to the V8’s colossal 550-hp figure, the F-Type S still feels quick and light on its feet. In fact, it is the most neutral and the most balanced out of all the F-Type models. The turn-in is good, the steering feedback is wonderful and the brakes are stellar. It’s hard to justify the optional carbon ceramic brakes when the standard ones are this good.

The soundtrack was a bit of a disappointment though. We’re obviously biased because we spent seven full days drooling over the V8, but the F-Type S just doesn’t cut the meat. When you build the revs and hit those high notes, you can hear the struggle of six cylinders trying to stretch themselves out. The exhaust is more of a mechanical wind rather than an animalistic roar. Compared to the F-Type R, there’s less character, less soul, and it’s less wild. Like I said, not-so-hot-girlfriend.

But it’s hard to argue over the looks. Telling the difference between an S and R variant without peeking at the badges is quite a challenge. Our specific tester here has been loaded with a stunning white exterior matched with blacked out details on the fenders, grills, and the 20-inch Tornado Black wheels ($2,800). It’s an A+ combination in my books.

One of the biggest differences between our S and R test vehicles was the choice of roof. Here we have a panoramic glass roof and I must say, it makes all the difference to the interior. It’s also the option I would go for. The carbon fibre roof is pretty and it saves a lot of weight but in the end, the interior feels less claustrophobic when there’s some light coming in from above.