Our Jaguar XF Sportbrake test car.Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
- The Jaguar XF Sportbrake wagon arrives in the US for the 2018 model year.
- The Sportbrake is powered by a 380 horsepower, 3.0-liter supercharged V6.
- According to Jaguar, the XF wagon can hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds.
- We loved the Jaguar’s style, performance, and utility but found its interior to be a bit plain.
- The 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD starts at $70,450 while our test car carried an as-tested price of $71,445.
For decades, the tried and true station wagon was the preferred method of family transportation in the US. But the in the ’90s and 2000s, its position in the automotive kingdom was usurped by the minivan. And over the past decade, the minivan’s reign was ended by the crossover SUV.
Even as America’s love affair with the wagon faded, it remained a mainstay for families in Europe. As a result, the Continent’s automakers have continued to produce world-class wagons.
And now it looks like wagons are making a comeback of sorts in the US. Will it once again dominate America’s highways and byways? Probably not. But there is a slew of hot new wagons on the market that will tempt you into rejoining the club.
Since the vast majority of crossovers, probably a figure north of 95%, will never see terrain any more rugged than a grassy field, an all-wheel-drive wagon more than makes sense. (Those who do enjoy a spot of off-roading are probably better off in a truck or truck-based SUV and not a crossover.)
One of the hottest new contenders is the Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD wagon. Based on the mid-size second generation XF sedan, the Sportbrake is all-new for 2018.
Recently, Business Insider spent a week behind the wheel of a stunning Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD clad in a fiery Firenze red paint job.
In the US, the XF Sportbrake is only available in the option-laden S and First Edition trim levels. As a result, our 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD starts at $70,450. With a $995 destination fee tacked on, our car came with an as-test price of $71,445.
So, is the 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD good enough for you to ditch the crossover and return to the wonderful world of wagons? Let’s find out.
InControl Touch Pro is found throughout JLR’s line up and is one of the better systems out there in terms of feature content, presentation, and ease of use.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
The XF Sportbrake is equipped with five cameras that are used to create a 360-degree view around the car. See the front camera?
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
The Sportbrake is also equipped with adaptive LED headlights, an 825 watt Meridian surround sound system, adaptive cruise control, adaptive speed limiter, rear traffic detection, blind spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition technology. An available wi-fi hotpot can deliver 4G connectivity to as many as eight devices.
The Jag is also equipped with semi-autonomous parking technology that uses ultrasonic sensors that help maneuver the car into parking spaces.
So, what’s it like to drive?
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
The Jaguar XF Sportbrake is one of the best wagon’s I’ve ever driven. The Jag’s aluminum-intensive construction helped keep weight under control while delivering near-perfect 50:50 front/rear weight distribution.
The result is a wagon that drives with the responsiveness and agility of a sports sedan. In the corners, our XF test car offered an impressive level of grip while only exhibiting a slight hint of understeer.
The intelligent self-leveling rear suspension keeps the back end of the car in check even when it’s loaded with stuff.
The supercharged six-cylinder engine coupled with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive delivered solid performance with strong acceleration off the line. The engine also produced a surprisingly satisfying growl when revved.
With that said, the chassis is good enough to handle the extra grunt of JLR’s 550 horsepower, V8. Perhaps an XFR Sportbrake?
At high speeds, the cabin remains quiet while the ride is almost always perfectly comfortable. Overall, the XF Sportbrake delivers on its promise of a premium and sporty driving experience.
The verdict.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
The Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD is absolutely terrific. The driving experience, utility, and gorgeous sheet make blew us away. When asked if he had any complaints about the Jag, my colleague Matt DeBord simply replied, ” None. My wife wants one.”
The Sportbrake offers a compelling combination of luxury sedan comfort, sports sedan performance, crossover SUV cargo capacity, and enough room for a family of five.
This brings us back to the original question. Is the Jaguar XF Sportbrake good enough to make you ditch the crossover for a wagon?
Yes. It’s that good.
