Does Jaguar’s XF Sportbrake stand out in today’s SUV-heavy market?
The XF Sportbrake is classic Jaguar, a handsome car that looks back as well as forward. The company’s current status is emblematic of the traditional motor industry as a whole; poised on the brink of a technological revolution, yet still bearing a weight of historical assets and brand baggage that must somehow be hauled into the present. As part of JLR, which was founded in 2008, it has frequently been eclipsed by the sales success of its SUV-making sibling. In recent years, however, shifting market priorities, new legislation and a plateauing product strategy have left both brands looking rather listless and vulnerable.
That’s certainly not how you’d describe Jaguar’s cars. The company is justly famed for its uncanny grasp of elegance and poise, and this new estate version of the big XF saloon is no exception. It is handsome without being showy, meticulous, and over-styled. Inside and out, the XF Sportbrake doesn’t put a foot wrong, from the crisp digital dashboard to the (optional) full length glass roof. If we’re being really picky, the petrol engine in this R-Sport model feels a mite underpowered, especially given its 300 PS rating, but there’s also the more raucous Sportbrake S if raw power is what you crave. In all honesty, the R-Sport’s performance is more than ample for these straitened times, and a smooth ride and hushed ambience is far more important. Four wheel drive adds more security and grip, while Jaguar’s test car had a steep £12,500 worth of options to give it an even sportier look.
And yet for all its ability and refinement, the XF Sportbrake still finds itself as something of an anachronism in the modern age. An estate car, conventionally powered and styled in the classic manner, is akin to a Georgian house on wheels – much loved by traditionalists, beautiful in form and craft and still held up as a high point in design, yet undeniably a thing of the past. Maybe that’s why the company’s recent focus has been on SUVs, including the E-Pace, F-Pace and all-electric I-Pace crossover (more of which another time), rather than its traditional saloon cars.
Jaguar is poised to make even more changes. Rumour has it that the replacement for its flagship XJ saloon – once deemed the default choice for cabinet ministers – will take a leap forwards and become an all-electric, Tesla-baiting futuristic machine. The burgeoning association between EVs and performance is also expected to impact the future form of company’s dedicated sports cars, currently represented by the F-Type.
But perhaps most importantly, new technology like electric power and semi-autonomous driving will give a brand like Jaguar – and Land Rover too – a chance to break free from the straitjacket of the past. It’s understandable that car companies use nostalgia for commercial purposes and while we’re not accusing Jaguar of all-out retro design, decades of creating sleek, feline sports cars and saloons have left the company somewhat adrift. With the new I-Pace heralded as one of the most credible luxury electric cars ever made, the rest of the company’s line-up looks rather forlorn and bereft of purpose in comparison, even if their aesthetic credentials are unimpeachable. The XF is excellent, but there’s much more to come.
INFORMATION
Jaguar XF Sportbrake R-Sport, from £44,700. For more information, visit the Jaguar website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Montreal Navigator: a guide to the city, from modernist marvels to gastronomic gems
Montreal, Quebec’s largest city, is a creative whirlwind, offering up a vibrant mix of arts and design venues, great restaurants, and a crowd-pulling cultural calendar
By Laura May Todd Published
-
Filippo Grazioli to exit Missoni, succeeded by a veteran of the Italian house
In a week of fashion musical chairs, news comes from Milan this morning that Filippo Grazioli is leaving Missoni, replaced by veteran designer Alberto Caliri
By Jack Moss Published
-
All aboard Casa Quinta, floating in Brazil’s tropical rainforest
Casa Quinta by Brazilian studio Arquipélago appears to float at canopy level in the heart of the rainforest that flanks the picturesque town of Paraty on the coast between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
By Rainbow Nelson Published
-
Helm’s meticulously re-imagined Jaguar E-Type features a finely crafted interior by Bill Amberg
Helm transforms the legendary E-Type into a thoroughly modern machine, upgrading every aspect of Jaguar’s pioneering sports car to an exacting brief
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Zoute Grand Prix is a car fest like no other at a pristine Belgian beachside town
Amy Serafin takes to the well-heeled streets of Knokke-Heist to experience the Zoute Grand Prix, its annual cavalcade of classic car-related events, from a rally to an auction
By Amy Serafin Published
-
Jaguar F-Type 75 special edition is the last of its kind as the marque hints at a radical future
The Jaguar F-Type 75 will be the last ever V8-powered Jaguar; is it also the end of conventional sports cars for this legendary British marque?
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Peugeot’s sparky 308 gets hybrid power and handsome lines
The Peugeot 308 proves that mass-market design needn’t be dull, blending hybrid power with sharp lines and excellent detailing
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW Motorrad brings out the big guns for its newest cruisers
BMW Motorrad R 18 Bagger and Transcontinental set the tone for high-voltage cruising with a brand collaboration with speaker specialist Marshall
By George Chapman Last updated
-
Dacia’s new Manifesto concept is a true outdoor utility vehicle
Utilitarian auto brand Dacia sets a bold new agenda with its Manifesto, a concept car pitched at the active outdoor market
By Jonathan Bell Last updated
-
The sun sets on traditional supercars at California’s Monterey Car Week
Monterey Car Week, the world’s most prestigious car gathering, is showcasing ever-more extravagant special editions, coachbuilt cars and all-new electric concepts. Here are seven key machines from 2022
By Rory FH Smith Last updated
-
Is McLaren’s GT a sports car, a tourer, or the best of both?
The McLaren GT is a capable all-rounder dressed up in svelte supercar clothes. It might also be the last of its type
By Jonathan Bell Last updated