THE stylish Sportbrake isn't the first estate model from Jaguar, that honour fell to the X-Type several years ago, but it is long overdue. All Jaguar’s rivals have had an estate in their premium saloon ranges for a couple of decades.

New from the B-pillars back, the Sportbrake’s many virtues are most apparent in the rear, where passengers enjoy greatly enhanced headroom and a better view. The boot is no larger than the XF saloon, until you drop the back seats when the Sportbrake's long and higher roofline creates a …. load space.

Available with Jaguar's long-awaited small(er) capacity 2.2-litre diesel, the Sportbrake is well equipped to take the fight to BMW, Audi and Mercedes. It isn’t as practical as the Mercedes, but promises a more engaging drive and a more exclusive image than a BMW or an Audi.

ON THE ROAD: The Jaguar XF saloon is a very good-looking car and the Sportbrake continues in the same vein. Despite the longer roof and the more upright boot, the designers have done a good job transforming the saloon into an estate. The car's wheelbase is the same but careful attention to detail ,such as the blacked out B and C pillars, disguises the extra bulk at the back. Compared to its saloon brethern, the Sportbrake doesn't look ungainly.

Jaguar sent us the XF R-Sport model for evaluation - the first model to wear the R-Sport badge which brings some of the show-stopping style of the XFR high performance barnstormer to cheaper models in the range, similar to BMW's M Sport line.

The transformation is purely visual encompassing a new front bumper, ‘R’ style side sills and 17-inch alloy wheels, fitted with low rolling resistance tyres to help reduce emissions. Buyers can take things a stage further with the optional black styling packs which add a new grille surround, lower bumper inserts, trunk lid finisher and roof rails painted in Henry Ford's favourite colour.

Echo:

The 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel is exactly the same, as is the suspension and the crisp steering.

Some people might wonder why Jaguar didn't tweak the chassis and suspension to differentiate the R-Sport models from a standard Sportbrake but, when the basic package is as well sorted as this further tinkering could have spoilt the Sportbrake's comfortable ride for little real-world gain.

Performance is adequate but nothing more. The 0-62mph time of ten seconds and 124mph top speed are nothing special and the 2.2 engine doesn't have the silky smooth manners of a V6. It's perfectly inoffensive, though, and the cabin is pleasantly quiet when you're cruising, but just lacks some of the soul and sophistication of the larger engine.

 

  • Need a lift? Watch the Sportbrake come to the rescue of Team Sky

ON THE INSIDE: The XF's cabin has aged well. I still like the gear selector that glides silently out of the centre console when you press the starter button and the rotating fresh air vents. The Sportbrake's main analogue/digital instruments are classy and easy to see even in bright winter sunshine while the ancilliary controls are thoughtfully laid out.

Finding a comfortable driving position is simple thanks to leather seats with full electric adjustment and a telescopic steering wheel.

Front passengers have loads of legroom and tall passengers in the back will appreciate the Sportbrake's extra headroom and improved visibility.

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  • The design story

WHAT DO YOU GET: Beyond the usual standard kit you'd expect of a car in this class, Jaguar adds self-levelling rear suspension, sat nav, 7-inch touchscreen, DAB radio tuner, MP3 playback/hard drive storage, Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a pedestrian collision detection system.

HOW PRACTICAL IS IT?

Jaguar designed the Sportbrake for its good looks as well as practicality. The luggage area is more practical than the XF saloon, mainly because you can stack cases higher, but it’s no Volvo 740 estate. The rear seats drop down, though, and reveal a long flat luggage space that’s very handy. Certainly, the Jag is class competitive with the BMW 5 Series Touring and the Audi A6 Avant.

The extended roofline means rear-seat passengers have an additional 48mm of headroom.

As you'd expect, the seats offer both a 60:40 split fold function and an integral ski hatch. Simple-to-use remote-fold levers inside the boot allow the seats to be stowed flat quickly and easily, creating a cargo volume of up to 1675 litres.

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  • Watch the video to see how practical the Sportbrake can be

RUNNING COSTS: Jaguar's engineers have run the rule over the 2.2 again in search of greater efficiency. New larger exhaust gas recirculation valves, a revised cooling assembly and stop/start combine to reduce emissions figures by a further 6g/km of CO2 compared to the 2013 Jaguar XF. The R-Sport is capable of achieving 57.7mpg with a CO2 figure of just 129g/km, making it a tempting prospect for company car drivers looking to escape the German hegemony.

VERDICT: Expect more R-Sport models soon. The visual changes make the Sportbrake an even more handsome devil while the XF driving experience confounds the usual modest expectations of a large estate car. The extra boot space is worthwhile and, according to the trade guides, the Sportbrake is holding its value on the secondhand market very well indeed. If you're in the market for an Avant or a Touring the Sportbrake makes for a tempting alternative to running with the pack.

SPEC:

Engine: 2179cc turbodiesel.

Power: 163PS.

Torque: 400Nm.

0-60mph: 10 seconds.

Top speed: 124mph.

Combined mpg: 57.7.

Exhaust emissions: 129g/km CO2.

Equipment: Black grille, LED tail lamps, Bi-function HID xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights and automatic leveling, restyled front bumper, side sills extensions, aluminium flush fitting roof rails, powered open and close tailgate, rear parking aid with touch-screen visual indicator, 7 inch colour touch-screen display DAB receiver, Bluetooth telephone connectivity, navigation system with HDD mapping , 8-Speed transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift, self-levelling rear air suspension.

 

Accessorize your Sportbrake!