So here it goes: "What if I drove around the country, methodically tracking down every single nitwit who insists he simply had to buy a crossover for the unparalleled convenience, even though he totally loves driving or whatever, bombing into his driveway in the JagWagon and rubbing his face in the soft leather seats like a puppy into wetted carpet while screaming, 'See? On top of that, the Volvo costs a full $20,000 less, to start. They don't feel particularly great against one's fingers, with a chintzy click accompanying their action, and shift response time isn't as quick as it ought to be. our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. Don't buy a car with unseen problems. At no point during my time with the XF was I upset with the transmission's default shift logic. There's no tradeoff in overall ride comfort during highway cruising, either -- as planted as the Sportbrake is up on those twisty canyon roads, it delivers a smooth, compliant ride, even over pockmarked stretches of pavement. Probably not. Kelley Blue Book Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Price. The massive panoramic moonroofwhich comes standardis a lovely touch, as are the soft-close doors (part of the $1,805 Convenience package, which also includes heated and cooled front seats and heated rear seats). Will it once again dominate America's highways and byways? Each dealer sets and controls its own pricing. Among the big wagon roundup are such choices as the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, Mercedes-Benz E- and S-Class, Volvo V60 and V90 (both in standard longroof or raised Cross Country) and the Buick Regal TourX. It's a strong motor, with 380 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque on offer, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking toAmazon.comand affiliated sites. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider It also has a clean title history, with some service records available, and will pass safety and smog inspection.<. And it is roomier inside, which is accentuated by the optional panoramic glass roof. Jaguar says the Sportbrake has a near-perfect 50/50 weight balance. The XF Sportbrake has utility and performance in spades. You're better off using voice commands, which seem to work well enough. This car is free of major mechanical problems but may need some reconditioning. In addition to a Sport mode, which adjusts steering, transmission, throttle and suspension settings, there are configurable modes of Eco, Dynamic, Normal and Adaptive Surface Response (for low-grip situations). There's great weight to the Sportbrake's steering, with plenty of feedback delivered through the wheel. 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? - 3% of all cars we value. The rear structure added 165 pounds, but you dont feel it on the road because of the retuned front suspension and the S models self-leveling rear suspension. But the good news is that the Jaguar XF Sportbrake is an extraordinarily nice thing indeed, and we can have it, assuming we have seventy thousand dollars and change. As it turns out, the "what if?" There are minor body scratches or dings and minor interior blemishes, but no rust. Can we stop with the gimmicky power air vents and elevating gear selector already? The big glass roof is barely noticed in the front seats, but it is majestic for back-seat passengers. Welcome to Critic's Notebook, a quick and off-the-cuff car review consisting of impressions, jottings, and marginalia regarding whatever The Drive writers happen to be driving. The beautifully proportioned Jaguar XF S Sportbrake AWD., what if we pointed a camera at a bunch of vacuous morons, Who knew 380 horsepower was the exact right amount of horsepower? But again, a wagon is only as good as the sedan counterpart underneath, and just as I wouldn't buy an XF over a Mercedes E-Class or Volvo S90, the same remains true in wonderful wagon guise. A man heaves you onto a trolley. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are absent, which I still maintain is inexcusable for a premium car in the year 2018, although the XF Sportbrake does offer an optional Wi-Fi hotspot. So far life as a wood-based product is not bad. If you've got deep(er) pockets, you can also add the $360 Black Package (gloss black exterior trim), $2,860 Luxury Interior Upgrade Package (mood lighting, four-zone climate control, premium carpet floor mats, rear sunshades and more) and a host of other one-off options. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Based on the mid-size second generation XF sedan, the Sportbrake is all-new for 2018. But a 19.5-gallon tank gives a wide range. In the corners, our XF test car offered an impressive level of grip while only exhibiting a slight hint of understeer. I would trust their taste and sophistication implicitly, and they would number few enough for comfort. The overall roof height is 57.4 inches (less than 5 feet) so it should be a simpler process to load bikes and other gear. 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. Demand on the rise, although concerns about charging infrastructure, range anxiety and cost persist. A limited dealer network might also pose problems. 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Is the Jaguar XF Sportbrake good enough to make you ditch the crossover for a wagon?

A taut chassis keeps the XF composed during turns, with only minor amounts of body roll accompanying quick changes of direction. An available wi-fi hotpot can deliver 4G connectivity to as many as eight devices. And over the past decade, the minivan's reign was ended by the crossover SUV. - 54% of all cars we value. - This is the price people are typically paying a dealer for a used car with typical mileage in good condition or better. He is also on the World Car Awards jury. Pricing starts at $71,445, including the $995 freight charge from Castle Bromwich, U.K. While the XF sedan has engine choices of 2.0-liter turbodiesel and turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder, the Sportbrake gets Jaguars top XF engine: the 380-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 with 332 foot-pounds of torque at 4,500 rpm. premise. 2018 Jaguar Xf XF 35t Portfolio Limited Edition Sedan 4D, 2018 Jaguar Xf XF 30t Portfolio Limited Edition Sedan 4D, 2020 Jaguar XF XF Sportbrake S Sport Wagon 4D, 2019 Jaguar XF XF Sportbrake S Sport Wagon 4D, 2018 Jaguar XF XF Sportbrake S Sport Wagon 4D, Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CA Residents Only). It's the company's most functional model, and none of the XF's great road manners are lost with the addition of that useful, stylish rump. Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. This sedan-extension body style is finding new relevance that is not a minivan or an SUV and not looking like either while having more manners. The intelligent self-leveling rear suspension keeps the back end of the car in check even when it's loaded with stuff. Yes, the Jaguar is more powerful and better to drive, but these competitors offer far more luxurious accommodations and a richer set of features and tech. I was averaging around 18.5 mpg and not sparing the Sport and Dynamic modes. The tires may need replacing and there may be some repairable rust damage. The XF Sportbrake comes standard with a panoramic glass roof, though be warned, it's not a sunroof. In his free time, Ewing loves to cook, binge trash TV, and play the drums. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. Get a full history report and be confident in your purchase. window.scriptsToLoad = window.scriptsToLoad || []; window.scriptsToLoad.push("%3Cscript%20src%3D%22%2F%2Finsurance.mediaalpha.com%2Fjs%2Fserve.js%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E"); Disclosure: We may receive a commission if you click on car insurance quotes from our partners. The engine also produced a surprisingly satisfying growl when revved. Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. Since it's only available in top-level S spec, you can't get into a Sportbrake for less than $70,450, which is $3,585 more than an equivalent XF S sedan. Mark Maynard is the automotive editor at The San Diego Union-Tribune. With that said, the chassis is good enough to handle the extra grunt of JLR's 550 horsepower, V8. Every XF Sportbrake essentially looks like a version of the one you see here, including the S-spec front fascia, LED headlights, side sill extensions and dual exhaust outlets at the rear. On a weekend trip I loaded two people (myself included), a dog, and a whole bunch of stuff: five away bags, a. I've always found Jaguar's infotainment interface to be intuitive, and so it was here. I love the strong rake of the rear glass and the elegant shape of the taillights. The result is a wagon that drives with the responsiveness and agility of a sports sedan. The Sportbrake shape adds a wealth of cargo-carrying capability to the midsize XF; fold the rear seats and there's as much as 69.7 cubic feet of space. But while it's easy to get lost in lust with that sleek longroof shape, don't forget, a wagon is only as good as the sedan on which it's based. - The Private Party Range is Kelley Blue Books estimate of what you can reasonably expect to pay this week for a vehicle with typical mileage in the selected condition and configured with your selected options, excluding taxes, title and fees when purchasing from a private party. This car has minor wear or visible defects on the body and interior but is in excellent mechanical condition, requiring only minimal reconditioning. Loads of room for hauling stuff, as well. The Sportbrake only comes in XF S guise for now, with a 380-horsepower supercharged V6 under the hood. Its clean engine compartment is free of fluid leaks.

Then I'd add the Comfort & Convenience Package ($1,805) mostly for the heated and cooled seats, the aforementioned $3,495 Driver Assistance Package, the $3,265 Technology Package for its Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, Meridian surround system and digital instrument cluster. News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. Shopping for a new car, or truck this month? But as a premium wagon, I feel the Mercedes-Benz E400 and Volvo V90 are more well-rounded alternatives. ft. (70 cu. Just put a little button on the door handle to lock and unlock. The long, low wagon shape really works on the XF. Based on the XF sedan, the Sportbrake is the same length but appears longer. Get Essential San Diego, weekday mornings. But the in the '90s and 2000s, its position in the automotive kingdom was usurped by the minivan. The starting price of the Sportbrake is $3,585 more than the powertrain-comparable XF sedan. While it checks all the boxes of a luxury car, no part of this Jaguar's interior feels decidedly premium.