Jaguar XF Sportbrake review

8

Full-size British estate goes under the scalpel for the last time. Is it an unsung hero or a relic?

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British automotive journalists are supposedly some of the world’s hardest to please, which could be one reason why the Jaguar XF Sportbrake has got to where it is today.

In the most basic sense, it’s a sharply styled four-door estate car with a large boot at the back, a combustion engine up front and a well-appointed interior in the middle. 

Look at it more closely, though, and you’ll see that it’s also around £20,000 less than the equivalent BMW 5 Series Touring and £17,000 less than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate. In fact, its price point takes it to the class below. 

This and the generous standard spec sheet could be the result of the very particular needs of incredulous, wary British car journalists pushing Jaguar to make the XF Sportbrake as good as it can be.

Whether this is true remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: you get a lot of car for the money. And if space isn’t your priority, you can also have an XF saloon, which we've reviewed separately.

Now that it's coming to the end of its production life, however, does the XF Sportbrake still do enough to make you want to choose it over increasingly efficient, larger and more fleet-friendly tools from rival manufacturers?

Jaguar XF Sportbrake range at a glance

Happily, the list of specs and engines available with this car is short and simple.

The entry-level R-Dynamic SE Black car can be had with either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with 200bhp and 310lb ft or a 2.0-litre turbo petrol in two states of tune: 248bhp or 296bhp. 

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Mid-rung HSE specification cars are also available with each of these engines, but the top specification, Sport, comes only with the 296bhp 2.0-litre petrol.

Related Jaguar XF Sportbrake reviews

None of the petrol engines come with any sort of hybrid or electrified technology, but the diesel is fitted with a mild-hybrid system.

All units are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard; no manual is available.

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DESIGN & STYLING

Jaguar XF Sportbrake side

The XF Sportbrake is only one millimetre longer than the XF, and it has an overall height that would be almost identical if it wasn't for the standard-fit roof bars.

The estate also shares the saloon’s predominantly aluminium construction and suspension set-up. You get double wishbones at the front axle and an ‘integral link’ multi-link set-up at the rear. 

On diesel versions, the XF's twin exhaust outlets look a bit strange. They are hidden away in a crevice but not so hidden that you can't see them, and as such interrupt the rear's flowing, sweeping proportions.
Jonathan Bryce
Social Media Executive

What differentiates the estate over its more sloping relation are the self-levelling air suspension units at the rear, as well as spring, damper and anti-roll bar rates and suspension bushings all retuned to be more comfortable on longer journeys.

The sleek, 'fuselage'-style profile of the saloon carries over to the XF, which undoubtedly makes it a striking thing to behold.

With the facelift, Jaguar introduced slimmer front and rear lights, a redesigned front bumper and new alloy designs. Overall, these are worthwhile additions and do nothing to detract from the XF's handsome proportions.

INTERIOR

Jaguar XF Sportbrake interior

Because this is the estate, boot space will likely be your priority, so let's start there. It has a very useful 563 litres with the rear seats in their normal position, although you lose the car’s underfloor storage if you go for a mild-hybrid diesel (because its 48V battery is stored there), whereas you will keep it if you have a P250 or P300 petrol.

By comparison, the current BMW 5 Series Touring has 570 litres, while the Mercedes E-Class Estate and Audi A6 Avant make do with 615 litres and 565 litres respectively. Compare it to a similarly priced rival like the BMW 3 Series Touring, however, and the Jaguar wins by 63 litres.

As part of the facelift, Jaguar put more padding and extra support into the seats. They’re plenty comfortable but still short on lateral support when really pressing on.
Matt Saunders
Road test editor

The space itself is reasonably useful, with a smattering of nets to keep smaller items from rolling around, various shopping hooks and back seats that fold in a 40/20/40 split. It's missing certain features such as a divider, and the diesels don't get any underfloor storage, which is a shame.

Moving to the second row and you will find enough head room for adults around 6ft, even when the car is fitted with a space-robbing panoramic glass roof. Leg room is just about enough, but you will find more space to stretch out in the back of the 5 Series Touring or E-Class Estate. Notably, there are few creature comforts back here, save for a couple of air conditioning vents.

Up front, it's a different story, because Jaguar made a significant step up in material quality over the preceding XF Sportbrake. Here, this car feels as luxurious and well-appointed as its exterior looks would have you believe. It comfortably matches its German competition for perceived material quality (and in some cases beats them) and has enough technology without feeling deprived of traditional, useful features.

As standard, you get an 11.4in infotainment touchscreen that is slick and pretty easy to use, with clear and attractive software that is both reliable and robust. In some places it's not very logically laid out and will take a bit of getting used to, but it is at least fitted with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

At the foot of the screen sits a row of dials and haptic feedback buttons for the air conditioning. Generally, they're quite easy to use and much more intuitive than they would be if they were integrated into the screen. But the gloss black finish to some of the controls quickly stains with fingerprints, and those with haptic feedback feel cheap. What's more, you’re required to pull the rotary dial to adjust the fan speed and temperature, and because it doesn't have an especially grippy surface, your fingers can slip off it as you use it.

The driving position is quite good, with as much adjustment as you would need to the steering column and seats. However, the pedals are so offset to the right that your foot can sometimes slip from the accelerator.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

Jaguar XF Sportbrake 2019 road test review - engine

The 200bhp 2.0-litre mild-hybrid diesel will likely be the most popular choice for long-distance drivers, claiming to return 50.7mpg alongside an acceptable 0-62mph time of 7.3sec.

In reality, however, the car feels slightly more languid than the numbers would suggest, because the eight-speed automatic gearbox can seem to hunt around for the next ratio at higher speeds, or not swap cogs when you want it to. While this can be frustrating, it does at least change gears imperceptibly at town speeds.

It's engaging to drive, displays exceptional balance and, aided by naturally weighted steering with good feel, has an agility that belies its estate footprint.
Matt Saunders
Road test editor

The engine itself provides a good amount of pulling power (310 lb ft), and the mild-hybrid technology has made a tangible difference to how strong it feels on the road.

What's more, it's an extremely quiet and refined unit, Jaguar having fitted it with an active noise cancellation system. When its start/stop system is in operation, for example, you barely notice the engine cutting out or restarting.

Notably, the diesel is good for a towing capacity of 2000kg, which is the same as the equivalent A6 Avant TDI but 100kg less than the E220d Estate.

If you want a faster response and more straight-line performance, you should look in the direction of the 2.0-litre petrol engines. Even the standard P250, with 247bhp and 269lb ft, manages 0-62mph sprint in 6.5sec and a top speed of 155mph. In its most powerful guise, P300, its 296bhp output helps to cut the 0-62mph time by 0.4sec, but top speed remains the same.

If you do go for one of the petrols, however, be aware that fuel economy takes a notable dip. Both are rated at 32.9mpg and 35.2mpg respectively, making their efficiency uncompetitive with the likes of the 520i Touring and E200 Estate.

RIDE & HANDLING

Jaguar XF Sportbrake rear three quarter

For many years, we've positioned the XF saloon among the top players in its class for outright handling prowess, and the XF Sportbrake is no different.

Its tactile, well-weighted steering is a pleasure to use and makes this 1870kg estate feel so much smaller and lighter than it actually is. It's poised and composed whether you’re going around tight bends or fast, flowing ones and its steering is direct, precise and sharp without being overly sensitive.

The brake calibration is pure McLaren: lots of preliminary pedal travel then a superbly progressive window for modulation. In the world of family estates, only Alpina puts this much thought into the driving experience.
Richard Lane
Deputy road test editor

At higher speeds, it feels planted and composed with no perceptible sponginess or elasticity, so you can place the car with confidence whether you're on a B-road or a motorway. 

Traction is strong but not entirely unbreakable. Applying too much throttle through sharper bends will see its nose push into understeer; backing into a corner on the brakes encourages the back end to subtly rotate in a controlled, progressive manner. Its most notable shortcoming in this environment were seats short on lateral support.

You can configure the way it drives via four driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Rain and Snow. Each subtly alters the sharpness of the throttle response, suspension stiffness and steering weight.

No matter which mode you're in, however, its ride is rarely compromised. On rutted, potholed surfaces around town it strikes a good balance between firm and supple without being overly fidgety, while on the motorway it settles into a relaxed gait that makes it very suitable for long-distance travel.

When you're up to higher speeds, though, wind, road and tyre noise intrude into the cabin more acutely than you would think necessary, and the small rear window and large C-pillar can make it quite difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

It's worth mentioning that the XF Sportbrake does have modern driver aids and electronic convenience features such as lane-keeping assistance, but you can switch them off via a button on the steering wheel and, by and large, they don’t come between you and the enjoyment of the driving experience. The radar-guided cruise control system does have an overenthusiasm to slow down even when you’re quite a way behind another car, but that's hardly a deal-breaker.

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MPG & RUNNING COSTS

Jaguar XF Sportbrake front three quarter

Prices start at a little over £40,000 for the XF Sportbrake if you pick one in R-Dynamic SE Black trim. This grants you electric and heated front seats, a 380W Meridian sound system, dual-zone air conditioning, self-levelling air suspension at the rear, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and the 11.4in Pivi Pro infotainment system. Combine all of that lot and you realise just how much of a relative bargain the XF estate is. Specify a 5 Series Touring to the same level and you're looking at spending twice as much.

As for fuel economy, Jaguar rates the 2.0-litre diesel engine at 50.7mpg on the combined cycle, but over 1400 miles, we were able to achieve 51.4mpg with one fill-up.

The XF’s 2.0-litre diesel engine lends it respectable pace and excellent fuel economy. Over 1400 miles, we had to fill up only once.
Jonathan Bryce
Social Media Executive

The P250 and P300 petrols are, of course, less efficient, rated at 35.2mpg and 32.9mpg each. We saw a 24.1mpg average for the most powerful P300, and at a sustained 70mph cruise, it returned 36.8mpg.

Moreover, the petrol's respective CO2 outputs of 186g/km and 193g/km are comfortably higher than those of the 520i Touring and 530e Touring PHEV and plant them in the 37% tax bracket.

VERDICT

Jaguar XF Sportbrake front three quarter lead

When all is said and done, the XF Sportbrake appears to be the best of what a bygone era offered. These days with the arrival of plug-in hybrids, electric SUVs, large infotainment screens and ever-increasing prices, this car seems to be two things: a bargain and a bit of a relic.

But crucially, it doesn't feel out of date. Yes, the 5 Series Touring offers more impressive interior technology and the E-Class Estate more luxury appeal, but the Jaguar exists to prove that you can still nearly have what those two offer for a fraction of the price. Day-to-day, the XF's reliance on traditional buttons and switches will likely irritate you less than in the BMW, and in few respects does its ride or luxuriousness feel lacking.

A chassis built on enthusiast values with a luxuriously-appointed, well-specified and pretty spacious interior - the XF Sportbrake is everything it needs to be.
Jonathan Bryce
Social Media Executive

Of course, boot space is slightly compromised if you go for the diesel estate, there aren't enough creature comforts for rear passengers and the petrol engines aren't anything like as economical as more modern ones. But considering the £40,000 price tag, striking styling, and exceptional perceived material quality to match its eminently intuitive drivability, we can forgive it for these shortcomings.

Jonathan Bryce

Jonathan Bryce
Title: Social Media Executive

Jonathan is Autocar's social media executive. He has held this position since December 2024, having previously studied at the University of Glasgow before moving to London to become an editorial apprentice and pursue a career in motoring journalism. 

His role at work involves running all of Autocar's social media channels, including X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn and WhatsApp. 

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