Review: 2018 Jaguar Sportbrake makes station wagons cool again

2018 Is shaping up to be a really good year for station wagons. As buyers flock to SUVs, that may sound as relevant as saying it’s a good year for black and white movies, but “Casablanca” and “Raging Bull” are still great films and the ★★★ 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake luxury wagon is a darned good car.

Following the Buick Regal TourX, The Sportbrake is the second car this year that should remind drivers a wagon can deliver most of the benefits of an SUV, with better fuel economy, sporty looks and handling. There’s a lot of life left in the underappreciated body style.

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The name Sportbrake is comes from “shooting brake,” an old term the English used for a horse carriage — and later a car — that carried a hunting party and its gear. It had a long cargo space to provide room for guns, dogs and game, while the passenger compartment carried hunters in comfort.

The XF Sportbrake is based on Jag’s XF sport sedan. It most of the sedan's features and technology. The Sportbrake is about 10.6 inches longer and 400 pounds heavier than the XF sedan.

Behind the Wheel

2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD

All-wheel-drive, five-passenger large luxury sedan

Price as tested: $70,450 (excluding destination charge)

Rating: ★★★ (Out of four stars)

Reasons to buy: Styling; ride and handling; interior look and feel; cargo space.

Shortcomings: Voice recognition; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto not available; smartphone integration.

How much?

Prices for the 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD start at $70,450. It’s a well-equipped vehicle that’s close to the top of the XF family. All Sportbrakes come with performance-tuned all-wheel-drive, a 380-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission.

I tested a Sportbrake loaded with appealing standard features including two-tone black and oyster shell leather trim and upholstery, touch screen, navigation, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, voice recognition, 825-watt Meridian audio, adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, blind spot and cross-traffic alerts, automatic parking, large fixed sunroof and more.

It stickered at $70,450. A limited-run first edition model added a few features and cost $72,100. All prices exclude destination charges.

The Sportbrake competes with luxury wagons like the Audi A4 Allroad, Buick TourX, Mercedes E400 4Matic and Volvo V90 T6 AWD.

The XF’s price is at the high end of that group, but its size, power and features make it a pretty good value for the money.

Competitive base prices

(excluding destination charges)

(Automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive models where available)

Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD: $70,450

Audi Allroad: $44,500

BMW 330i xDrive sport wagon: $45,650

Buick Regal TourX Essence AWD: $35,070

Mercedes E400 4Matic wagon: $63,050

Volvo V90 T6 AWD Inscription: $67,415

Source: Autotrader

Outstanding features

The XF Sportbrake is beautiful, with a sleek shape that recalls Mid-Century Modern design in a way that feels simultaneously contemporary and classic. Even better in a world where even car lovers can find themselves asking “Was that a Cadillac ATS or CTS?” and “Is that a BMW 3- or 5-series?” when they see a car at a distance, it's immediately recognizable, If you see a Sportbrake in profile or three-quarter view, there’s no mistaking it for anything else on the road.

The interior is equally arresting. My car had black and oyster shell leather covering the seats, doors and dash. There was also attractive low-gloss metal and carbon fiber trim around the vents and controls.

The Sportbrake is practical, with plenty of passenger and cargo space. One of the longest wagons in its class, the Sportbrake has more luggage room than all but the E400.

It’s also quick, reaching 60 m.p.h. in 5.3 seconds, matching the E400 for best in class.

The eight-speed transmission delivers smooth shifts. The suspension provides a smooth comfortable ride and holds the car flat and steady in quick maneuvers. The steering is firm and direct.

The downside

The Sportbrake’s smartphone controls and voice recognition are poor. Unlike many cars costing thousands less, it does not offer CarPlay or Android Auto, systems that make it easy to use smartphones safely while driving. Jaguar developed its own app, called In Control, but it’s a poor substitute for those developed by the phone makers.

The Sportbrake’s voice recognition also functioned poorly. It didn’t understand simple commands for phone calls and destinations, even when I used the exact words the system’s instructions suggested.

The center console's storage space is small and doesn't offer a good place to put smartphones when you connect them to the USB port.

The idle stop system that shuts the engine off at traffic lights to save fuel is more noticeable and slower to restart than the best competitors.

Specifications

Subhed: Specifications as tested

Engine: 3.0L supercharged 24-valve V6

Power: 380 @ 6,500 hp rpm; 332 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 116.5 inches

Length: 195.1 inches

Width: 78.2 inches 

Height: 58.9 inches

Curb Weight: 4,045 pounds

Where assembled: Castle Bromwich, U.K.

Facts and figures

The 3.0L supercharged V6 produces 380 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Its horsepower leads the class. Torque trails only the E400, the only other car in the group with a V6.

The Sportbrake’s acceleration is quick and satisfying around town and at highway speeds.

Several of the competitors use smaller turbocharged four-cylinder engines. They're less powerful but more fuel efficient.

The Sportbrake scored 18 mpg in the city, 25 on the highway and 21 combined in EPA fuel economy tests. The key combined rating trails the Allroad, 330i xDrive, Regal TourX and V90.

The Sportbrake’s fuel economy rating matches the only other V6 in the group, the E400 4Matic. All the cars need premium fuel to get their rated power and fuel economy.

Competitive EPA fuel economy ratings

(Automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive models)

Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD: 18 mpg city/25 highway/21 combined. Premium gasoline

Audi Allroad: 22/30/25. Premium.

BMW 330i xDrive sport wagon: 23/33/27. Premium

Buick Regal TourX Essence AWD: 21/29/24. Premium

Mercedes E400 4Matic wagon: 19/25/21. Premium

Volvo V90 T6 AWD Inscription: 22/31/25. Premium

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov

The verdict

Station wagons have fallen out of fashion, but the 2018 Jaguar Sportbrake deserves attention. It's the embodiment of class and style, wrapped around a practical and comfortable interior.

The long, low wagon’s ride and handling are a challenge to the popularity of taller, heavier SUVs. It’s easy and enjoyable to toss the Sportbrake around twisting country roads or to slice through traffic.

There’s life yet in the station wagon.

Key features on vehicle tested

Standard equipment: Antilock brakes; stability control; side-mounted air bags; curtain air bags; emergency brake assist; 20-inch alloy wheels; rear air suspension; fixed panoramic sun roof; rain sensing wipers; adaptive LED headlights; auto high beams; LED signature lights; push-button start; power seats, mirrors and windows; power front seats with memory; leather upholstery and trim; Bluetooth and USB connectivity; lane-keeping assist; driver condition monitor; automatic emergency braking; blind spot and cross traffic alert; front and rear parking sensors.

Options: Indus Silver metallic paint; 10-inch touch screen; navigation; Wi-Fi hotspot; configurable display; CD/DVD player; 825-watt Meridian audio; adaptive cruise control; traffic sign recognition; 360-degree camera view; automatic parking; heated and cooled front seats; heated rear seats; soft door close; four-zone climate control; manual rear sunshade; suede headliner; illuminated tread plates; 10-color configurable ambient lighting.

Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com or 313-222-6731. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan.