Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
Our Jaguar XF Sportbrake test car.
- The Jaguar XF Sportbrake wagon arrives in the US for the 2018 model year.
- The Sportbrake is powered by a 380 horsepower, 3.0-liter supercharged V6.
- According to Jaguar, the XF wagon can hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds.
- We loved the Jaguar's style, performance, and utility but found its interior to be a bit plain.
- The 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD starts at $70,450 while our test car carried an as-tested price of $71,445.
For decades, the tried and true station wagon was the preferred method of family
Even as America's love affair with the wagon faded, it remained a mainstay for families in Europe. As a result, the Continent's automakers have continued to produce world-class wagons.
And now it looks like wagons are making a comeback of sorts in the US. Will it once again dominate America's highways and byways? Probably not. But there is a slew of hot new wagons on the market that will tempt you into rejoining the club.
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. (Those who do enjoy a spot of off-roading are probably better off in a truck or truck-based SUV and not a crossover.)
One of the hottest new contenders is the Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD wagon. Based on the mid-size second generation XF sedan, the Sportbrake is all-new for 2018.
Recently, Business Insider spent a week behind the wheel of a stunning Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD clad in a fiery Firenze red paint job.
In the US, the XF Sportbrake is only available in the option-laden S and First Edition trim levels. As a result, our 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake S AWD starts at $70,450. With a $995 destination fee tacked on, our car came with an as-test price of $71,445.
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? Let's find out.