The second generation of the Jaguar XF in the station wagon version took quite a long time to come to market. But in the end, the customer made it, and we had the honor of subjecting it to an editorial test last week.
As we know, the offer of cars with a station wagon body in the upper middle class segment is very varied and the cars are in demand. It goes without saying that Jaguar also wants its share of the given customer segment for itself. With his Sportbrake in the current second generation, he performed the given task very well.
The Jaguar XF Sportbrake has done incredibly well in terms of design. For example, just its side profile in the station wagon variant, that's something you can look at over and over again.
Jaguar brand portfolio cars bear a similar signature. To some of us, however, it may seem dull and unsightly, to me personally it comes across as a unifying element and a certain way of distinguishing the brand's cars from the competition.
The tested version was equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline two-liter, automatic transmission and Portfolio equipment.
EXTERIOR
The XF Sportbrake is a very elegant car, with clean shapes and curves, chief designer Ian Cullum has done an excellent job here.
Its exterior concept is quite logically based on the sedan. The external proportions, which are mainly due to its length of 4955mm combined with a large wheelbase of 2960mm, are impressive.
The side profile of the car caught my attention the most, surely it is due to its originality within the portfolio of Jaguar brand cars. For example, let's focus on the short overhang of the body in front of the front wheel and the placement of the cabin itself. The XF and its body optically appear as if they have all been moved backwards. The dynamic shape of the side profile of the car thus directs and accentuates your eye precisely on the rear part.
The roof of the car drops gently towards the rear and ends with a lollipop with a brake light within the rear trunk door. Overall, its shape together with the A-pillars describes a very elegant curve.
The large wheelbase and the large overhang in the rear section make the large space in the interior of the car stand out.
The front part looks quite powerful, it is lightened by the grille of the radiator mask and the touch in the bumper, which are complemented by decent chrome. The front headlights are in the shape of a mask and the front hood is effectively cloudy.
The rear of the car only underlines the overall great impression. In the style of the overall concept of the car, it seems moderate. The rear end lights have a typical Jaguar light signature in the form of a rounded light line in their lower part. The lights are further connected by a chrome line to the width of the fifth door.
A pair of chrome exhausts integrated into the rear bumper, or a distinctive brand logo within the fifth door, are a matter of course.
The tested version was fitted with nineteen-inch discs in a simple design and in a black-chrome combination.
INTERIOR
The interior of the Jaguar looks simple, yet elegant, in the spirit of clean and clear lines with a strong horizontal division. The dashboard has a classic, clear and intuitive layout.
The version we tested was in the Portfolio trim. The interior, seats and upper part of the dashboard were trimmed in Windsor leather. Glossy ebony wood was used within the center tunnel, side door panels and upper part of the dashboard.
The instrument cluster in front of the driver was equipped with a large digital 12.3-inch display, which we already know from the F-Pace model.
Within its display, you can choose different graphics for displaying individual alarm clocks. Usually it is a display of the speedometer and tachometer in different positions, the third position then shows data on range or kilometers driven, and within this position you can navigate in the menu itself.
The dashboard and its central part have a 10.2-inch wide-angle display, which is controlled by the very successful and elaborate additional InControl Touch Pro system. Its operation is simple, intuitive with a wide range of functions. It also has a Dual View mode, where the driver and passenger can watch different content at the same time.
The system can be connected to the Internet using your own SIM card or a Wi-Fi hotspot from your phone.
Below the display are also individual controls for ventilation, air conditioning, seat or window heating, as well as dual air conditioning controls with small digital displays showing the set current temperature.
The automatic transmission controller is located within the central tunnel. The controller is classic, modeled after the car manufacturer Jaguar, it is a rotating, circular controller that effectively comes out of the plane of the center panel after starting the car. The electrically rotating vents of the air conditioning also work in a similar way.
The space under the armrest has a pair of USB outlets and a place to insert a SIM card.
The XF Sportbrake had a multifunctional, leather-covered steering wheel, through which you navigate the menu of the display in the instrument panel, control the phone or the adaptive cruise control.
As with the tested F-Pace, I was disappointed by the operation of the individual buttons on the steering wheel, they put up quite a lot of resistance and their operation is long and stiff. The buttons do not have a premium feel, but again, this is one of the few things I can fault Jaguar for.
The interior of the car itself is very spacious thanks to its large wheelbase and car dimensions. You sit relatively low in the car, surrounded by a massive instrument panel and an equally massive central panel.
The spectacular element of the tested version was the large, solid, glazed panoramic roof.
The quite practical luggage compartment has a volume of 565 litres, the trunk is equipped with a rail system, a lamp, hooks, a net and, of course, a blind that closes fully when the trunk is closed. After folding the rear seats and removing the blind and net, a flat loading surface is created. The opening of the fifth door of the trunk is electric, with a controller or a sensor on the lower side of the rear bumper .
ENGINE AND RIDE
The car we tested under the designation 25t was equipped with a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a turbocharger with an output of 184kW / 250 horsepower in conjunction with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear axle drive.
The engine is very refined, with great power and an even pull, without any delay or turbo effect. In connection with the excellent automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, you definitely enjoy driving.
The eight-speed automatic transmission works excellently, of course with the option to control it with paddles under the steering wheel, or to switch to sport mode.
Jaguar also offers you different driving modes, these are normal, eco, sport and a mode for slippery surfaces.
In sport mode, you can choose from easy individualization of the response sides from the steering, transmission or chassis.
Jaguar claims a maximum speed of 241 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds.
During the editorial test, when we spared no expense on the XF, the consumption was just under ten liters.
Despite its external dimensions, the XF Sportbrake handles very well. The steering is precise and short, all this in conjunction with the powerful engine, smoothly shifting gearbox and rear axle drive.
CONCLUSION
With its XF Sportbrake, Jaguar offers us a very interesting alternative to a family station wagon from the segment of premium cars.
The price of the XF Sportbrake in the basic Pure equipment with diesel turbocharged two-liter four-cylinder engine, rear axle drive and manual transmission starts at 1,217,500 CZK . The version of the turbocharged two-liter gasoline engine tested by us with automatic transmission, rear axle drive and in Portfolio equipment then costs CZK 1,584,495 .
Jaguar offers you an original car for the given amount, which not only looks good, but also drives great. So the choice is yours, we are clear.
