Jaguar XF Sportbrake R-Sport

Is Jaguar’s hot new XF load-lugger a match for the BMW M Sport and Audi S?

Jaguar has given the XF a new lease of life with the launch of the performance version of the executive favourite.

Of course, Mercedes, Audi and BMW have been performance-pimping their cars for years, but I’m happy to report that the XF R-Sport is well worth the wait.

I’d better lay my cards on the table. You see, for me the Jaguar XF Sportbrake was the best looking estate car in the world when it was launched in 2012. That’s still the case, but now even more so with the advent of the R-Sport.

I spent a week in the company of the Jaguar XF Sportbrake R-Sport 3.0 V6 diesel and, yes, the name’s a mouthful, but it’s still the perfect antidote to its Teutonic rivals.

Luxurious, loaded with goodies, composed, bursting with charisma – and now even more of head-turner.

Outside it features discreet R-Sport green badging, a rear spoiler, new front bumper, sporty anthracite-finished alloy wheels and tasteful additional body styling to give the Sportbrake a more aggressive stance. It’s a car that draws admiring glances and even compliments in car parks.

The powerful 3.0 V6 diesel in my car, coupled with an eight-speed auto, was refined, fast and surprisingly economical. For the record it has a 0-62 of 6.7 seconds and a 149mph top speed. Jaguar claims it’s capable of 47mpg and I managed 40mpg without too much trouble.

Inside the XF Sportbrake R-Sport has a quality feel with more R-Sport badging, comfy leather and suede seats, a decent 7-inch touchscreen multimedia unit in the centre console, a fantastic sound system and much more.

It’s spacious, comfortably sitting four adults (five without too much trouble) and of course there’s that cavernous boot.

Just like the saloon, the Sportbrake handles well and you’re only really conscious of its length when it comes to parking. Thankfully, Jaguar has equipped it with a rear view camera to give you a little extra confidence.

I drove it in town and country and the XF Sportbrake R-Sport purrs on long runs, but also copes well if hustled on country roads.

The XF is selling better than ever. I’m in no doubt that the R-Sport option will help it maintain its edge over its rivals at Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo for a few more years yet. These are golden years for Jaguar and the Sportbrake R-Sport 3.0 V6 diesel proves that there’s still plenty of life left in this top cat.

The Jaguar XF Sportbrake R-Sport 3.0 V6 diesel is priced from £39,860, though the car I drove was loaded with extras including 19-inch alloys and a Meridian sound system, adding up to £45,135.

Review: @garethherincx