Is Jaguar’s US$71,000 XF Sportbrake better than an SUV?

For decades, the tried and true station wagon was the preferred method of family transport in the US. But the in the 1990s and 2000s, its position in the automotive kingdom was usurped by the minivan. And over the past decade, the minivan’s reign was ended by the crossover SUV.

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 motorways and byways? Probably not. But there is a bunch 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 per cent, 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 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 US$70,450. With a US$995 destination fee tacked on, our car came with an as-test price of US$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 us find out.

Meet the Jaguar XF Sportbrake.