Skip advert
Advertisement

Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake 2014 review

New Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake takes on Mercedes E63 AMG Estate for charged-up estate crown

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Jaguar XFR
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

It’s taken some time for the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake to appear. It's set to rival the Mercedes E63 AMG Estate and Audi RS6 Avant, and it does - and more. This isn’t just an attempt to get on to a level playing field. While the XFR-S Sportbrake can feel a little too lively for its own good at time, that doesn’t take away the fact that this is an involving and excellent fast estate that should the fight to its rivals.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Fast estates are an attractive proposition. Not only do they retain the practical prowess to cope with all the demands of family life, they also help feed the urge of adding some excitement and involvement to matters. And the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake is the latest to join the growing list of options.

It’s taken two years for Jaguar to give its most practical model the hot treatment, and rather than show a natural progression through an XFR version upwards (which it did with the Saloon model) the manufacturer has gone straight to the most extreme point.

The car, driven here in prototype form, gets the same engine as the XFR-S Saloon in the form of the 542bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8. That’s enough to propel the Sportbrake version from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds. And it’s hardly subtle in delivering that power.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Ioniq electric

2021 Hyundai

Ioniq electric

31,484 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £9,300
View Ioniq electric
Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

47,278 milesManualPetrol1.3L

Cash £13,525
View Qashqai
Kodiaq

2021 Skoda

Kodiaq

38,572 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £21,500
View Kodiaq
Tucson

2020 Hyundai

Tucson

53,200 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £12,200
View Tucson

Best estate cars

The slightest touch of the accelerator pedal and the engine roars in to life. In fact give it too much too quickly and the rear-wheel drive Sportbrake feels a real handful, and you’ll need to be at your most alert to keep things in check. Be a little more careful, though, or opt for winter mode on the car’s drive mode function, and the power delivery is more linear and controllable.

To help cope with the power in an estate body, ride stiffness is up by 30 per cent over the standard model. And thanks to this, along with the larger brakes, wider tyres and electronic diff, the car feels enjoyable out on the road, though our brief drive didn’t allow us to test it to its full limitations.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The stiffer settings doesn’t seemed to have ruined things on the comfort front, however, and while the majority of our short test was on mostly smooth roads, it didn’t become unbearable on the small bits of broken surfaces we did encounter. Yes, it is firm, but didn’t feel like it would leave you wanting to avoid all but the smoothest of roads.

The eight-speed gearbox is the same used in the Jagaur F-Type. The changes are smooth and incredibly quick, while in Sport or manual mode the system automatically blips the throttle. It also has Corner Recognition, though we didn’t get to try it first hand, which recognises when you’re in a bend and will hold on to gears for longer rather than changing up and losing any speed.

Aesthetically, the Sportbrake mirrors the XFR-S saloon with a deeper front bumper that house larger side and central air intakes. There’s also an extended rear bumper and six-spoke 20-inch alloys, to help give it a more menacing look over the standard car.

Underneath all this bravado is still a practical family car with 550 litres of boot space. And while it may have taken Jaguar some time to give its Sportbrake the performance makeover, it feels as though it was well worth the wait.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,795 off RRP*Used from £11,895
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,050
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £4,614 off RRP*Used from £9,485
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,158 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3…
News
18 Jul 2025
Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake - front action

Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop

The second of Merc’s new-era EVs is here in the form of an attractive estate with a huge range
News
14 Jul 2025