CARS

This must- have tourer is one of the cool kids — as much 21st century as any Apple product

It took Audi products 15 years to become something more than re- badged Volkswagens, but Jaguar – long premium but recently cool – has reinvented faster.

Feeling a little less European of late?

Well, find comfort in the nearest showroom that sells German cars. There awaits a set of Russian dolls. Be it Audi, BMW or MercedesBenz there are small ones, medium- sized ones and large ones. Plus chubby SUV ones, and sporty ones. All in short, tall, grande and venti. Plus, a series of variants that have clearly been invented for a need that doesn’t yet exist. Coupé SUV, anyone? Me neither.

Something for almost everyone, then, or, if you value individuality, everyone but you. But, as the BBC has it when selling you stuff while pretending it isn’t, other cars are available. And they don’t all look the same.

Take Jaguar, for example. Its biggest car, the XJ, shifts royalty and Her Majesty’s Government. It’s long, distinctive to the point of splitting opinion and supremely comfy. The F- Type, meantime, is a pert and muscular sports car that echoes the glorious E- Type of the 1960s, favoured by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen. And a brace of E- Pace and F- Pace SUVs were best- sellers even before the all- electric, market- leading I- Pace joined the party.

So, 21st- century reality says Jaguar is now one of the cool kids, with a range of cars that you’d desire rather than simply need. Witness the Jaguar XF Sportbrake ( estate to you and me) we’ve tried here: it’s closer to an Apple product than its heritage might suggest.

For starters, just look at it. It’s a genuinely goodlooking car. As crisp as a just- folded sheet of A4, carrying the cut of madeto- measure and as hot as the Louis Vuitton Supreme collection. If you must.

And if the long, low outside profile — complete with visuals enhanced by an R- Sport body kit and glossy black detailing — says it’s been working out, the inside is architect’s pad cool: mood lighting, touch screen, leather and air, starter button, a cylindrical gear- change column that rises from the centre console into the palm of your hand.

But it’s the drive and how it comes alive that makes this Jag the must- have tourer with a view. Advanced aluminium construction means a strong but lightweight structure that, when coupled with a gutsy, two- litre diesel engine producing a chunky 240bhp, gets you from standstill to 60mph in a lively 6.4 seconds and on to 150mph.

And it just pours itself down the road, like cream from a jug.

You might think an estate car suggests it’s all about kids and carrying capacity, but the truth is the XF Sportbrake’s extended load bay is as useful for gym gear, an IKEA run or a long weekend. And when it’s wrapped in a silhouette this slinky, why wouldn’t you? It’s beautiful, it’s clever, and we want one.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake R- Sport AWD // 2.0- litre diesel // automatic // 240bhp // 369lb/ ft torque // 0- 60mph in 6.4 seconds // top speed 150mph // extra- urban 58.9mpg // 153g/ km CO2 // £ 42,435 // jaguar. co. uk