Jaguar XF Estate – still coming?

Jaguar XF Estate -4WD or not, we think it would sell well.

Jaguar are planning new variants of the XF. But Jaguar are reluctant to make an XF Estate without a 4WD Platform.

We make no secret of the fact that we think the Jaguar XF is an exceptional car. It combines all the qualities buyers desire in a luxury mid-size saloon in a more appealing way than any of the German competition. It’s elegant, comfortable, quick and a very nice place to be. Whether you’re in the new 3.0 litre diesel – where the performance belies the car’s economy -or in the 5.0 litre XFR which carries its speed in a way that will simply astonish, there is nothing better for the money.

But ever since the XF launched there has been talk of other variants. We are still certain we will see a Jaguar XF Coupe before too long, but one chestnut that has surfaced with monotonous regularity is the XF Estate. It’s an appealing proposition, and surely a car that would sell in droves. The idea of an XFR Estate is an extremely appetising  one – it would show the RS6 Avant and the E63 Estate a thing or two – but halo estates won’t do much for Jaguar’s bottom line, even if they did for its reputation.

So why hasn’t Jaguar got on with an estate version of the XF? It’s a good question, and one that Jaguar won’t answer directly. We reported back in March that we thought the XF Esate would be shown at Frankfurt. When we asked Jaguar last month if they were planning to bring the XF Estate to Frankfurt they wouldn’t comment. But we did talk to a well-placed source at Jaguar who said the reason there has been no XF Estate so far is the lack of a four wheel drive platform.

It appears that Jaguar feel a 4WD platform is essential to make the XF Estate viable – especially in Europe. And it seems to be a route Jaguar are reluctant to go down. But surely, there would still be a big market for rear-wheel drive estates from Jaguar? After all, Audi, BMW and Mercedes make a pretty good job of selling RWD Estates. Yes, the RS6 Avant is 4WD, but the M5 Touring isn’t. And nor are the majority of Estates. In fact, BMW doesn’t even offer an xDrive option in the UK, even if it does in Europe and the US.

So will Jaguar make the XF Estate? We still think they will – 4WD platform or not. The XF 3.0 litre diesel Estate would be a big seller, and the XFR Estate would be a fabulous car.

Time will tell.