ONCE upon a time the very idea of a Jaguar estate car would have been an abomination.

Jaguar saloons have always been thought of as sleek and sophisticated cars for gentleman. 

They offer style, speed and opulence - wrapped up in a distinctively old-fashioned package. 

An estate would have been an anathema at the very least.

And as far as saloons were concerned the car-maker stuck obsessively to a retro styling blueprint and rarely deviated too radically from this tried and tested formula. 

In the 1990s the firm was still building cars that looked like they could have been designed in the 1950s and, given that design philosophy, estate versions might have looked somewhat odd.

Jaguar just about got away with its first estate foray - the X-Type - but the X-Type as a range never really took off and was ultimately discontinued.

The XF was the first saloon car to turn Jaguar's tried and tested retro formula on its head - and did so to great effect. 

It's therefore natural an estate version of it should have followed at some point - even if it did take quite some time to come to fruition.

Arguably it was worth the wait. Jaguar design chief Ian Callum's canny knack of making everyday cars, be they saloons or estates, look far sexier and sporty than they really should be is shown to its full effect with the Sportbrake.

It really does stand head and shoulders above the premium opposition as far as appealing and alluring looks are concerned.

The downside is that it isn't one of those cavernous load-luggers with the sort of carrying qualities many expect in an estate car, but hey - who cares when it looks this good.

That said, it's hardly a small car either and certainly offers plenty more practicality and versatility than the saloon version, which is what it's all about at the end of the day.

The biggest problem is the shallowness of the boot floor, which does limit space, though to be fair I managed to cram a fair bit of stuff in there when the occasion demanded and didn't feel it was overtly lacking.

The Sportbrake's interior, like the saloon, is a winner and characterised by a host of imaginative design touches.

You never tire of the circular automatic gear selector that pops up into place when you push the start button and the air vents have more than a touch of the James Bond about them.

In some ways they're simple flourishes but they add something special and help set this car apart from its competitors.

As far as engines go there are two diesels to choose from - a 2.2-litre four-cylinder unit which comes in 161bhp or 197bhp variants - or a 3.0-litre V6 in 237bhp or 271bhp form. If you have deep pockets (£82,495 to be precise) and out-and-out performance is a must then the only petrol model - the XFR-S - represents the ultimate Sportbrake experience.

As the lower-powered 2.2 litre model this car might have been far more modest in performance terms but it still felt impressively sprightly and potent.

Given this engine isn't quite as frugal or clean as the equivalents in some of its competitors, going for the entry level engine option probably makes a lot of sense in terms of running costs.

All are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that's smooth and efficient in either standard or sport mode.

The Sportbrake rides nicely in both modes but if you want that familiar Jaguar gentleman's club on wheels feel you'll get the best approximation in standard mode, where comfort and ride quality are maximised.

Excellent handling in either mode is without a doubt one of its key strengths and the Sportbrake really is a fun and engaging car to drive around in, whatever the road setting.