Jaguar has returned to the premium estate sector with the hotly anticipated new XF Sportbrake.

The BMW 5-series and Mercedes E Class rival is available to order now, priced from £34,910.

It offers SUV-like practicality with a 565-litre boot and optional all-wheel drive. Folding the rear seats opens up the load space to an impressive 1,700 litres.

There are two diesel engines available: a 2.0-litre diesel with either 163PS, 180PS or 240PS and a 3.0-litre V6 with 300PS and a massive 700Nm of torque.

For the first time the XF Sportbrake is also available with a petrol engine. It’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 250PS and 365Nm of torque, delivering fuel economy of up to 41.5mpg.

The new Sportbrake is 6mm shorter than the previous model, but its wheelbase has been lengthened by 51mm to optimise rear legroom and load space.

Heavy use of aluminium has kept the weight down to 1,660Kg, which helps improve efficiency and performance.

An array of advanced driver assistance systems are available including a pair of forward-facing cameras that generate an accurate image of the road ahead. They offer Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist.

Further driver support comes from a Traffic Sign Recognition system that keeps the driver informed of speed limits – including temporary limits in force for road works or on motorways.

Jaguar has also developed an Intelligent Speed Limiter that works with the Traffic Sign Recognition, to help regulate vehicle speed by automatically accelerating or slowing down when a change in speed limit is detected using engine braking. This feature can be linked to the Sportbrake’s adaptive cruise control.