Jaguar's XF Sportbrake is a reminder that you don’t need a crossover to get versatility, and you can have a heck of a time driving it, too.

In the American automotive world, a “forbidden fruit” is any car sold on foreign shores that isn't sold here. Some of the best examples are the (pre-R35) Nissan Skyline GT-R, most versions of the Land Rover Defender, certain hot hatchbacks, and entire genres like Australia’s “utes” (car-based pickup trucks). One of the most elusive and maddening of these forbidden fruits is the performance/luxury wagon.

What's most maddening is that these vehicles have been sold here in the past. Scour classifieds long enough, and you’ll find the rare BMW, Audi, or Mercedes-Benz wagon, but the latest versions, like the BMW 5 Series Touring and Audi A6 Avant, are not sold here.

With that in mind, it's refreshing to see a vehicle like the 2018 Jaguar XF Sportbrake. This is a wagon version of an existing midsize performance/luxury sedan, and Jaguar could have easily made this a Europe-only vehicle.

But Jaguar elected to bring the Sportbrake here, which is a bold move. Why? Because wagons make up less than 2% of the new-car market, and that has been basically flat for the last 8 to 9 years. In that time, the crossover market has exploded. People flock to the confidence inspired by the raised ride height and soft ride of a crossover, despite the fact that many wagons offer as much (if not more) cargo space as similarly priced crossovers.

And despite all this information, Jaguar still brought a wagon to the U.S. market. Why would Jaguar make such a move? Just because it can?

The Jaguar XF Sportbrake is actually the first wagon Jaguar has offered in the United States since it parted ways with Ford. With everyone—even Jaguar—moving toward crossovers and SUVs, it’s possible that Jaguar is so confident in its standing with those burgeoning markets that it can offer a niche vehicle like the Sportbrake to set itself apart with a dash of boutique-automaker behavior while strengthening its core of crossovers.

Whatever the motivation, drivers that know and appreciate the value of performance wagons know they offer the best combination of practicality and driving dynamics.