Jaguar XE Review

The Jaguar XE is a strong alternative to German rivals, thanks to its characterful and entertaining drive, but it isn't perfect

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Higher spec versions turn heads
  • Feels like a premium proposition
  • Drive is sporty yet comfortable
  • Relatively small boot
  • Sleek styling makes rear feel cramped
  • Engine range is limited compared to rivals

Jaguar XE prices from £11,440   Finance from £249.77 per month

When Jaguar and Land Rover were sold to Tata Motors by Ford, new investment was pumped in to extensively overhaul their line-ups. Jaguar chose to spend a good chunk of time perfecting its mid-sized premium saloon, in order to truly compete with the likes of Audi's A4, the Mercedes C-Class and BMW's revered 3-Series.

This patience has paid off, as the XE is not only a true contender to those aforementioned Germanic giants, it is arguably more characterful, more entertaining to drive and delivers more bang for your buck in terms of standard equipment and features.

Prices start from £33,915, and rise to £41,005 for range-topping P300 R-Dynamic spec cars.

Underpinning all of this is Jaguar's aluminium chassis, which has been designed from the ground up to reduce overall weight and offer the driver a more engaging experience behind the wheel.

This ensures that the Jaguar feels light and agile on demanding roads, while the more potent petrol engines make for an entertaining journey. It rarely feels harsh and uncomfortable when it settles into its role as a comfortable cruiser, even when some of the more enormous alloy wheel options are fitted.

Jaguar has also seen fit to overhaul its engine offering and the XE is now powered by its four-cylinder petrol and diesel Ingenium range. These efficient and quiet engines all boast a capacity of 2.0-litres but develop between 163hp and 300hp, depending on the variant. Unfortunately, the fantastic 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that is found in the scintillating XE S models has been dropped.

All of the engines are quiet and smooth, while the eight-speed automatic transmission is excellent. There is also the choice of rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive technology, which should offer peace of mind to those not keen on the power being sent to the rear wheels during adverse weather conditions.

And despite being one of the entry-level models in the Jaguar range, the XE is a showcase of the British marque's latest technologies, with a new 12.3-inch touchscreen straight out of the Jaguar I-Pace on offer if your pockets are deep enough. This system allows users to connect a smartphone and make use of Jaguar's InControl Apps to locate a nearby parking spot, book a hotel and keep up with the latest weather announcements.

Space in the rear seats feel cramped thanks to a swooping roofline and boot volume falling shy of its closest rivals.

Plus, if you look hard enough and some of the interior plastics also start to feel a little cheap.

 

Key facts

Warranty 3-years / Unlimited miles
Boot size 455 litres
Width 2,075mm
Length 4,672mm
Height 1,416mm
Tax Tax: From £165 to £830 in the first year and £140 thereafter

Best Jaguar XE for...

Best for Economy – Jaguar XE SE 2.0 diesel 180PS RWD Manual

Unsurprisingly, the diesel option is the most economical, returning 50.7mpg on the combined cycle.

Best for Performance – Jaguar XE 300 Sport 2.0 petrol 300PS AWD Auto

With 300hp and a 0-60mph sprint time of just 5.4 seconds, this is currently the most potent models of the 'standard' XE range.

Best for Families – Jaguar XE 2.0 diesel 180PS AWD Auto

The diesel engine blends power and performance, while all-wheel-drive offers assurance in tricky driving conditions.

History

2015 The Jaguar XE is launched. It instantly proves a hit with the motoring press, winning the Auto Express Compact Executive Car of the Year for three years running in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

February 2017 New four-cylinder Ingenium engines introduced in 200 and 250PS petrol forms and 240PS diesel.

June 2017 New 2.0-litre 300PS petrol engine added.

April 2018 High-performance 3.0 V6 S petrol version dropped.

February 2019 Major update for the XE. Outside, it gets new front and rear bumpers and LED headlights and tail-lights. Interior gets entertainment system from the I-Pace. Diesel engine becomes cleaner.

Understanding Jaguar XE names

Engine 2.0-litre petrol

There are two petrols and one diesel engine on offer, all of which are from the same 2.0-litre Ingenium family.

Trim SE

There are two core trim levels offered: SE and R-Sport, each with increasing levels of luxury and exterior niceties.

Gearbox Automatic

The automatic transmission how eight gears.

Jaguar XE Engines

D180, P250, P300

The D180 (178bhp) unit feels well suited to this type of car. The low-down power of the diesel engine ensures that it doesn't feel like it has to work so hard to usher the vehicle along the road.

Praise should be heaped on the eight-speed automatic transmission at this point because it is very good. It rarely gets muddled and seems to shift smoothly under normal driving conditions.

Flick it into 'manual' mode and pull on the race-inspired paddles situated behind the steering wheel and it offers fast gear swaps that suit a blast along a favoured back road.

Unfortunately, Jaguar has seen fit to phase out its fantastic petrol V6 offering, which pinched an engine from the F-Type and offered a proper alternative to the six-cylinder Autobahn-stormers from Germany.

There are only two petrols on offer from new. They both use the same 2.0-litre engine, but have different power outputs.

The lowest powered petrol engine, badged P250, still has ample power. It’s plenty smooth too, and it’ll return 36.2 mpg.

P300 cars feel rapid, if not especially exciting. With its four-wheel-drive system in place, it’ll dispatch the 0-60mph sprint in 5.4 seconds.

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

2.0 180PS

Diesel

50.7mpg

180hp

0-62mph: 7.6s

140mph

2.0 250PS

Petrol

36.2mpg

250hp

0-62mph: 6.2s

155mph

2.0 300PS

Petrol

33.6mpg

300hp

0-62mph: 5.4s

155mph

Jaguar XE Trims

XE, R-Dynamic

The Jaguar XE has become more generously specified as the years have past, with plenty of additional kit added as standard since its original 2015 launch date.

We should explain that Jaguar works in a slightly different way to other car manufacturers. It has two trims, and then there are three different specification packs on each trim level.

Entry level models are simply called XE. They feature 18-inch wheels, electric leather seats, all-LED headlights and tail-lights with updated signature graphics, front and rear park aid, rear camera and lane keep assist.

In addition to this, R-Dynamic models get sports suspension, bodykit, leather sports seats, and different 18-inch alloy wheels.

The specification packs come in three different flavours; S, SE, and HSE.

S spec gets heated electric door mirrors, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, as well as a suite of driver assistance software. Such as a rear camera, lane keep assist, and front and rear parking aids.

SE buys you the above, plus keyless entry, different wheels, and a 360 degree parking camera.

HSE adds the duo screens (including the 12.3 inch touchscreen), 19 inch alloy wheels, and perforated Windsor leather seats.

Jaguar XE Reliability and warranty

Jaguar has drastically improved its reliability ratings over previous years, although it has recently slipped down the Auto Express Driver Power Survey.

Finishing near the top in 2015, it dropped to 12th in 2017, behind BMW. It beat Audi and Mercedes, though. Plus, the XE finished 25th out of the top 75 key new cars.

The three-year/unlimited mileage warranty will also provide additional peace of mind to those business users thinking of piling on the miles in the first few years of ownership.

Plus, there is the option of fixed price service plans, which could be worth looking into, as Jaguar repairs and servicing fees definitely aren't cheap.

However, Jaguar owners typically praise the service they receive from the dealer network.

Used Jaguar XE

The Jaguar XE has proved a popular vehicle for business users and those that benefit from a company car scheme and as a result, the used car market is buoyant with excellent, nearly new models.

There are currently 16 Jaguar XEs available on BuyaCar, with prices ranging from £11,440 to £28,142 for nearly-new models. Monthly finance payments start from £249.77 per month.

2016 models offer some of the best value for money. These start from £11,440

Since 2015 the Jaguar XE has gone through a series of changes. On the used market you’ll find quite a few trims and engines that are no longer for sale new.

The following engines have been discontinued, but are found on the used market:

The 3.0-litre V6 XE S is one of the most fun 'hot' saloons that money can buy at the moment and with such tempting used prices, it would be rude not to. Not many around though. 

The slowest diesel with 163PS isn't fast, and it starts to sound harsh and coarse when you rev it hard. Which you'll have to.

The powerful 240PS diesel only came with all-wheel-drive and features twin-turbocharging technology to deliver a mightily impressive 500Nm of torque. If you're thinking of towing caravans and loaded trailers, this will most certainly be the engine to plump for.

The 200PS petrol engine feels like it doesn't quite have the grunt to hustle this low-slung executive saloon along the road.

These trim levels are no longer available from new:

Prestige cars have full-grained leather seats, an armrest at the rear with twin cup holders, ambient lighting and heated front seats.

Portfolio was the pinnacle of the range and comes fitted with a premium sound system from Meridian, chrome radiator grille, 18-inch alloy wheels and grained Windsor leather seats inside.

The Landmark Edition gathered a collection of premium and sporty additions, bundling them into a fixed cost, while the 300 Sport goes heavy on the racing touches, such as bespoke sports seats, painted brake calipers and 300 Sport stitching throughout the interior.

       
Jaguar XE: used car prices 1 year old 2 years old 3 years old

Best for performance Jaguar XE S

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Best for families Jaguar XE Portfolio 2.0 diesel

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Best for economy Jaguar XE SE 2.0 diesel 163PS 

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