Middle managers rejoice! Owning a Jaguar is now more affordable than ever.
The all-new XE steps into the cutthroat baby business sedan segment, dominated since the dawn of time by the Batman and Robin one-two punch of Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series. Not necessarily in that order.
Jaguar hasn't had a car to compete against these compact luxo boxes since the regrettable X-Type, a sad-looking thing based mostly on the Ford Mondeo. If any car can erase that memory, it's the XE.
Jaguar has invested the GDP of a small nation in its development: upwards of $3.6-billion to design a new aluminum platform, a new generation of engines and new manufacturing plants in Britain to build it all. The British automotive press is aflutter with pride, and not without reason.
The XE is really good. Its rakish profile is striking. The cabin is pushed back over the rear wheels while the front window slopes quickly down into that long hood. It's a great design – not exactly surprising given that it's from the same team who brought us the F-Type and XJ.
The roads of Basque country in northern Spain are among the best in the world. Fresh ribbons of obsidian-black tarmac crisscross serrated mountain peaks. The XE handles in a way that might encourage speeding; or, it would if the posted limit here was ever less than 90 km/h on any back road.
The steering is shockingly fast, with turn-in like a squirrel after some old bread. It lets you carve up a mountain with barely more than a flick of the wrist. As in the F-Type, the steering has little feel, but is unwaveringly precise and therefore reassuring when staring down the grille of a five-foot wide truck on a 10-foot wide road.
The base 177-horse diesel engine is surprisingly peppy but not as smooth as the supercharged V-6. The later is truly fast: with 335 horsepower it manages 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, outgunning even the equivalent 3 Series. However, your brain – and your wallet – will tell you to get the diesel.
Enthusiastic drivers will lament the fact Canadian models won't be available with rear-wheel drive or the six-speed manual gearbox they get elsewhere. You'll have to go to Jaguar's competitors for those options.
The only real strike against the XE is that it's not as spacious for rear seat passengers as other vehicles in its class. That's the price you pay for a sassy coupe-like roofline.
None of that will make or break a baby business sedan like this Jaguar. Cars such as this are the vehicular equivalent of a Lacoste polo shirt or a big Tag Heuer watch. It's an aspirational thing, sold – more likely leased – on the strength of the brand more than the strength of the motor or any other tangible component. Plus, they're just affordable enough to tempt buyers into stretching their budgets, moving up from mass-market machinery.
That's why Jaguar finally has a worthy competitor in this market. Unlike the old X-Type, the new XE is deeply desirable with great style, handling and a revitalized brand to back it up.
You'll like this car if ... You have a pulse.
TECH SPECS
- Base price: TBD (but on par with rivals)
- Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel I-4; 3.0-litre supercharged V-6
- Transmissions: Eight-speed automatic
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): TBD
- Drive: All-wheel drive
- Alternatives: Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, Lexus IS
RATINGS
- Looks: Sleek. Restrained with no extraneous detailing and clean surfaces. Not as radical as the Cadillac ATS, but refreshingly different compared to the mainstream Germans.
- Interior: Even base models do a passable impression of luxury. Seats and driving position are excellent, and all controls feel good. There’s a nice clean dashboard design, too.
- Performance: Be warned, the ride is European-Sporty which means it’s Canadian-Kinda-Stiff. But the damping is well tuned to take the edge off bumps. As mentioned, handling is the XE’s greatest strength. We also expect a four-cylinder gas engine and a high-performance XE-R will round out the lineup.
- Technology: Jaguar’s touchscreen-based infotainment setup is present, but it’s unfortunately not the awesome looking next-gen system that will be on the upcoming XF sedan. Maybe the XE will get an upgrade later? Forward-facing stereo cameras enable advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking.
- Cargo: Adults can sit in the rear seats, but it’s not the most spacious in its class. Meanwhile, space for front-seat passengers is ample. Trunk opening looks a bit small, but the space inside is roughly on par with rivals.
The Verdict
7.5
A strong contender for class-leader right out of the box.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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