Jaguar XE

Introduction

Jaguar had to, eventually, get back to competing with the BMW 3 Series. A luxury brand looking for 21st century success simply couldn’t survive without a solid compact sports saloon in its ranks. The stakes were high though, especially because Jag’s last stab at a 3 Series rival, the X-Type, wasn't very good. Thankfully, the XE is rather better. A lot better. Competitive with the 3 Series? Just about, although there are caveats over cabin size and quality.

Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing

Verdict: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.9/10)

If you’re a car enthusiast, it’s very hard not to get caught up in the magic of the Jaguar name and the XE’s low-slung, rather handsome styling. Indeed, many people who don’t really care about cars at all will have their heads turned at the mere mention of the Jaguar name. Thankfully, then, the XE is a good enough car to live up to the hype, albeit one that does have some significant flaws. It’s sufficiently sharp and rewarding to drive that it actually nudges ahead of the mighty BMW 3 Series, but it loses ground when it comes to practicality, quality and refinement.