Smarter suit

The Jaguar XE launched four years ago to great fanfare and huge praise, and proceeded to sell a mere fraction of what its big three German foes do. Thus there are a few changes for the facelift, to right some of its predecessor’s wrongs. First up, sharpening its appearance, important when a

whole new Alfa Romeo has since joined the class. While the XE still looks familiar, neater lights, reshaped bumpers and an optional lip spoiler have turned it into a fantastically handsome thing.

Next, a wealth of new technology and plusher materials inside. Most notable are its four screens: one housing digital dials ahead of the driver, two in the centre console that can swap between nav, phone link-up and climate control at your whim, and one cleverly embedded in the rear-view mirror, its camera feed flicked on and off depending on how Luddite you’re feeling.

It takes some getting used to, but offers a brilliantly wide-angle view that’s far more informative than the sliver of rear screen you traditionally get in a saloon car (with no wiper to clean it). But boy, does it get warm when you’re on the go for a few hours. Perhaps that’s a teething problem of this early car we’re driving, though given the XE we ran in the TG Garage suffered numerous electronic maladies, a question mark hangs over the long-term appeal of cramming in so much tech. There’s wow factor now, at least.

Where our XE – indeed, all XEs – never put a foot wrong was dynamically, and so it remains. Its wholly four-cylinder engine range fails to inspire – this top-spec P300 petrol version doesn’t gratify half as much as the V6 it effectively replaces, and you’ll be just as well off in a sensible diesel – but the way Jaguar’s engineering folk find a way of seamlessly balancing comfort and fun is simply unmatched.

I’m not sure a C-Class can ride this well, nor a 3-Series exhibit such fine balance, while elongated paddles and a proper gear selector make its standard-fit eight-speed auto more satisfying than ever too. It’s a real handling-nerd’s car and I’d struggle to choose any of its rivals instead. But, then, I don’t regularly fill back seats or boots, and naturally a mid-life nip and tuck can’t fix the XE’s cramped rear quarters and the absence of an estate version.