Dynamic baby Jaguar really has the X factor
Prestige, Portfolio, R-Sport and S and, as already stated, our test car is the near range-topping R-Sport with 180bhp from its 2-litre diesel engine, four wheel drive and a very respectable 0 to 60 time of 7.5 seconds.
Now stepping out of the F-Type and dropping a whopping 200 bhp to get into the R-Sport should have been a very noticeable change performance-wise, but put in Dynamic mode the baby jag was quite brilliant.
It’s quick, comfortable, great to drive and has that Jag X factor, in fact it was named Auto Express Compact Executive Car of the Year for the second successive time in 2016.
The XE filled a void left by the X-Type, which was axed in 2009, and is a huge leap forward with an aluminum chassis and Jaguar’s range of Ingenium four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines (or a petrol V6) plus the company’s latest tech.
Every version comes well equipped with touchscreen infotainment system, climate control, touch screen navigation, cruise control, 17-inch alloys, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and DAB radio - but upmarket models like our R-Sport have a real high class feel, with two colour perforated leather upholstery, heated seats and brushed aluminium in the cabin.
Across the range power comes from Jaguar’s four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel with 163PS or 180PS, while the 2.0-litre turbo petrols come with either 200PS or 240PS. The latter is only available in high-spec Portfolio or R-Sport trims. At the top of the range, the S model features a 340PS 3.0-litre supercharged V6, sourced from last week’s F-Type, giving a 5.1-second 0-62mph sprint.
The 2.0-litre diesel comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, or it can be upgraded to the eight-speed auto that’s standard across the rest of the range. All XEs are rear-wheel drive as standard, although the 180bhp 2.0-litre diesel also gets the option of Jaguar’s intelligent allwheel-drive system (as on our car). It is rear-drive most of the time, but can send power to the front wheels whenever a loss of traction is detected by the car.
The Jag’s steering is also excellent and with that 4x4 system there’s plenty of grip as well.
Our R-Sport and range-topping S variants get bigger bumpers, larger alloy wheels, perforated leather sports seats, a body kit, lowered sports suspension and a black radiator grille.
As to that long list of extras which pushed the price to nearly 50k the highlights included special Glaciar White paintwork (£635), 19” black alloy wheels (£1,230), panoramic glass roof (£1,020), power, black and parking packs (£2,000), upgraded music and sat nav (£1,125), heads up display (£1,020) and even an electrically-deployable tow bar (£970). Which is why I say such a high-spec XE will be a rarity as lower spec versions are really good cars, good value and will make up a big slice of Jaguar’s sales.
The XE R-Sport starts from £31,045 (2WD) and a top of the range XE S will cost from £48,000.
More info at www.jaguar.co.uk.