For as long as most of us can remember, Jaguar has been world-renown for its luxury sedans. Some of the most notable ones include the X-Type and smaller S-Type sedans from the late 1990s and 2000s. With competition from Germany and America tightening the noose, it was time for the British automaker to take action. That’s why, with mounting pressure and surging demand, Jaguar introduced the all-new XE in 2015. The XE is the smallest and most affordable sedan in Jaguar’s stable, and it even shares its platform with the E-Pace crossover.
The Jaguar XE went through a slight makeover in 2017, gaining new on-board tech features that were absent earlier. Due to the extensive use of lightweight aluminum and modern construction techniques, the XE is the lightest car in its segment. As for its rivals in the UAE, the 2019 Jaguar XE goes up against the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, and Cadillac ATS.
Exterior
There are no two ways about this; the Jaguar XE’s design is genuinely sensuous and charismatic in its appeal. The front end is characterized by its low nose, long hood, and a wide, crouching stance. The snooty grille with its red Jaguar emblem in the middle is flanked by a pair of double-barrel bi-xenon headlamps with Jaguar’s signature J-shaped LED DRLs fro company. Meanwhile, the front bumper exudes sportiness with its centre air dam and side-mounted air intake channels.
The gorgeous side profile highlights the XE’s mildly-flared fenders, chic 19-inch alloy wheels, stylish front fender garnish, ground-hugging side skirts, and a sloping roofline. Around the back, the Jaguar XE gets chunky wraparound taillights, a stubby boot, and bumper-integrated dual exhausts with a subtle air diffuser. The 2019 Jaguar XE measures in at 4.672 meters in length, 1.967 meters in width, 1.462 meters in height, and has a wheelbase of 2.835 meters. The XE’s 455-liter boot is one of the best in its segment, only bested by the Audi A4.
Interior
The 2019 Jaguar XE sports a well-equipped and suitably tasteful interior. The styling is fairly contemporary, but not too exciting or meticulous in its execution. Another downside is the rather cramped nature of this cabin, especially at the back, thanks to the sloping roofline and a large transmission tunnel. In general, the quality of materials and build is strong, though there are cheap and nasty plastics lower down in the cabin. The XE’s cabin does offer great seats and while NVH levels are low enough, the lack of room is very noticeable.
The XE does fight back with a lengthy list of features that includes adaptive dampers, automatic headlights, power trunk operation, electric sunroof, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, leather seats with power operation, ambient lighting, electronic handbrake, an 8.0-inch touch-screen with navigation, head-up display, paddle shifters, and parking sensors with a 360-degree camera system. On the safety front, the Jaguar XE gets all of the modern passive and active nannies which include multiple airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability program, hill assist, blind-spot monitoring, and collision detection.
Engine and performance
Under the hood of the 2019 Jaguar XE S sits a 3.0-liter supercharged six-cylinder motor that delivers 375 hp and 450 Nm of torque. This mill is mated to an 8-speed automatic and directs the grunt to the rear wheels, exclusively. The lightweight XE is capable of sprinting from naught to 100 km/h in 5 seconds, before hitting the limiter at 250 km/h.
Verdict
Prices for the 2019 Jaguar XE range between AED 174,600 to AED 259,800, whilst cost of insurance can soar up to AED 4,049 for the top-spec S trim with the V6 engine.
