What Makes The Jaguar XE Diesel Exciting?

Jaguar’s XE is proof that good things come in small packages. The smallest sedan from the British stable is a bag full of class and finesse. Now, after a year of it first setting foot (or should we say wheels?) in India, it’s got the all-important diesel engine running under that sexy bonnet. What makes the diesel avatar of the baby Jag exciting? Read on -

All about the looks

On my personal ‘to-do’ list includes ‘Meet Ian Callum’. He’s the man behind the design of iconic Jaguars of the recent past including the swanky XJ, the ferocious F-TYPE and the World Car Of The Year - the F-PACE. The XE, although the smallest in the stable, is mega on style. To begin with, the classic sports sedan proportions are hard to go wrong with. Add to that quintessentially Jaguar elements such as the large grille, short overhangs and the sloping roofline — and you’ve got a car that turns heads no matter what the occasion. 

A dash of drama

What’s a Jaguar without some theatrics, eh? The XE screams emotion and drama the moment you lay your eyes on one. The signature ‘J’ blade daytime LED running lamps look menacing, yet inviting. Get inside and there’s more in store. The start-stop button pulsates, egging you on to thumb it and let your hair loose. When you do, the signature rotary gear lever rises to the occasion — quite literally. Details such as the configurable mood lighting, the Windsor leather seats and the massive panoramic sunroof only uplift the experience. 

It’s a party!

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At the heart of the XE diesel’s infotainment is the super-intuitive ‘InControl Touch’ system. The 20.32 cm (8.0-inch) touchscreen unit has a crisp user interface, with information broken into four quadrants to make it easy to use on the go. The slick screen is paired to a stellar 380W, 11-speaker Meridian Sound System. You also get access to InControl apps and satellite navigation. Talk about being the jack of all trades!

Power packed!

The diesel XE is powered by Jaguar’s latest Ingenium series of diesel engines. Although new, the engines have quickly developed repute for being refined and powerful. Under the bonnet of the XE, the 2.0-litre engine belts out a healthy 132 kW (180PS) of power and an awe-inducing 430Nm of torque. These figures coupled to Jaguar’s super quick and smooth 8-speed automatic gearbox give it a 0-100kmph time of just 7.8 seconds. Keep the accelerator pedal buried into the mat, and you’d be looking at a top speed of 228kmph in no time! 

Dynamic inside-out!

All power and a poor chassis make a car handle wobbly. Okay, we made that saying up. With the XE, though, there’s no room to complain. The aluminium-intensive architecture not only helps it save weight but also makes it a lot safer. The diesel XE also gets a 50:50 weight distribution. Dial in the fact that the torquey engine sends power to the rear wheels, and you’ve got a kitty that can get quite playful around the ghats. Also, to make sure you’re always in control of your Jag, the Diesel  XE features All Surface Progress Control (ASPC). This includes drive modes such as Normal, Eco, Dynamic and Rain Ice Snow. No prizes for guessing our favourite!

The diesel XE goes up against the likes of the BMW 320d, the Audi A4 35TDi and the Mercedes-Benz C 220 d. With prices starting at Rs 38.25 lakh (Ex-Delhi) and going all the way up to Rs 46.3 lakh, it does make quite a strong case for itself, especially when you consider what’s on offer. Most importantly, the Jaguar makes you want it. Every time you look at one, you secretly imagine one parked proudly in your garage. You can’t really put a price on that, can you?