Jaguar XE 25t petrol: First drive review

I’ve never been a fan of the Top Gear series, and would have probably caught a few episodes at the behest of colleagues in office. I do remember one particular episode featuring a Jaguar alongside other European cars though. Heck, I don’t even remember which Jaguar it was, but have a distinct memory of Clarkson reasoning everything about the car by simply saying ‘it’s a Jag’ and proving it is better than its European rivals. Certainly goes to show how high the Brits hold the luxury car brand simply because it belongs to their country. 

That said, Jaguars have indeed been more special, boasting an air of exclusivity. Unlike today, until few years back Jaguars were a rarity and getting to see one was indeed special though back then I barely understood a thing about the luxury car market. Today, having driven all three Jaguars on sale, I’ve got to agree with Clarkson, there is something special about the brand’s cars unlike the Germans. But does the newest, and smallest Jaguar yet, the XE feel as special? I had to find out. 

Exterior and design: 4/5

The XE looks typically Jaguar, which by default means it is good looking. My only grouse is it looks way too similar to the XF, especially from the front. As compared to its German rivals like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class the XE is a lot more beautiful to look at and makes you want to soak in the details for a longer while. The bulges on the hood, trademark grille with the feline logo and shapely air vents below the headlights give it a muscular stance. 

The ‘J’ shaped LED DRLs look unique, and go well with the ‘Blue Fire’ shade of the car. The XE looks a lot leaner from the sides than it does from either end, sitting low and reminds somewhat of the 3 Series. The chrome finished exit vents behind the front wheel add to the premium feel. F-Type inspired tail lights looks nice, while the slightly pronounced rear lip-like spoiler adds a hint of sportiness to the rear along with dual exhausts. The design is fresher and more attractive as compared to the Germans, which endows it with better head turning abilities. 

Interiors and space 4.5/5

Jaguar has tried to emulate BMW’s sportily designed, low-set cabin in the XE. The driver’s seat feels nice to be in as you get a good view of the road despite sitting low. What caught my attention first was the layer of trim that runs across from the end of one door, onto the back of the dashboard and ends on the other door. It gives the dashboard a very unique, wider feel, while making two ‘level’s on the doors. The top level holds window buttons and the door lever while the lower level has the grab handle to pull the door shut. This takes getting used to as I would place my fingers on the lower rung to operate the windows only to realise the switches are on the upper rung.

The steering is similar to sportier Jaguars with a large, circular centre pad for the horn and adds to the sporty feel, as do the clocks. Worth mentioning is the colourful, high resolution touchscreen which looks brilliant. The tiny screen between the clocks also gets a nice, colourful display and offers a lot of information. Seats are shaped nicely and offer a comfortable, snug fit. The centre console looks clutter free, also thanks to the trademark hockey pock gear selector that comes out when ignition is turned on. There’s an upmarket feel to the cabin typical to Jaguars, and admittedly the XE does feel more premium than the German cars. Back seat comfort and kneeroom are decent, though boot space isn’t the most generous. While the XE does seem to better its German rivals in terms of design, I suspect that won’t quite be the case in terms of space.   

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Features and equipment 4.5/5

The XE is on offer in two trims, Pure which is the base and the fully-loaded Portfolio you see here. Portfolio has everything you’d expect right from beautifully finished, tan leather seats to the snazzy looking, colourful 8-inch touchscreen with a brilliant display and graphics that support the high resolution reverse camera and on-board navigation (the Pure version misses out on the camera). The touchscreen is a big improvement over the units seen previously, and is easy to use even on the go. The camera is a boon, especially since visibility of the rear is restricted thanks to the narrow rear glass panel and high deck. The Meridian audio system sounds nice, delivering crisp audio quality, supporting the usual AUX, USB and Bluetooth.

Engine and performance 4.5/5

Jaguar has launched the car with a petrol engine only for now, and the diesel is expected to debut later this year. The petrol engine is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol seen in the XF and XJ, though it is in different states of tune in the Pure and Portfolio variants. It makes 200PS and 320Nm in Pure, while offering an impressive 240PS and higher 340Nm in the Portfolio. 240PS in a car as compact and light as the XE is a lot of fun, while peak torque is available from as low as 2000rpm. Floor the throttle and the car gathers momentum very quickly. There’s four driving modes on offer – Dynamic, Normal, Eco and Winter which alter engine response, gear ratios and gear shifts accordingly. 

Throttle response and gear change are quickest in Dynamic where the 8-speed transmission does not shift up or down on its own and you have to use the paddle shift levers. What makes the XE even more fun that it is rear wheel drive and the rear twitches a bit before the car hunkers down to accelerate each you bury the throttle hard into the ground at low speeds, even when ESP is on. 

Ride and ease of driving 4/5

Ride quality is on the stiffer side, and it is clear the XE’s suspension setup hinges towards sporty handling rather than great comfort at the expense of it. Tight dimensions and low weight make the XE easy to drive even in traffic, especially with the 8-speed gearbox willing to swap ratios quickly. The XE is the first Jaguar to use an electric steering system, but I was glad to note that as opposed to the general perception that electric steering systems are dull and lack feedback, this one felt responsive and offered good feedback at any speed. Driving over expansion joints a few thuds did get filtered into the cabin, but they were barely felt, and suspension manages to offer a fine balance between handling and comfort. 

Handling and braking

Well, to quote Mr Clarkson, “It’s a Jag.” It is meant to handle well and the XE certainly does not disappoint. It feels composed when launched aggressively and maintains composure even as you build up speeds, quickly. There’s barely a twitch even when chucked hard into a fast corner and the suspension does a good job of keeping the car planted. High speed cruising is comfortable despite the rather taut suspension and the car behaves impressively when switching lanes to overtake even at speeds. The XE does well in terms of braking too, with the brakes offering good bite as soon you as press down on the lever, shedding speed in a smooth, controlled manner and very quickly.  Again, the XE feels closer to the BMW 3 Series which is hailed as a driver’s car in this segment with its kind of sportiness – and like the BMW the XE certainly plastered a smile on my face with its handling. 

Price and efficiency 3.5/5

The fully-loaded Portfolio retails at Rs 46.5 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. That’s dangerously close to the next segment of luxury cars, and the Jaguar clearly commands a premium for what it offers in terms of its rich feel and sporty demeanour. The price in fact is higher than all the German cars in the segment which is a bit of a concern. The base Pure variant is priced at Rs 39.9 lakh is again on the higher side but in the same league as the Germans. The Portfolio feels thirsty though, and expect single digit efficiency numbers if you have a heavy right foot. Cruising at speeds on the highway efficiency improves noticeably, and overall Jaguar is claiming 13.5kmpl for the car. 

Verdict 4/5

There certainly is an air of exclusivity to the XE unlike its German rivals. It is a car that will help you stand out from your peers with its sporty design, tastefully designed, rich interiors and brilliant handling without sacrificing passenger comfort. Only a full comparison test will help us assess its credentials as compared to its well-established German rivals but on its own the XE is a likeable car with what it offers. Look no further if you enjoy driving, don’t mind the relatively lesser space at the back and of course the price tag. Good things certainly come at a price, and the XE clearly is one of them. As the gentleman said, “It’s a Jag”.