Pros: Excellent balance of ride quality and handling prowess; wide selection of upholstery and trim choices; spirited acceleration with supercharged V6
Cons: Rear-seat room is tight; limited trunk space and small-items storage; base engine not available with all-wheel drive; so-so rear visibility
CG Says: Jaguar re-enters the premium-compact car field for 2017 with the all-new XE sport sedan. The XE comes in rear- and all-wheel drive form, and uses Jaguar’s aluminum-intensive body structure to save weight for better fuel economy and driving dynamics. Three engines are offered: a 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder; a 180-horsepower turbodiesel 2.0-liter four; and a 340-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6. All engines use an 8-speed automatic transmission. Available safety and technology features include adaptive shock absorbers, forward-collision mitigation, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and a head-up display that shows both speed and navigation readings on the lower part of the windshield. The XE is Jaguar’s first compact car in almost a decade, and it’s a compelling new entry in the segment. The XE offers a distinctive luxury/performance character, a good selection of available powertrains and trim options, and a suitably athletic driving personality—all at prices that are very competitive with its primary rivals, the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.
| Class | Premium Compact Car |
| Body Style(s) | 4-door sedan |
| Passenger Count | 5 |
| Drive Wheels | rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive |
| Manufacturer | Jaguar |
| Nation of Manufacture | England |
| Base Prices | 25t: $34,900 25t Premium: $37,500 25t Prestige: $41,400 20d: $36,400 AWD 20d: $38,900 20d Premium: $39,000 AWD 20d Premium: $41,500 20d Prestige: $42,900 AWD 20d Prestige: $45,400 20d R-Sport: $46,500 AWD 20d R-Sport: $49,000 35t Premium: $41,700 AWD 35t Premium: $44,200 35t Prestige: $45,600 AWD 35t Prestige: $48,100 35t R-Sport: $49,200 AWD 35t R-Sport: $51,700 |
| Base Engine turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower 240 |
| Std. Transmission 8-speed automatic |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 21 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 30 |
| Optional Engine supercharged 3.0-liter V6 |
| Horsepower 340 |
| Std. Transmission 8-speed automatic |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 20-21 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 29-30 |
| Optional Engine turbodiesel 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower 180 |
| Std. Transmission 8-speed automatic |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 32 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 42 |
ROAD TESTS AND ADDITIONAL INFO
