This content is out of date and scheduled to be removed.

Review: Jaguar XE 2.0d 180 Portfolio Auto

Image of James Fossdyke
Author: | Updated: 31 Jul 2015 13:21

After a six-year sabbatical, Jaguar has returned to the compact executive market with the XE. Sharing little with its ill-fated predecessor, the X-Type, the XE is hoping to take a much more substantial chunk of sales away from the Germans than any other Jaguar has ever managed.

We drove the luxurious Portfolio model with the 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine to see whether that’s a realistic aim for the new ‘baby’ Jag.

Jaguar XE Portfolio Front Quarter Town

See all our Jaguar XE leasing deals: Business / Personal

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em

Just one look at the exterior will tell you that the XE has the 3 Series, A4 and C-Class firmly in its sights. There’s a sense that Jaguar has come round to thinking that if you can’t beat the Germans, you’d better join them, because although the salesman will tell you there’s a lot of XF and F-Type styling in there, the XE doesn’t half look Germanic.

At the front, there’s more than enough modern Jaguar in the grille and lights, but the crease across the boot is definitely an A4 rip-off.

It’s the same story inside, where Jaguar will claim that the arch around the top of the dashboard is straight from the £50,000 XJ and the steering wheel is from an F-Type, but that’s about as Jaguar-ish as it gets. None of the trim levels come with wood as standard (a pity, when wood and leather is what Jaguar does best) and the centre console has a very Ford-esque look to it.

We won’t pretend it’s all bad though. The new touchscreen is a great step forward from the old unit seen in other Jags, the leather in high-spec cars is sumptuous in the extreme and the build quality is very good, if not quite up to Audi standards.

Jaguar XE Portfolio Interior Light Oyster

You might feel a little underwhelmed by the amount of interior space, mind you. The boot is about 25 litres down on the 3 Series and C-Class and headroom is at a premium for rear passengers, while those in the front will feel hemmed in by the cossetting cockpit. To call it cramped would be unfair because you do have enough room, but it feels snug.

Economical Ingeniums

Jaguar has evolved the XE under the skin, too. Whether you like it or not, we live in an age of downsized, turbocharged engines, usually powered by diesel, so the smooth but thirsty V6 petrols of the old X-Type and S-Type and XJ have no place in today’s executive saloons.

The British brand has spotted this and has provided the XE with more economical 2.0-litre ‘Ingenium’ engines. Our test car came with the most powerful 178bhp diesel and automatic transmission – the most expensive diesel option but one still expected to be popular, and understandably so.

Performance is more than adequate – 0-62mph takes 7.4 seconds and the top speed is 140mph – but it’s fuel economy that’ll probably matter most to the middle management types this car is aimed at. Fortunately, the XE scores fairly well, returning 67.3mpg and emitting between 109 and 111g of CO2 per kilometre, depending on wheel size.

Jaguar XE Portfolio Rear Quarter Town

It all sounds good, but there are issues. At start-up the engine sends vibrations through the cabin and even this more powerful diesel motor feels breathless and limp-wristed when pushed. Put simply, this XE just isn’t as effortless as a Jaguar should be.

Most XEs will spend the majority of their time cruising down the motorway though, and that’s where the engine’s at its best. The eight-speed ZF automatic keeps the revs low for maximum economy and refinement, so minimal engine noise permeates the cabin and there’s just about enough in reserve if you need the power to get you out of trouble.

Astonishingly well balanced

Although the engine might be best suited to long motorway runs, the XE is gifted with a chassis which is very much geared up for B-roads.

Formula 1-style suspension, rear-wheel drive and an all-aluminium construction have made this car stiff, light and agile.

Jaguar XE Portfolio Side Town

We knew this would be the case when the XE’s technical details were announced, but we were certainly not expecting the steering to be this good. Electro-mechanical systems are generally terrible, but Jaguar is one of the few manufacturers to have shown the world that they can be good.

It may not shrink around you and fool you into thinking you’re in a sports car, but it’s astonishingly well balanced and will give any 3 Series a run for its money.

Despite all this cornering ability, though, the XE somehow manages to remain comfortable, with the handling-focused suspension soaking up the bumps with aplomb.

Competitively priced

XE prices start from about £27,000, which equates to an average business lease price of about £260 a month, but this near-top-spec Portfolio car with its diesel motor and automatic ‘box comes in at just shy of £35,500, or £310 a month on a business lease*.

That means it’s competitively priced, and you do get a lot of kit. Eighteen-inch alloys, leather seats, an 8in touchscreen sat nav, a leather-wrapped dashboard, a 380W Meridian sound system, heated seats and parking sensors are all standard, as is a host of safety kit including Autonomous Emergency Braking, lane departure warning, dynamic stability control and traffic sign recognition.

Jaguar XE Portfolio Interior Detail Light Oyster Centre Stack

The verdict

Let’s make no bones about it; the XE is very, very good. In fact, it’s the king of all it surveys in the segment, striking the best balance between the strengths of the 3 Series, C-Class and A4, but be aware that if you come to the XE looking for a traditional Jaguar, you’ll be sadly disappointed.

If, on the other hand, that isn’t an issue, we’d have no qualms about recommending this variant. It has all the kit you could ever want and it’s well priced.

Jaguar XE Portfolio 2.0d 180 Auto at a glance

Length: 4,672mm
Width: 1,850mm
Height: 1,416mm
Wheelbase: 2,835mm
Boot space: 455 litres
Kerb weight: 1,565kg

Engine: 2.0 Ingenium diesel (178bhp)
Transmission: ZF automatic (8-speed)
0-62mph: 7.4 seconds
Top speed: 140mph
Fuel consumption: 67.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 111g/km

Price: £35,425 OTR
Average business leasing deal (6+35, 10k): £312/month*
Average personal leasing deal (6+35, 10k): £377/month*

Rivals: BMW 3 Series (review), Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class (review)

*Prices correct as of 31/07/15

Previous Post Next Post
Not sure what car you want?
  • Easy-to-use tool
  • Save time and money
  • Meet your match
Find your dream car

Manufacturer Spotlight

Related Deals

  • Jaguar XE

    2.0 D200 R-Dynamic S 4dr Auto

    Jaguar XE 2.0 D200 R-Dynamic S 4dr Auto
    Personal Contract Hire
    3+47 5k Miles p/a
    Initial Payment: £1,491.30
    £497.10
    p/m inc. VAT
    View
    Deal by: Hendy Leasing
  • Jaguar XE

    2.0 D200 R-Dynamic S 4dr Auto

    Jaguar XE 2.0 D200 R-Dynamic S 4dr Auto
    Personal Contract Hire
    9+47 5k Miles p/a
    Initial Payment: £3,994.56
    £443.84
    p/m inc. VAT
    View
    Deal by: Hendy Leasing
  • Jaguar XE

    2.0 D200 R-Dynamic SE Black 4dr Auto

    Jaguar XE 2.0 D200 R-Dynamic SE Black 4dr Auto
    Personal Contract Hire
    6+47 5k Miles p/a
    Initial Payment: £3,034.74
    £505.79
    p/m inc. VAT
    View
    Deal by: Hendy Leasing
  • Jaguar XE

    2.0 D200 R-Dynamic SE Black 4dr Auto

    Jaguar XE 2.0 D200 R-Dynamic SE Black 4dr Auto
    Personal Contract Hire
    3+47 5k Miles p/a
    Initial Payment: £1,608.42
    £536.14
    p/m inc. VAT
    View
    Deal by: Hendy Leasing