Jaguar XE diesel bookings now open

It wasn’t a while ago that the Jaguar XE was introduced with Prestige variant. Now, the bookings have opened for the 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine. This new engine will be offered soon. So, the variants that will be offered on this engine and the pricing shall be revealed very soon. The new 2.0-litre Ingenium engine is already offered on the Jaguar XF and very soon the XE will also be coming with this motor.

Jaguar XE Design

At the glimpse of the XE, the first impression we get is of the new XJ. The honeycomb mesh grille comes with the red growling cat and sharp headlamps. The fascia of the XE holds some similarity in design to the other Jags. The headlamp LED layout is new and this is carried forward on the upcoming Jags. Design by Ian Callum and his team, the XE has perfect sculpted proportions, with a long bonnet and the boot size is in proportion with the sloping roofline. The rear haunch is muscular indicating that the power is delivered through the rear wheels. The side profile is typical Jag, and the design DNA is carried forward. The rear styling is identical to other Jags and the tail lamp design has been inspired from the legendary E-Type. The XE comes with 17-inch tyres, our press demonstrator had Pirelli.

The XE has been built on the new iQ [Al] platform. This is an all aluminium platform and Al stands for Aluminium. This will be used to make the new XF, XJ and even the F-PACE.

The new-gen vehicles are lighter due to the use of aluminium. This gives XE an advantage in its segment.

Jaguar XE Interior

The interiors of the XE are all new. The baby Jag’s interiors have been cocooned around and the Jag logo sit at the centre. This is the British marquee’s new design theme for interiors that will be carried forward on to other sedans and crossovers too. The XE has black and camel brown interiors. There is the new Jaguar steering wheel that is similar to the F-TYPE. The instrument binnacle comes with twin dials and a driver information system too. There is a storage space for your smartphone on the right side of the steering wheel. Centre console consists of a touchscreen system with maps, reverse parking camera, side view cameras and telephone connectivity. There is also an dual zone climate control too. The gear knob is circular and it also rises into your palm when you switch on the car.

The Jaguar XE seats are extremely comfortable. The rear too has good comfort. The front row of seats are supportive and spacious. The rear isn’t as spacious as the front, but there is good enough head room and knee room. Two can sit comfortably at the rear and even the boot can gobble luggage for an entire weekend. There are rear AC vents, some storage space at the back along with a charging point for the rear passengers. The XE comes with a Meridian music system. JLR continues its relationship with Meridian even on the XE. The current Range Rover also gets a Meridian 3D surround sound system.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Review

Jaguar XE Engine

Jaguar is offering the XE with a 2.0-litre petrol engine only. It comes in two states of tune 197bhp and 237bhp. Our press demonstrator came with the 237bhp engine. This comes mated to an eight speed ZF transmission. Ours is a rear wheel drive and Jaguar is looking at adding more engine options in the future. Press the throttle and overtaking is possible with a blink of an eye lid. Jaguar claims the XE does nought to 100ks in 6.8 seconds, which is almost V6 engine territory. This has been possible with the aluminium body that makes it extremely light and enhances performance. The XE even has a new engine on offer. This feels to the most powerful petrol sedan in its segment, without considering the performance versions of luxury car makers.

Jaguar XE Driving Dynamics

The ride of the XE is smooth. It has been tuned for better handling, but for India it has tweaked for better ride also.

Drive on broken tarmac or even at high speeds. It irons out most of the road shocks for front and rear passengers making it extremely comfortable for the occupants. The handling of the XE is just fantastic. What makes it even better is the steering feedback. The steering wheel weighs up as speed increases. Most of the sedans in this segment now have electronic steering wheel that is extremely light and kills the joy for those who enjoy driving.

Also Read: BMW 3 GT 2017 Review

Verdict

The XE retains the Jaguar DNA be it for looks and styling, interior, power and agility. The only knick in the armour is no option for diesel engines as majority of the luxury car sales in India are for oil burner. Leaving that, we loved the XE. With this brand, you don’t just move away from the German badge but you even procure a fresh product that looks a lot more expensive than its price tag.