Jaguar XE

The Jaguar XE at a glance

Launch, design and the London reveal

The XE took the place below the Jaguar XF and was Jaguar's first compact saloon since the X-Type. The old 1cars report described an unusual reveal: on the night of 8–9 September 2014 the car was flown over London by helicopter and then carried along the Thames on a boat to the venue. The original launch news is still on 1cars as Jaguar introduced the new XE.

Design director Ian Callum gave the saloon a long bonnet, a cabin set well back and a short tail, borrowing proportions from the F-Type coupé. Narrow headlights with LED running lights, a large trapezoid grille and a smooth underbody helped the drag coefficient reach 0.26, a low figure for a saloon of this size. Jaguar used aluminium for most of the body to save weight and improve stiffness.

Ingenium, V6 and V8: XE engines and performance

At launch, the 250 kW V6 S reached 100 km/h in about 5.1 seconds and was limited to 250 km/h, according to the old 1cars text based on Jaguar's data. The diesels were the European best-sellers, and from 2020 the 2.0 engines received 48-volt mild-hybrid support. All-wheel drive arrived in November 2015 and became common with the stronger engines.

The XE SV Project 8, shown at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed, was a hand-built four-door with a 5.0-litre V8 and a large rear wing. It has 321 kW more than the entry diesel, by our calculation almost four times the power. Its place among fast four-doors is shown in the 1cars ranking of the most powerful saloons.

XE size, cabin and the 455-litre boot

The front of the cabin is the XE's strength: low sports seats with good side support, a driver-focused dashboard and quality leather, suede and aluminium trim. The rear is tighter. A high transmission tunnel makes the middle seat uncomfortable, the sloping roof limits headroom for tall passengers, and the small door openings make getting in awkward, although the rear doors open wide. The 455-litre boot is average for the class, and the rear seat backs fold to extend it.

What an XE costs to fuel and run

At launch, the 120 kW diesel was quoted at about 4.1 l/100 km on the older NEDC cycle, while the V6 S was rated at about 8.3 l/100 km. Real-world figures are higher, especially for the petrol engines. Running costs sit above those of German rivals, because parts are more expensive and the network is smaller. Check the fuel bill for your mileage with the 1cars fuel cost calculator.

XE trim levels and standard kit

At launch in Europe the XE was sold in Pure, Prestige, R-Sport, Portfolio and S versions. Even early base cars had dual-zone climate control, a touchscreen and cruise control. Higher trims added leather, xenon or LED headlights, heated seats and a reversing camera. The interior was revised in 2017, and the 2019 facelift brought a new cabin with Touch Pro Duo screens and a revised front.

Euro NCAP 2015: five stars for the XE

Euro NCAP gave the XE five stars in 2015, with 92 % for adult occupants, 82 % for children, 81 % for pedestrians and 82 % for safety assist. Autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning and traffic-sign recognition were available, and blind-spot monitoring and parking aids appeared on higher trims.

Rivals: how the XE compares

The XE matched the best of them for steering and ride, but it lost out on rear space, cabin technology and engine choice. Sales show it: 44,095 cars in its best year, 2016, falling to 25,951 in 2019 and 9,935 in 2023. The 1cars comparison tool sets the XE and any rival side by side.