Jaguar XE Video Review

When I was younger, there were two types of cars I always thought I'd own: an MG or a Jaguar. Granted, at the time my only exposure to Jags were the old yellow roadster E-Type in Audrey Hepburn’s how to steal a million or the business-man-like XJ6 in a Fish Called Wanda.

But while Jags of new don’t have quite the same ‘old-Hollywood’ vibe; they’re actually more desirable than ever. Cut to the newest member of the big-cat family, the Jaguar XE - a mid-sized premium sedan that has already made an impact as a finalist in Wheels Car Of The Year and the WhichCar Style Awards for 2016.

WHAT IS IT MADE FOR?

The Jaguar XE is the English brand’s attempt to take on the fleet and family car market, an lure away those who may typically buy a BMW 3-series, Audi A4 or Mercedes C-Class.

STAND OUT FEATURES

Expected to be Jaguar’s volume seller, the XE is full of equipment and clocks in at a decent price.

The biggest appeal of the XE is in the badge, it gives families and corporations wanting a sedan the option of the Jaguar nameplate and styling.

But the Jaguars true colours come to the surface when it’s set free on to run the roads. Its mission was to produce an end result that was sportier than its competitors and in this case, the Jaguar’s roar is enough to rule the jungle.

Basically, aside from this beautiful badge on the front grille, this girl can drive.

WE LOVE

There are plenty of things to love about the Jaguar XE. It’s jam-packed with standard gear, for example, even in the base model 20t prestige.

We’re talking auto emergency braking, lane departure warning, and park assist including 360 degree parking aid. And that’s just standard.

If you’re willing to fork out for extra options like adaptive cruise control, heated seats and steering wheel, surround camera system or lane keep assist, then you could take it up a notch, all be it for a price tag.

Then there are the looks. It’s both the XE’s finest quality and biggest downfall. From the outside it looks elegant. The beautiful front grille and cat eye headlights give it a real sense of toughness.

But its pricing also let it down, with the guys at Wheels Magazine questioning whether the XE would have won Car Of The Year 2016 if it had better interiors.

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THINGS WE’D LIKE TO CHANGE

And that’s probably the first thing we’d change. It’s not to say the interiors of the car aren’t nice, but it’s lacking the quintessential Jagness car-buyers have come to know and love. The lack of woodgrain trim, for example, is one of the first things the judges noticed at the WhichCar Style Awards.

Additionally, its petrol engines are less economical than it's competitors and its competitors feature more airbags than the XE’s six.

WHO’S IT MADE FOR

The Jaguar XE has everyone in the WhichCar office talking, and it’s real personality shines on road, making it a great choice for a fleet or family car.

Click here to find out more about the Jaguar XE.