The German premium three in the middle class will once again recognize the intruder. The British Jaguar XE wants to score points with its mature appearance, quality materials and sporty driving characteristics. But does it have a chance to penetrate into impenetrable spaces ?
On the face of it, it must be said that in terms of appearance, the XE invents things that have been invented for a long time. The front end, sharing elements with the larger XF , feels really dynamic and quite fitting for a classic sedan. The controversy comes at the back, where most people disagree on whether or not the British took their inspiration elsewhere. Personally, I kind of recognize the last Audi A6 in the rear parts, but that will change with the transition to the currently most powerful XE S version . Where the basic XE falters, the XE S looks almost like it's from another planet. If Jaguar knew anything, it was sporty versions of classic models . And although the XE S was fenced and locked, I was clear about which version I would buy in the future.
But back to the cheaper versions, which allowed me to see the interior as well . In it, I have to highlight the absolutely top-notch steering wheel , which holds well, its rim is thick enough and the adjustment takes place in a fairly wide range. And while we're talking about the settings, I have to mention that the handling of the steering wheel was quite stiff and the cover, under which we would find all kinds of wires, didn't seem very solid and high-quality. Fortunately, I can't say the same about the rest of the dashboard, which is not only well-made , but also uses high-quality materials . If you choose the version with classic analog alarm clocks in separate tubes, it is necessary to highlight their good readability. It's a bit of a shame that the multimedia system couldn't be tested. And while we've moved on to the center console, it's worth mentioning that it certainly won't be friends with the driver's right knee.
The German competition loses the most in the area of space on the rear seats , possibly in the size and accessibility of the luggage compartment. Thanks to the 2835 mm wheelbase, Jaguar has made this its greatest asset, and when you sit in the back, you will feel like a wonder, not like in a car a class higher. The same can be said about the luggage compartment , which is not only easily accessible, but also has a regular shape and is long enough.
Unlike some other Paris news, we also know the price of the new XE. This starts at 1,037,212 crowns for the version with a 200-horsepower two-liter gasoline engine. Similar to the other units, it also comes from the new Ingenium series .
Note: The author is not a photographer, so please excuse the possible reduced quality of the images
