2017 Jaguar XE: Even kittens can roar

To me, there is always something special about a Jaguar. Over the years the automaker has produced austere limo-like vehicles and sexy sports cars – all with the same level of elegance and style.

With a vivid imagination I can imagine everyone from superheroes to Bond villains behind the wheel of these sexy beasts. And while they have had a couple of missteps over the years (cough, X-Type), the current Jaguar lineup hearkens back to a time of reverent beauty – right down to the newest, and littlest cat.

The 2017 Jaguar XE, while toeing the line of entry-level luxury, manages to exude sophistication.

Design

The hard lines of the XE are reminiscent of both the XF and XJ, as the family resemblance trickles down to the youngest sibling. But while XF and XJ look a little more austere and imposing, the XE’s petite size adds a little bit of fun and sport to the mix.

The interior, even at the base level XE, manages to maintain some semblance of sophistication with solid touch points and cool blue accent lighting. Interior lines are clean and clear, and the center stack is intuitive and clutter free.

I am also pleased to report that the Jaguar infotainment graphics have finally been upgraded, and the 8-inch touch screen display is both attractive and modern.

Ride & Handling

The test vehicle was a 20d AWD model, equipped with the 2.0-liter, 4-cylidner turbocharged diesel engine. This engine delivers 180 horsepower and promises 0-to-60-mph times of 7.5 seconds.

I have to admit, however, I’m not sure the diesel XE is my favorite. Sure, Jaguar says the torque is rated at 318 pound-feet, which seems amazing on paper. But, in actual fact, power and acceleration were a little lackluster. The XE tester felt sluggish off the start, and passing gears weren’t as aggressive as I had hoped they would be.

The ride was smooth, and the handling was confident. But the power? For me, it was merely adequate.

The good news is that the XE offers two other gasoline engines, both with higher horsepower ratings and faster off-the-line starts. Even better news: At least one of those engines comes with a smaller price tag.

The other two engines are a 2.4-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder and a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 that deliver 240 and 340 horsepower, respectively.

Fuel economy

For an all-wheel-drive model, the XE 20d AWD is supposed to get fairly decent fuel economy. EPA estimates 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, with a combined rating of 34 mpg.

I got nowhere near any of those numbers in real-world testing. I did a fair mix of city and highway driving, and still only managed a combined 26.9 mpg by the end of the test week.

Because there are several engine and drivetrain options in the XE lineup, the rest of the EPA estimates (city/highway/combined) are as follows:

• 20d, FWD: 32/42/36 mpg
• 25t, FWD: 21/30/24 mpg
• 35t, FWD: 20/29/23 mpg
• 35t, AWD: 21/30/24 mpg

But, as you can see, real-world numbers will likely vary.

Tech & gadgets

A lot of the “cool stuff” isn’t available on the XE until you upgrade to the Premium or Prestige trim levels. But I do appreciate the fact heated seats and steering wheel are available at the base trim for an additional $1,000, which I’d gladly pay. However, features such as blind-spot monitoring, navigation, automatic high-beams and power trunk lid require option packages on an upgraded trim.

A Wi-Fi hotspot, connected navigation and digital surround sound are also available, but only on the technology package, which isn’t offered until the Prestige trim.

Trims

Jaguar offers three engines, two drivetrains and multiple trim levels for each. On the website configurator, you first have to select your engine, then your trim. Not all trims are available at all engine levels. So, rather than follow the engine then trim sequence of the website, I’ll start with trims and let you know which engines are available at each level.

Another thing to note: 20d and 35t are both available in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations. The 25t is only available as a front-wheel-drive model. AWD adds $2,500 to the bottom line.

XE (20d, 25t): This base trim is really well equipped with alloy wheels, HD radio, power adjustable front seats, moonroof, dual-zone climate control, an 8-inch capacitive touch screen, Bluetooth phone connectivity and Luxtec leather-like seating surfaces. Base price is $35,895 (25t) or $37,395 (20d).

XE Premium (20d, 25t, 35t): This trim adds features such as driver seat and exterior mirror memory, a rearview camera, a Meridian 380W sound system with 11 speakers and a folding rear seat. Base price is $38,495 (25t), $39,995 (20d) or $42,695 (35t).

XE Prestige (20d, 25t, 35t): This trim starts adding lux-level features such as Taurus leather seats, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, power lumbar support, power steering column adjustment, interior mood lighting, navigation and keyless entry. Base price is $42,395 (25t), $43,895 (20d) or $46,595 (35t).

XE R-Sport (20d, 35t): This top-tier trim is your “whistles-and-bells” model with features such as adaptive headlights with intelligent high beams, lane keep assist, driver fatigue alert, blind spot monitoring, reverse traffic sensing, front and rear parking aids, SiriusXM radio with a 3-month subscription and autonomous emergency braking. R-Sport models also include R-Sport badging inside and out as well as metal door sill finishers. Base price is $47,495 (20d) or $50,195 (35t).

Safety

While the XE has a lot of the safety features you’ve come to expect on new vehicles -- such as emergency brake assist, front side air bags and full-length side-curtain air bags -- I’m stymied by the fact that the rearview monitor is an option on the base trim level.

Available safety features for the XE include autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, driver fatigue alert, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking aids.

The Jaguar XE hasn’t been crash tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

New for 2017

The XE is the newest and smallest entry in the Jaguar lineup for 2017. Some of the vehicle highlights include a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices on upper trim models, an Apple Watch App that will perform some remote functions, available all-wheel drive and an available diesel engine.

A few of my favorite things

I really love the styling on the XE. It’s austere and elegant at the same time with just a bit of sport thrown it. The taillights make me think of the F-Type, and I adore the compact size.

I think the XE is a great entry-level luxury vehicle without feeling like an afterthought. The base model costs just more than $35K while looking awesome and handling really well. If you want to add some of the good stuff, you can get there for about $45K by upgrading to the Prestige trim and adding the Vision Package.

I love, love, love that a compact luxury vehicle has available all-wheel drive. While I’d like to see it in the base 25t model, I can deal with the fact that it’s offered in the up-level diesel and gasoline models because, well, it’s available.

What I can leave

Colors are optional. At the base level, you can get black or white for no upcharge, but if you want anything else – even gray! – it’ll cost you $550. This is one of my biggest frustrations with luxury automakers. You pay for the name and then everything else is an option.

I’m also not a huge fan of stop/start technology as it is implemented in Jaguar vehicles. It automatically turns on every time you turn the vehicle off then back on. I really wish there were a way to turn it off and keep it off, then turn it back on when you want it. As someone who is perpetually in stop-and-go traffic, this feature gets old fast, and I find it really annoying that I have to shut it off. Every. Time.

Another frustration: The rearview camera still isn’t standard. Apparently someone missed the memo that this must be standard in all vehicles starting May 1, 2018. XE is all-new for 2017; why wait a model year to implement this across the board?

The bottom line

I really liked the XE, but I think Jaguar might have a tough sell, here. XE is attractive, and it has some nice luxury and tech upgrades, but it’s new, and it’s competing against veterans like the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. While the C-Class is significantly more expensive at a base level, both A4 and 3-Series cost less than the XE.

Perhaps the best thing the XE has going for it is the diesel model. BMW is the only competitor that offers a diesel at this point, and though it’s similarly powered, it will cost you $3K more.

Other pluses include technology that is intuitive, classic styling and excellent ride and handling. If you like Jaguars, you’ll like the XE, and if you’re looking at an A4, 3-Series or C-Class, this is another good one to throw into the mix.

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