2020 Jaguar XE

Overview

The XE hit the market for 2017 with a lot of promise: Its good looks and athletic moves had it vying to be our favorite in the small-luxury-sedan segment. However, it's an ultra-competitive segment, and since the XE's debut there have been two very strong new entrants—Alfa Romeo's sweet-driving Giulia and the all-around-excellent Genesis G70—along with a much-improved BMW 3-series. It's still a looker, and it drives well, although we miss the XE's strong 380-hp V-6 that's no longer available for 2020. What's left are two turbo four-cylinders—an entry-level P250 model with 247 horsepower or a P300 with 296 horsepower —that aren't class leading in either performance or efficiency, and its small back seat and trunk hinder the XE on the practicality front. A substantial update for 2020 adds upgraded interior materials and additional features, but still leaves the XE vying for mid-pack status.

What's New for 2020?

Included in the XE's significant update for 2020 are front and rear styling tweaks, including a larger front grille and redesigned rear diffuser. The base price jumps by about $3000 but comes with a host of additional content, including standard leather seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (both of which were options before), as well as standard LED headlights, and upgraded interior materials. Also newly optional this year is Jaguar's latest InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system; it adds a second touchscreen that handles the climate-control system and other vehicle controls, as well as a digital gauge cluster, digital rearview mirror, and a wireless-charging pad for phones. The V-6 and diesel engine options are dropped for 2020. Jaguar has announced that the XE will not return to North America for the 2021 model year.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

We'd stick with the purity of the rear-drive S model, and with the newly updated interior materials and standard leather seats, it isn't necessary to spend a lot extra on upgrades. Adding in all the niceties such as a heated steering wheel (part of the $620 Cold Climate Pack that includes a heated windshield and headlight washers), passive entry (part of a $1200 Convenience Pack), the new multi-screen Touch Pro Duo infotainment ($1950), and adaptive cruise control (bundled in a $1700 Drive Pack) puts the XE solidly into the territory of well-equipped competitors such as the Audi A4, BMW 330i, and Genesis G70, where the XE unfortunately becomes less compelling.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

With the 380-hp supercharged V-6 and the diesel four-cylinder gone for 2020, the XE can no longer sprint to 60 mph in less than five seconds or achieve more than 40 mpg on the highway like it used to. What's left is a turbo four-cylinder in two power levels, 247 or 296 horsepower. At least it's reasonably quiet and refined, although the engine doesn't lead the class in either performance or fuel economy (the BMW 330i beats it on both fronts).

The XE delivers outstanding body control over bumps and through corners, and provides a livable ride quality. An adaptive suspension with multiple firmness settings is offered, but it isn't as wholly excellent as the standard setup. The electric power steering delivers uncommon feedback from the front tires to the driver's hands, which is a major confidence booster when driving hard. We appreciate the much improved cornering grip and sharper steering responses on XEs wearing optional summer tires rather than the standard all-season rubber.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The XE's entry-level, 247-hp four-cylinder engine is rated at 34 mpg on the highway, which stacks up well against the competition. However, we couldn't match that in our highway-fuel-economy test, where our all-wheel-drive XE only achieved 31 mpg. That's way off of the stellar 42 mpg we saw in a rear-drive BMW 330i, and in addition to being more efficient, the BMW is also much quicker.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Jaguar's interior aesthetic is clean and modern, with generally high-quality materials—which got even better with the 2020 updates—and is the perfect match for the XE's handsome exterior. The driver faces a nicely shaped steering wheel, an analog tachometer and speedometer, and an optional digital gauge cluster. The XE's dashboard boasts large, easy-to-read climate controls with stand-alone temperature readouts. With a wide range of adjustability for its steering column and front seats, the driver and front-seat passenger have space to spare. If only Jaguar could have shifted some of that extra room to the rear seat, which is tighter than most of the competition's aft quarters.

On paper, at least, the XE's trunk volume is class competitive, and it has a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat to expand that capacity when needed. Our real-world cargo-capacity testing revealed the XE's trunk to have less usable space than most of its competitors, even those with technically smaller trunks. What's more, the Jag's rear seats are difficult to fold flat.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Every XE comes with a 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and the latest version of Jaguar's InControl Touch Pro software. InControl Touch Pro is easy to use with navigable menus and a slick appearance, but we've noticed some bugs and significant lag time in this system and in other Jaguar products. InControl Touch Pro also includes navigation; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard for 2020.

New this year is the ability to upgrade to Jaguar's latest InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system from the I-Pace EV. It's part of the $1950 Technology Pack that includes a wireless-charging pad for phones, a head-up display, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a second touchscreen lower in the center stack that controls the climate system. In our experience with this system in the I-Pace, we've found it requires some time to get used to its complexities.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Nearly every modern safety technology feature is available on the XE, with an emphasis on "available." Few of the features are standard, except on upper trim levels. Meanwhile, neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have crash-tested the XE, so it's not possible to say how safe the XE really is. Key safety features include:

• Available automated emergency braking
• Available lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control
• Standard driver-drowsiness monitoring

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

In an effort to assuage buyers who might be wary of its checkered reliability record, Jaguar provides a nearly class-leading warranty; the Genesis G70, with its 100,000-mile powertrain coverage, is the only competitor to offer a longer policy. Similar to other luxury marques, Jaguar offers complimentary scheduled maintenance. But unlike other luxury brands, Jaguar's complimentary scheduled maintenance extends a meaningful five years or 60,000 miles, whichever come first.

• Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles