Jaguar XE Diesel Review
Car Tested: Jaguar XE Diesel; Road Test No. 905
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 42.92 – 54.42 lakhs
The XE is finally armed with a diesel motor to make an impact in its segment
When the much awaited XE, a.k.a. the baby Jag was first unveiled, it took the segment by storm because it was awaited since years with rumours time and again of its arrival. When Jaguar launched the XE in India, they only offered it with a petrol engine and that too the fantastic 25T which didn’t make us miss the diesel. However, diesel being the fuel of choice in this segment meant that Jaguar had to bring in the oil burner and we have finally got to test it.
Motor Quest: The Jaguar XE was first launched in India in 2016 only with a petrol powertrain. Now with a diesel mill under the hood, it’s about time the baby Jag brought some volumes for the British carmaker. Will it?
The rear profile looks quite sleek and elegant
Exteriors – Nothing much has changed on the XE Diesel. Both the petrol and diesel versions of the XE are identical when it comes to looks and equipment. We’re driving the mid-level Prestige trim of the XE which gets black radiator grille with chrome surrounds, Bi-function Xenon headlights with J-blade LED DRLs, chrome side window surrounds and 17-inch alloy wheels which end up looking very basic. The British marquee could have offered at least a different design for the mid and top level trims. The rear is minimalist-looking too with only the sloping roofline and the LED tail-lights adding some bling.
Minimalistic approach follows to the cabin too; quality of plastics could have been better
Interiors – The cabin of the XE diesel is very much like its exterior, understated. The dashboard is neatly laid-out but is quite a mixed-bag of premium as well as not so premium materials. For instance, some buttons have the click sound which just robs away the premium quotient. That said, the air-con controls are neatly laid-out below the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Overall the cabin is a nice place to be in and comes loaded with features. In this Prestige trim, you get leather upholstery, interior mood lighting, Meridian Sound system, cruise control and speed limiter, dark satin brushed aluminium inlays and power folding and auto-dimming heated door mirrors with memory function. The front and rear seats offer good support and comfort but the headroom is a little tight owing to the sloping roofline. Anyone below 5’10” should be comfortable in the rear seat. However, due to the tall transmission tunnel and protruding rear AC vents, the third passenger would feel he/she was uninvited. The 455-litres boot is as practical as it can get. Unlike the Mercedes C-Class and the BMW 3-Series, the XE’s boot is flat and wide and moreover, the space saver tyre is neatly tucked away under the floor.
With its performance and driveability, the XE makes you smile whenever you are behind the wheel
Performance – The Jaguar XE diesel is powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine which is called Ingenium. This motor produces 180 PS at 4000 RPM and 430 Nm at 1750 – 2500 RPM, resulting in 0-100 km/hr coming up in 7.8 seconds while the top speed is 228 km/hr. It does pull well lower down and turbo lag is well contained with the mid-range being the strongest point of this powertrain as it’s between 2000 and 4000 RPM where this Jag pulls strong, there isn’t much of a top-end with redline coming up at 4900 RPM. It isn’t the most refined motor as it’s quite audible but in a good way as the sound from the twin exhausts is a bit sporty for a diesel.
Post the 2000 RPM mark, the engine picks up pace enthusiastically
Leaving aside the BMW 3-Series, the XE is the next best luxury sedan in its segment that caters to a driving enthusiast
There are 4 driving modes – Normal, Eco, Winter and Dynamics (with a chequered flag), these alter the engine, steering and AC, not the gearbox as the S mode on the rotary gear selector does that. In S mode, it holds the revs all the way, upshifting slightly below 4500 RPM while if you use the paddles, it will go into manual mode and not upshift till you do so. The gearbox is very quick with shifts, sometimes too fast as it downshifts when you don’t need it but I like the enthusiasm, especially in the city wherein stop-go traffic, this Jag feels just too punchy but you learn to modulate the throttle.
With both petrol and diesel variants on offer, the British automaker will now look at getting significant volumes
Driving Dynamics – The XE is the first Jaguar to come with an electric steering which has superb feel and feedback. Not only does the steering weigh up well at speeds, it feels connected all throughout. Jaguar has achieved very good weight distribution (near 50:50) and that’s due to the use of aluminium not only in the chassis but also in the suspension. Then there are a slew of electronics too but the one to really talk about is torque vectoring which applies brake to the inside wheel while cornering to maintain control.
The XE Diesel is the second most affordable entry level luxury sedan in its segment
Being a rear-wheel drive, the Jaguar XE does feel a bit oversteery but the electronics make sure you point where you want to, although you can still have some fun. In spite of being a good handler and stiffly sprung, this BMW 3-Series rival has a fantastic ride quality wherein it absorbs almost everything in its stride other than the bigger bumps on the road where it just thuds. The brakes on this car offer good stopping power and the XE remains glued to the road at high speeds.
In terms of sales and service network, Jaguar lags behind its German rivals
Safety and After Sales Service – While the after sales network isn’t as great as its German rivals, the Tata-owned brand is steadily expanding and is committed to giving peace of mind to its customers. In terms of safety features, the XE Diesel gets multiple airbags, Surround Camera System (offered in the top-end Portfolio trim only), Start/Stop System, Torque Vectoring, Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Hill Launch Assist and Jaguar Smart Key System (keyless entry, offered in the top-end Portfolio trim only).
The XE Diesel makes for a good buy in the entry level luxury sedan segment
Verdict – The Jaguar XE with the addition of a diesel engine, becomes a more compelling package. The 240 BHP petrol version is, without doubt, one of the best cars in the segment but the diesel, although lacking the same levels of excitement, still manages to bring in the fun factor with its fantastic balance between ride and handling, not to forget more economical running costs. Factor in the current 3-Series is on its way out and you realise that the XE is currently the driver’s delight in the segment.
What’s Cool
* Understated yet sporty looks
* Fun to drive car
* Good balance of ride and handling
What’s Not So Cool
* Quality of plastics inside the cabin could have been better
* Diesel motor not as exciting as the petrol
Alternatives: Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Volvo S60
The rear seat in the XE is comfy but not for someone who’s above 5’10”
Jaguar XE Diesel Specifications
* Engine: 1999cc, 4-Cyl, Turbocharged Diesel
* Power: 180 PS @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 430 Nm @ 1750-2500 RPM
* Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
* 0-100 km/hr: 7.8 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 13.06 km/l (ARAI)
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: Double wishbone (Front), Multi-Link (Rear)
* Tyres: 225/45/17
* Brakes: Disc brakes (front and rear), ABS
* Safety: 7 Airbags, ABS, EBD, Hill Hold Assist, TCS, ESP
Jaguar XE Diesel Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4795 mm X 2075 mm X 1416 mm
* Wheelbase: 2835 mm
* Kerb weight: 1604 kgs
* Turning radius: 5.85-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 56-litres
The F-type-like LED tail-lights add a hint of sophistication to the otherwise minimalist rear profile
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