2017 Jaguar XE: The house cat that roars

Published 12:00 am Sunday, June 19, 2016

The 2017 Jaguar XE can be ordered with three different engines and either rear- or all-wheel-drive, depending on your driving style.

Jaguar makes some of the finest performance and luxury cars on the market, but the brand needed an affordable entry-level luxury car — and that’s why Jaguar has brought out the all-new XE, a compact four-door sedan designed to compete with affordable luxury cars like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3-Series.

The Jaguar XE starts at $35,895, including destination fees. That gets you a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 240 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque. Performance is still a Jaguar hallmark, and the most basic rear-wheel-drive XE will accelerate from 0-60 in just 6.5 seconds and returns 21 MPG city and 30 MPG on the highway.

Buyers concerned with fuel economy can choose a turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine. This engine uses urea-based diesel exhaust fluid injection system to meet emissions standards, and delivers 180 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. The diesel-powered XE moves from 0-60 in just 7.5 seconds. The EPA has not yet released fuel economy estimates, but I saw over 40 MPG on the highway. The 2017 Jaguar XE with diesel starts at $37,395.

At the top of the line, you can get your XE with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine rated at 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. This engine will hit 60 MPH in just 5.1 seconds, and still delivers the same fuel economy as the four-cylinder gas engine. The supercharged XE starts at $42,695.

All XE models come with an 8-speed automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels. Diesel and V6 models can be purchased with rear-wheel or Jaguar’s torque-on-demand all-wheel-drive system.

The base XE comes with a full set of features and a quality leatherette interior. If you choose any of the upgrade trim levels, you get leather and a true luxury environment. The technology and safety story on the XE is also impressive. Optional safety features include lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, a surround camera system, parking assist, and autonomous emergency braking.

On the technology side, you’ll get Jaguar’s InControl app support, and there’s even an app to manage the XE from your Apple watch. Every XE comes with at least an 8-inch touchscreen interface and Bluetooth hands-free phone support.

On the road, the XE has excellent manners. You can forget you’re in a compact car, because the XE rides and drives like a mid-size. Jaguar has not lost any of their sports car skills, and the XE is perfect for spirited driving. The bottom line is easy — if you’re shopping for affordable luxury in a compact city-friendly sedan, the XE should be on your list.

2017 Jaguar XE

Base price: $35,895

Price as tested: $42,695

Type: Compact Sedan

Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (240 hp, 251 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

EPA estimated mileage: 21/30

Road noise: Very Quiet

Curb weight: 3,795 pounds

Final assembly: Solihull, England