The default choices in the premium compact sports sedan segment all wear German badges, namely those from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Buyers, however, also have other, highly credible alternatives to the 3-Series, C-Class and A4, such as the highly acclaimed Alfa Romeo Giulia and, from the 2020MY, the improved Jaguar XE.
The latter is the subject of this review by Australia’s CarSales, who had a go in it and reported that it is quite competent in… well, pretty much everything.
Compared to the previous iteration, the 2020 XE looks more aggressive, features new LED headlights and taillights, redesigned bumpers and, in R-Dynamic trim, some dark accents.
Also Read: Jaguar XE Old Vs. New: Let’s See What’s Different
The interior has gone through a mild makeover, welcoming a 5.5-inch infotainment system mounted a bit lower, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, ClearSight rearview camera mirror and a new steering wheel. The gear selector comes from the F-Type and there’s now a wireless charging pad as well. In addition, the materials used are of higher quality, so hopefully owners won’t have to complain about rattles anymore.
Point the wheels to wherever you want to go and the XE will respond instantly, thanks to the accurate and direct steering. The ride quality isn’t bad either, either on 18- or 19-inch wheels, but this is pretty much the limit, as the 20-inch ones will make it quite jiggly even with the adaptive dampers.
So, cam the revised Jag lure you away from its direct rivals and, better yet, does it deserve spending your hard earned money on it? Head on down to find out.