2020 Jaguar XE long-term test review: report 8

The car Jaguar XE 2.0 D180 SE R-Dynamic AWD auto Run by Steve Huntingford, editor

Why it’s here To see if Jaguar’s recently refreshed executive car impresses or frustrates when you live with it every day

Needs to Combine fun handling with relaxing cruising manners and a prestige feel with low running costs

Miles 5486 List price £39,800 Target Price £36,730 Price as tested £47,410 Official economy 46.4mpg Test economy 34.6mpg

8 June 2020 – All in the detail

My main reason for running an XE was to see if the recent mid-life update has significantly improved Jaguar’s most affordable model, and the answer is absolutely – particularly in terms of the look and feel of its interior.

However, while driving to my first new car launch since we resumed testing, I pulled into the services for fuel and was reminded that the exterior redesign also makes quite a difference.

It’s not that the changes are massive; we’re just talking about new lights and bumpers. And yet parking alongside an original XE highlighted how much sharper the new car looks, thanks to its slimmer, LED headlights and bigger vents.

The rear is more appealing, too, mainly because the taillights actually have a bit of shape to them now, whereas previously they only became interesting when illuminated.

And after seeing that original car with its chrome detailing, I’m more convinced than ever that I was right to specify the £350 Exterior Black Pack, which deletes the lot – and with it any whiff of the old school.

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