Used Jaguar XE long-term test review
We've always admired the compact executive Jaguar XE, but how does it stack up as a used buy? We've got four months to find out if this is the cat that got the cream or a potential sourpuss...
The car 2017 Jaguar XE 2.0 240 R-Sport
Run by Mark Pearson, used cars deputy editor
Why it’s here To find out if buying a one-year-old compact executive Jag makes good sense, and to see if it’s a viable alternative to a new car with a less premium badge for the same money
Needs to Cope with a variety of uses, including daily commuting, motorway journeys, school runs and family life, as well as sprinkling a little Jaguar magic on the everyday, and proving itself against its executive rivals
Price when new £40,125 Price when new with all options £57,000 Price new now £41,930 Value on arrival £32,000 Miles on arrival 9950 Miles now 12,095 Official economy 54.4mpg Test economy 36.6mpg Emissions 137g/km CO2 0-62mph 6.1sec Top speed 155mph Power 237bhp Insurance group 32E
12th December - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
The more eagle-eyed will have spotted the enormous discrepancy in prices between our Jag’s price when new and price with all the options attached.
The Firenze Red paintwork, for starters, was a £650 option, and our car sits on 19in black split-spoke alloy wheels, a £1255 extra. Now, the basic XE is a handsome-looking thing, and I sometimes think our top-spec Jag in comparison looks a little overdone, like a young girl wearing too much make up. Everyone else seems to love it, however, so that might just be me, yearning for the simplistic.
I do like the adaptive and configurable dynamics option, though, that enables you to switch between different settings to enhance responses to the engine, transmission and steering, and fine-tune the ride quality. And why would you not want heated rear seats - as well as privacy glass - to make your family feel important, and an electric rear window sunblind to keep the paparazzi at bay?
Up front there’s a 10in dual view touchscreen, so you and your front-seat passenger can view different things at the same time, which I must admit is something I’ve yet to find a use for. Pleasingly, the graphics are clear and the response to the touch much better than Jag screens of old. Our advanced parking assist pack with surround camera was £1610 well spent, too, and helps to avoid bumps and scrapes in car parks.
One of the more expensive options was the pro navigation pack with an 825w Meridian sound system, at £2545. I must admit I’m trying to figure out why I would want to have my regular commute displayed on the screen when I get in the car, as presumably if it is a regular commute I should already know it? However, the audio’s great, especially for speech and pop music.
In fact, there are so many luscious goodies on offer it comes as a bit of a surprise to note that the XE doesn’t have a sunroof. Well, I suppose even our fully loaded and rather splendid Jag can’t have everything. What it does have is four-wheel drive, though, so should our festive season prove snowy (bring it on, Rudolph!) I'm sure our steady and stable luxo-express will see us through it with its usual dynamic aplomb, with nary a present undelivered.
