2020 Jaguar XE Review

We found the Jaguar XE to be a likable entry-level luxury sedan when it debuted for 2017. On the upside, it offered sharp handling, a smooth ride and an available V6 engine that provided plenty of stirring performance. But we were also critical of the XE's below-average interior materials quality, limited rear-seat space and a rather unrefined engine stop-start system. For car shoppers, flaws such as these can be reason enough to shop the competition instead.

Three model years later, the 2020 Jaguar XE receives a variety of updates. Has Jaguar retained the XE's best traits while addressing its flaws? We made the trek to Jaguar's launch event in southern France to find out.

Something New, Something Old

It's easy to miss the subtle changes to the XE's sporty exterior with a casual walkaround. Up front, the headlights are reshaped and LEDs are standard equipment. The air inlets flanking the grille are larger and aggressive-looking, though upon closer inspection, only the passenger side is actually functional.

Around the back, the bumper is restyled with racy-looking vents (which are purely aesthetic), the exhaust tips are moved farther from the centerline, and the taillights are now LED. More importantly, there are greater changes once you get inside the XE, which we'll get to later.

When it arrives in showrooms this summer, the XE will come in a slimmed-down lineup that consists of two trim levels — S and R-Dynamic S — and two four-cylinder engine options. Those four-cylinder engines carry over unchanged but have different names. The P250 tag (last year it was called the 25t) signifies that the XE comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels or, for an additional $2,000, all four wheels. The P300 (formerly the 30t) has an upgraded version of this engine that produces 296 hp and 295 lb-ft. All-wheel drive is standard on the P300.

Jaguar has discontinued the XE's previous V6 and diesel engines, though some examples of the ultra-high-performance (and very limited-edition) XE Project 8 may still be available.

Prices for the base 2020 Jaguar XE P250 S start at $40,895, including destination fee. The XE P300 R-Dynamic S model starts at $47,290.

Hit the Road, Jag

Unless all-wheel drive is a must-have for you, we suggest sticking with the rear-drive XE P250 S. We didn't feel enough of a difference between that model and the P300 to justify the jump in price, even though Jaguar claims the P300 will reach 60 mph in 5.4 seconds compared to the P250's 6.2 seconds. It's possible that the P300's 175-pound weight penalty from the AWD elements evens the playing field some.

We drove both models on the serpentine roads above the French Riviera over a variety of wet, dry, smooth and bumpy pavement. Both XE test vehicles deliver similar levels of excitement paired with a sure-footed assurance that encourages spirited driving. There is ample cornering grip, steering precision, and power to quicken the pulse while the brakes remain strong after heavy and prolonged use. Gear changes are quick and smooth no matter what you throw at it.

The XE's ride quality remains smooth, which is impressive for a car that corners with such enthusiasm. The cabin is also pleasantly quiet at highway speeds and on rougher surfaces. The four-cylinder engines don't sound particularly inspiring, however, and for that the previous V6 engine option will be missed. Whether on those epic roads or in heavy traffic, the XE is easy to drive. It has a delightful blend of comfort and performance that is emblematic of its German sedan rivals.

Unfortunately, the fuel-saving automatic stop-start ignition system is as slow to react and noticeable as before. It became unbearable in the congested roads in and out of the beach cities. Thankfully, it takes only a single button push to disable. That particular control is on the same row of buttons as the drive mode selector. Switching between Dynamic and Comfort modes doesn't produce much of a difference besides keeping the engine revs higher in Dynamic. The Dynamic mode's sharper throttle response and the adaptive suspension's stiffer ride were more difficult to discern.

The Inside Job

In the Edmunds evaluation of the XE from a scant two years ago, we wrote, "The plastics on the door panels and console sides are disappointing and the fit could be better. Some buttons creak, which doesn't help."

With the refresh for 2020, we're pleased to report this criticism no longer applies. There are more soft-touch materials to make the 2020 XE competitive in its class. Additionally, there are redesigned front seats, larger armrests in the doors, more veneered coverings, larger door pockets, an F-Type pistol-grip gear selector to replace the previous dial, and a new higher-quality steering wheel.

Added to the options list are a head-up display, a dual-screen infotainment display from the I-Pace, a virtual instrument panel, a wireless charging pad, and a virtual rearview mirror.

The new dual-screen display is by far the most visually striking new feature, with the bottom screen handling climate control duties and the top screen taking over the rest of the infotainment functions. It's attractive, but unfortunately it still has some of the slowest responses in the industry. To its credit, we never experienced the system crashes and irritating glitches that have plagued Jaguar Land Rover vehicles in recent years. The inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto goes a long way to making the system easier to live with.

A less obvious but still very welcome addition is a standard acoustically insulated windshield that helps to keep the cabin quieter on the highway. For shoppers in warm climates, we suggest skipping the available heated windshield and its slightly distracting heating elements woven throughout the glass. Also available is a new virtual rearview mirror. A screen in the mirror can project a live feed from a rear-facing camera mounted in the sharkfin antenna. In the high-resolution image the rear roof pillars are eliminated for an unobstructed view. Even the front passenger can look at the mirror to see what's behind the car.

The front seats are spacious enough for taller adults and provide excellent lateral support when tossing the XE around on a curvy road. The rear seats carry over from previous years and are better-suited to smaller passengers. A 5-foot-10-inch rear passenger will be bumping into the headliner, and the short and low seat cushions offer little thigh support. In a pinch or for very short trips, however, they should be fine.

Behind those seats is a larger-than-average trunk that easily accommodates a very large suitcase and a carry-on or two. The narrow opening complicates loading the bags, but the low liftover height at least reduces some of the effort.

2020 Vision

The interior improvements in the 2020 Jaguar XE will likely boost its overall score once we have the opportunity to evaluate it fully. That may make the decision to pick between the Jaguar and competitors Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, Volvo S60 and the all-new BMW 3 Series that much more difficult. But that's a good thing, right?

For our money, the XE P250 S model hits the sweet spot for performance and price. The savings over the P300 R-Dynamic S may allow you to be freer with options, and we'd add the Technology package (head-up and dual displays, virtual mirror and instruments, and the charging pad) as well as the Drive package (blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise and high-speed automatic braking).

On the whole, this refreshed XE is a sleek and appealing alternative to the established and similarly priced German sedans. The Volvo S60 does enjoy a healthy price advantage over all of these models, but we think the extra expense for the Jag compared to the Volvo is worth it.

By the time the Jaguar XE was released just two years ago, new-car buyers were already plunging headfirst into the crossover pool. It took a lot of confidence to produce a new sedan as the market was moving toward SUVs, and the car would have had to be amazing to succeed. Unfortunately, the XE was not a hit; Jaguar successfully infused the XE with the automaker's characteristically sporty driving dynamics, but the cabin was tight by the segment's standards, and the base engine too slow. Even worse, the subpar cabin materials and panel fitment made it feel like a nice compact car rather than a true luxury sedan. To put it generously, there was plenty of room for improvement.

The upcoming refresh aims to address some of these issues. The 2020 Jaguar XE debuts this summer with a new look, a revised infotainment system and an upgraded interior, among other enhancements. The revisions should make the 2020 model much more competitive than the current version, though concerns about roominess and base engine performance are likely to remain.

A More Upscale, High-Tech Interior

A handful of new styling cues — including near front and rear bumpers, a wider grille and redesigned taillights — help distinguish the 2020 model from previous years, but the most significant changes are inside. Front and center is the optional InControl Touch Pro Duo system, composed of two touchscreens that control the majority of the car's settings. The upper 10-inch screen governs the infotainment system, while the lower screen and two physical rotary knobs handle adjustments to the climate control.

In addition to the new center stack, Jaguar has taken the opportunity to flesh out the XE's other tech offerings. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — available as part of an option package on last year's model — are now standard on all trim levels. Wireless device charging, a digital rearview mirror, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and automated parallel and perpendicular parking are all newly available on the options list. There's even a feature that recognizes the key fob and driver's phone to automatically adjust the seating and steering column position.

Rounding out the interior improvements are increased use of soft-touch materials. Jaguar says the doors, dashboard and center-console sides are outfitted with premium touch points, though it's unclear whether this means richer plastics or imitation leather coverings. While the previous model — and most other compact sedans — are upholstered in faux leather in lower trim levels, the 2020 XE features genuine leather across the board. We also like the move from a popup rotary knob to a traditional shifter, similar to the one in Jaguar's F-Type sports car.

A Less Powerful Engine Bay

It looks like Jaguar will be killing off the range-topping 380-horsepower supercharged V6 and relying on two turbocharged four-cylinder options instead. P250 models will make 247 horsepower, while P300 models will make 296 hp. We were never big fans of the 247-hp four-cylinder, and it's disappointing to lose the cat-like growl of the V6. Also dead is the turbodiesel engine, a loss few American buyers are likely to mourn.

As with last year's model, rear-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The R-Dynamic S comes with all-wheel drive standard, along with various performance upgrades and the more powerful four-cylinder.

Pricing and Release Date

Including destination charges, the 2020 Jaguar XE starts at $40,895 for the base model, or roughly $3,000 more than the 2019 XE. The price hike is partially due to the increased amount of standard content.