Jaguar XE First Look review

Jaguar is all set to launch the XE, their entry-level luxury sedan for the Indian market next month. It is the carmaker's first model to make use of Jaguar Land Rover’s new modular vehicle architecture and is expected to set a benchmark for driving dynamics in the midsize segment of cars.

The Jaguar XE is presently the only car in its class to use an aluminium-intensive monocoque chassis. The incorporation of lightweight aluminium in its construction, which accounts to 75 per cent of the structure, has helped the manufacturer to keep the vehicle as light as possible. And despite the lightweight construction, Jaguar's fifth-generation bonded and riveted aluminium technology brings in high strength and rigidity to the body. The XE is being called the true driver's car in the segment and is expected to set a new standard for ride and handling.

Globally, the XE is available in both petrol as well as diesel engine options. However, for the Indian market, only the petrol version will be offered in two states of tune. The XE powered by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine will be tuned to produce 197bhp in one trim and 237bhp of power in another variant. We might just be offered the eight-speed automatic gearbox, unlike the six-speed manual transmission offered in international markets.

Aesthetically, the Jaguar XE is similar to the other cars from the Leaping Cat brand. In fact, the XE looks like a smaller version of the XF and gets a similar muscular appearance. Up front the broad grille and headlamps give the fascia an aggressive styling and the sharp lines continue this flow towards the rear.

Knowing Jaguar's products to always have a bit of exclusivity, the XE will also host a range of new features like the other Jaguar cars. This includes Softgrain Windsor leather seats, panoramic sliding sunroof, interior mood lighting, navigation system, 380-watts Meridian sound system, surround camera system, torque vectoring by braking and All Surface Progress Control (ASPC).

The Jaguar XE will compete in the mid-level luxury sedan segment, which has cars like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It is likely to be priced in the range of Rs 30 lakh to Rs 45 lakh. Initially, the car will be brought to India via the CBU route, but the carmaker will be able to price it more competitively when they start local assembly of the product.