The 2020 Jaguar XE Ditches the V-6, Gains Sharper Styling and More Touchscreens
The Jaguar XE has received a facelift that brings fresh styling and new infotainment tech.
A dual-touchscreen setup is now available, similar to the one found in the I-Pace.
The V-6 and turbo-diesel engines have been dropped from the lineup.
When the Jaguar XE was first released in 2014, it was a totally fresh entry in the competitive entry-luxury sports sedan segment. But it didn't hit the U.S. market until late 2016, and it took a while for the XE's engine lineup to get fully fleshed out. Since then, major competitors like the BMW 3-series, Mercedes-Benz C-class, and Volvo S60 have either received complete redesigns or major refreshes, pushing the XE toward the middle of the class. Now, the XE has been given a comprehensive list of enhancements for 2020, bringing the car more in line with the competition in terms of technology and fresh styling.
The XE has always been a sharp-looking car, but fairly subtle styling changes have actually done a lot to improve the look of the XE and keep it looking up to date. LED headlights with a more modern design are now standard, and the LED taillights have been redesigned to align with those of other Jaguar models like the E-Pace. The grille is larger and has a new mesh design, the front bumper has bigger openings and is more angular, and the rear diffuser has been redesigned. R-Dynamic models get different front and rear fascias with an even more aggressive look.
Even bigger changes have been brought to the interior. The XE gets Jaguar Land Rover's latest InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system as an option, which augments the standard 10.0-inch upper touchscreen with a smaller 5.5-inch unit between the knobs on the lower dash. The setup is similar to the one found in the electric I-Pace crossover, with the lower screen controlling secondary functions including climate control and vehicle settings. A new steering wheel is brought over from the I-Pace, and the new electronic shifter has been taken from the F-type, as has a new driving-mode toggle switch. Jaguar has redesigned the XE's door panels and armrests, which it says has increased storage space and improved comfort. Higher-quality finishes and new soft-touch materials have been applied to many of the interior surfaces, and leather seating is now standard.
The engine lineup now consists only of JLR's Ingenium turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four in two different states of tune, with either 247 or 296 horsepower (badged as P250 or P300). Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is an option. The 2.0-liter turbo-diesel has been dropped, as has the sweet supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 that powered the range-topping XE S model. A Jaguar spokesperson told C/D that there are currently no plans to stick JLR's new turbocharged, supercharged, and hybridized inline-six in the XE. So, at least for now, the P300 model is the top of the XE food chain. A Dynamic Handling package is a new option, which brings larger brakes, a rear spoiler, adjustable dampers, and configurable driving modes.
In addition to the dual-screen setup, the XE gets more new tech that wasn't on offer before. Wireless device charging, a digital rearview mirror (with the camera mounted in the shark-fin antenna), and a driver-attention monitor are all newly available features. The optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster has been improved, as has the optional head-up display. Power front seats, lane-keeping assist, parking sensors, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the LED head- and taillights are newly standard.
The trim-level hierarchy has been extremely simplified, with the P250 available only in S trim and the P300 only in R-Dynamic S trim. The 2020 XE will hit U.S. dealerships this summer, with a starting price of $40,895 for a rear-wheel-drive P250 model; all-wheel drive adds $2000. That's a $2905 jump over the current base XE, the rear-drive 25t. The higher-powered, all-wheel-drive-only P300 is $47,290, which is $720 pricier than the current cheapest way to get that powertrain, the XE 30t Premium AWD.
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