All-New Chassis and Diesel Engine

To re-enter the D-segment, which had been vacant for some time, Jaguar made no compromises. The body, over 75 percent aluminum, is entirely new. The suspension has been redesigned to match, and the drivetrain, adhering to Jaguar tradition with longitudinal engine and rear-wheel drive (all-wheel drive will be added later), features the new-generation "Ingenium" 2.0-liter inline-4 diesel turbo engine, developed from scratch.

Additionally, the current XF's 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline turbo and 3.0-liter V6 gasoline supercharged engines are also available, creating a comprehensive lineup.

Gearboxes include the latest 8-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual. Advanced safety features, including automatic braking, and connectivity functions are also seamlessly integrated, resulting in a new model, the XE, that directly challenges the formidable trio of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

Prior to its Japanese debut, I had the opportunity to test drive the XE R-Sport (equipped with the 180ps diesel turbo, with sports passive and sports adaptive suspension options), the XE Portfolio (equipped with the 240ps gasoline turbo, with comfort passive suspension), and the XE S (equipped with the 340ps gasoline supercharged engine and sports adaptive suspension) in Spain. Here, I'll share my impressions.

The XE's greatest appeal, much like other Jaguars, lies in its exceptional balance between handling and ride comfort. While ensuring solid fundamental stability and offering precise steering that responds to minute inputs, the ride is never overly harsh. It absorbs road imperfections smoothly while maintaining a flat posture. In a word, it's perfect.

While the BMW 3 Series in the same class exhibits a similar tendency, I find the XE superior in terms of steering response from the neutral position and its excellent linearity thereafter.

Tuning That Resonates with Human Senses

I particularly want to praise the two suspension settings: Comfort Passive and Sports Adaptive. In contrast, Sports Passive felt a bit too stiff at low speeds compared to the other two, making it slightly less comfortable. Nevertheless, the steering precision and the flat ride that remained undisturbed even on rough roads were astonishingly superb.

This high level of balance between handling and ride comfort is greatly attributed to the integral link rear suspension, which allows for the placement of rubber bushings with entirely different characteristics depending on their purpose and application. For instance, large-volume rubber bushings absorb road inputs that cause unpleasant vibrations, while relatively stiffer bushings are used for parts related to precise tire positioning necessary for accurate handling. Furthermore, the use of a luxurious double-wishbone front suspension completes this outstanding chassis.

However, I suspect that no matter how eloquently I describe its character, it will be difficult to fully grasp the true essence of the XE through words alone. This is because such descriptions are merely a collection of individual evaluation criteria like 'harshness' or 'flatness.' Yet, what impressed me most during this test drive was the world Jaguar aimed to express through its suspension.

There are various evaluation criteria, as mentioned. But ultimately, they are just cold, lifeless numbers. While objective evaluations are certainly necessary in the process of refining an industrial product, it's not guaranteed that a car perfectly suited to human senses will emerge solely from accumulating physically and medically correct data. Cars that we find truly enjoyable to drive are likely born from pursuing optimal values in individual characteristics, followed by tuning that ultimately relies on human intuition.


However, after the "British disease" of the 1970s eroded its finances, British car manufacturers, having gone through a history of acquisitions by foreign companies, took a very long time to find a stable ground.

The Cars British People Truly Want to Build

Fortunately, Jaguar Land Rover found ideal patrons in India's Tata Group, Bentley in the VW Audi Group, and Rolls-Royce in the BMW Group – patrons who provide capital without interfering (though the parent companies might object to this description)—— allowing for an environment where British people can finally build the cars they truly want to create.

Incidentally, Jaguar Land Rover has invested hundreds of millions of pounds to construct new factories for producing the XE's body and engines. In other words, the XE was only made possible through the combination of Jaguar engineers' intellect and passion, and Tata's capital.

While I'm slightly diverging from the main topic, the new "Ingenium" engine is remarkable. Not only is its knocking sound less harsh than one would expect from a diesel, but it also produces a pleasant, clear frequency range of sound proportional to engine speed, making it truly enjoyable.

Furthermore, the smooth rise and fall of RPMs allow for a sporty driving experience akin to a gasoline engine. Personally, I feel it might be slightly more manageable with a bit more low-end torque, but that would compromise the dramatic character it shares with gasoline engines, presenting a bit of a dilemma.

This engine is slated for introduction in Japan, so diesel fans have something to look forward to.

I was fortunate enough to test drive the S model, equipped with this engine, at the Navarra Circuit. Despite its comfortable ride, the suspension proved remarkably robust, maintaining composure even when pushed to its limits on the track. What particularly resonated with me was that it didn't solely prioritize stability, leaving room for the enjoyment of adjusting the car's attitude through throttle control.

Modern and Intelligent Styling

The clean styling, penned by Ian Callum, presents a modern and sporty sedan image while also conveying elegance and intelligence, making it captivating. I had seen the XE several times at auto shows before, but my impression then was simply that it was a 'vague design' lacking sharp edges. However, viewing it under the bright Spanish sun completely changed that impression; it appeared quite sharp, even voluptuous, which was interesting.

The interior design follows Jaguar's latest design language, but the sense of quality could perhaps be a bit higher. However, the impression of the interior can vary significantly depending on the materials and colors of the fascia, so I'd prefer not to make a definitive judgment on this point yet. More notably, the cabin's quietness is among the best in its class. This appears to be largely due to excellent sound insulation; surprisingly, the sound of a car horn is barely audible inside.

During this test drive, which covered nearly 500km over two days on the winding roads of northern Spain, the handling, which faithfully communicated how the tires were interacting with the road surface, was incredibly enjoyable, making the drive engaging throughout.

While there are many choices in the D-segment sedan market, enthusiasts interested in the nuances of chassis dynamics should definitely try the XE.

Jaguar XE 2.0 Diesel R-Sport
Jaguar XE 2.0 Diesel R-Sport
Body Dimensions: Length 4,672 x Width 1,850 x Height 1,416 mm
Wheelbase: 2,835 mm
Tread Front/Rear: 1,602 / 1,603 mm
Weight: (AT) 1,565 (MT) 1,550 kg
Engine: 1,999 cc Inline-4 Diesel Turbo
Bore x Stroke: 83.0 x 92.4 mm
Compression Ratio: 15.5:1
Max. Output: 132 kW (180 ps) / 4,000 rpm
Max. Torque: 430 Nm / 1,750-2,500 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed AT / 6-speed MT
Drivetrain: FR
Front Suspension: Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension: Integral Link
Front Brakes: Ventilated Discs
Rear Brakes: Discs
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 7.8 sec
Max. Speed: 228 km/h
Fuel Economy (EU combined): 4.2 L/100km (approx. 23.8 km/L)
CO2 Emissions: 109 g/km
Trunk Capacity: 450 L
*Specifications for the diesel engine model are for European specifications as certification is pending. Price in Japan: ¥5,490,000

Jaguar XE 2.5 Portfolio
Jaguar XE 2.5 Portfolio
Body Dimensions: Length 4,680 x Width 1,850 x Height 1,415 mm
Wheelbase: 2,835 mm
Tread Front/Rear: 1,600 / 1,605 mm
Weight: 1,640 kg
Engine: 1,998 cc Inline-4 Turbo Gasoline
Bore x Stroke: 87.5 x 83.1 mm
Compression Ratio: 10 ± 0.5:1
Max. Output: 177 kW (240 ps) / 5,500 rpm
Max. Torque: 340 Nm / 1,750 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed AT
Drivetrain: FR
Front Suspension: Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension: Integral Link
Front Brakes: Ventilated Discs
Rear Brakes: Ventilated Discs
Fuel Economy (JC08 mode): 12.5 km/L
Trunk Capacity: 415 L
Price: ¥6,420,000

Jaguar XE 3.0 S
Body Dimensions: Length 4,680 x Width 1,850 x Height 1,415 mm
Wheelbase: 2,835 mm
Tread Front/Rear: 1,600 / 1,585 mm
Weight: 1,710 kg
Engine: 2,994 cc V6 Supercharged
Bore x Stroke: 84.5 x 89.0 mm
Compression Ratio: 10 ± 0.5:1
Max. Output: 250 kW (340 ps) / 6,500 rpm
Max. Torque: 450 Nm / 4,500 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed AT
Drivetrain: FR
Front Suspension: Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension: Integral Link
Front Brakes: Ventilated Discs
Rear Brakes: Ventilated Discs
Fuel Economy (JC08 mode): 10.4 km/L
Trunk Capacity: 415 L
Price: ¥7,690,000

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