Yahoo Autos Performance and Driving Impressions
Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:
Judged only by its suspension and steering, the XE would merit five stars. The athletic sedan handles sharply, even more so on its available summer tires, and communicates grip levels through the steering wheel more fluently than any competitor save for Alfa Romeo’s Giulia.
What’s New for 2018?
Of the two new four-cylinder engines, we’ve only had a chance to test the lowly 247-hp version, which delivered sleepy results at our test track. Around town, the new gasoline-burning four-cylinder delivers adequate pep and is much more refined than the supercharged V-6 it replaces. For those seeking high-performance shenanigans, the XE S still sports the same supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, which makes 40 horsepower more than the 35t R-Sport model we tested last year.
Test Results: Acceleration
Test Results: Maximum Cornering Capability
Test Results: Maximum Braking Capability
2017 Jaguar XE
Acceleration
The XE is heavy for its size, which rounds off the supercharged V-6 engine’s edge sufficiently to keep it from having class-leading quickness. Still, the six sounds better when it’s caned than when driven lightly, and it delivers its power in a smooth, linear manner.
The four-cylinder is markedly pokier and uninspiring, and the diesel is downright slow; it meets prods of the accelerator pedal with laggy responses and uneven torque delivery. In short, the diesel lopes around and is prone to surging as its prodigious torque builds; at higher speeds, the diesel flat runs out of breath.
Test Results: Acceleration
Ride, Handling, and Steering
Jaguar’s XE excels here, with outstanding body control over bumps and through corners and a livable ride quality. An adaptive suspension with multiple firmness settings is offered, but it isn’t as wholly excellent as the standard setup. The electric power steering delivers uncommon feedback from the front tires to the driver’s hands, a major confidence booster when driving hard. We have recorded notably better grip figures for models equipped with summer tires than those with all-season rubber: our long-term XE on summers pulled 0.93 g on the skidpad compared with the less impressive 0.87 g registered by the car tested here, which was wearing all-season shoes. The cars running summer tires have slightly sharper responses as well.
Test Results: Maximum Cornering Capability
Braking
As we’ve noted among several recent Jaguar products, the XE’s brake pedal sinks through about an inch of travel before its resistance (and the brakes’ response) increases. Deeper into the pedal’s travel, the brakes feel strong; the stopping distances they provide are solid, if unimpressive compared to some competitors.
Test Results: Maximum Braking Capability
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