Jaguar XE saloon - Interior & comfort

As the XE aged, it became clear that Jaguar needed to up its game to contend with newer rivals, and the result was a major interior redesign in early 2019 that incorporated its latest know-how from the Jaguar I-Pace. It's now a far more attractive and better quality place to spend time, putting most rivals in the shade.

Jaguar XE dashboard

The XE's wraparound dashboard cocoons the driver and front-seat passenger without causing claustrophobia. The seats are mounted low to give a sportier feel, although they offer plenty of adjustability. Depending on the trim level you choose, there's a wide range of upholstery choices, too.

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Slip into the driver's seat and you'll immediately notice high quality materials, with more attractive wood and plastics adorning the centre console and even a higher grade of leather for the seats. Meanwhile, the 'hockey puck' circular gear selector has been ditched in favour of a stubby lever inspired by the one in the Jaguar F-Type. This now has a wireless charging pad sat ahead of it. The steering wheel has been redesigned and decluttered, and the door cards look neater too.

In big news for owners, the old infotainment system has also been switched for the latest Pivi Pro system found in the I-Pace.

There are a few flaws, though: the driver's-side air vent is mounted too low, so it blasts air straight onto your hand, and the sweeping windscreen pillars come a little close to the driver and front passenger's heads.

Equipment

Jaguar has revisited its trim levels for the XE – as of mid-2022, the D200 diesel is offered in R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE, R-Dynamic Black and R-Dynamic HSE trim levels, while the P250 is offered solely in R-Dynamic HSE and the P300 in 300 Sport trim. The entry-level R-Dynamic S trim comes with LED headlights, leather seats and 10-inch Pivi Pro infotainment, along with 18-inch alloy wheels and a driver assistance pack that includes lane-keeping assistance, 3D surround cameras, emergency braking, cruise control and traffic sign recognition. 

R-Dynamic SE adds folding door mirrors, keyless entry, a digital instrument cluster, sat nav blind spot assistance, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

Boosting luxury further, R-Dynamic HSE adds 19-inch wheels, along with Windsor leather seats, and a second lower touchscreen replaces the analogue climate controls. 
 

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Options

Many of the most popular options are grouped together in packs. The Dynamic Handling Pack adds adaptive driving dynamics that are also driver-configurable, a boot lid spoiler and uprated brakes. 

The Cold Climate Plus Pack should suit many Brits and adds headlight washers, a heated steering wheel and cabin preconditioning, which allows you to set the temperature of the inside of the car before you get in.

The Convenience pack has a powered boot-lid that you can open with a wave of your foot, additional power sockets for charging mobile devices, and an electric rear sunblind.

Technology

One new piece of tech found in the Jaguar XE is its 'ClearSight' rear-view mirror, which uses a wide-angle rear camera to display a digital image. According to Jaguar, the benefit is that this view remains the same regardless of passengers in the back, poor light or bad weather, improving rearwards visibility.

There's a range of safety and assistance systems available on the XE, including parking sensors all-round, as well as optional cameras to help you place the car in tight spots. This is handy, because visibility isn't great, while autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot detection help when you're on the move, too.