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Jaguar’s smallest sedan enters its second year with more standard and optional equipment, more power, and additional trim levels.
What's New for 2018
While Jaguar’s new budget four-cylinder is noteworthy, the real news is at the other end of XE offerings. New to the 35t range are the options-rich limited-edition Portfolio trim and the performance-oriented S, which – at 380 horsepower – is a 40-hp bump over other 35ts.
Choosing Your Jaguar XE
Jaguar offers the XE with the choice of three engines. The base model uses a new-for-2018 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder. Dubbed the 25t, it produces 247 hp and 269 pound-feet of torque and returns 25 miles per gallon in the city, 34 on the highway, and 28 combined. This engine is available on all but the range-topping XE S trim.
The 20d uses a 2.0-liter, turbodiesel four-cylinder to develop 180 hp and 318 lb-ft of torque – the EPA hasn't gotten around to evaluating this engine's fuel economy, but it should easily be the most efficient XE. Like the 25t, the diesel engine is available on XE, XE Premium, XE Prestige, and XE R-Sport models.
Finally, the 35t uses Jaguar's popular 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 to produce either 340 or 380 hp, depending on which trim level you select. The 340-hp version is available on the XE Premium, XE Prestige, and XE R-Sport, where it returns up to 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway for 24 mpg combined. Jaguar limits the 380-hp engine to the range-topping XE S trim.
All three engines send their power to the rear wheels via a standard eight-speed automatic – all-wheel drive is optional across the line.
Base
In addition to its pretty looks, the base XE is available with either of the four-cylinder engines. Despite its entry level status, this trim packs all the safety features you’d expect in a car at this price point, plus a few you might not. This includes hill launch assist, Jaguar’s handling-improving torque-vectoring by braking system and all-surface stability control. While it's the bottom rung on the XE ladder, it comes standard with a power sunroof, 10-way power driver's seat, and HD radio. That said, you'll also have to make do with leatherette upholstery, a relatively-small 8-inch touchscreen, halogen headlights, and a decidedly down-market interior look and feel.
Premium
Premium – which is the lowest rung on the 35t ladder at $43,520 – adds $2,600 to the base price of either four-cylinder XE. It includes auto-dimming and power-folding mirrors, driver’s seat and mirror memory, a 40/20/40 split folding rear seat, a rearview camera, HomeLink and a 380-watt Meridian sound system. As it’s basically “fancy base”, however, you’re still stuck with the plain-Jane interior.
Prestige
This trim adds $3,900 regardless of engine, and starts to make the XE feel like a Jag. You get real leather upholstery, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable steering column with memory, keyless entry, a navigation system and other interior dress-ups.
It's is at this point that the XE trim level tree splits in two, giving buyers the choice of sticking with the luxury-oriented theme to its ultimate conclusion in the 35t Portfolio model or jumping on the performance bandwagon and opting for an R-Sport or 35t S.
Portfolio Limited Edition
Only available with the 3.0-liter, supercharged V6, the Portfolio $10,485 to the XE's starting price, bringing the total perilously close to a mid-level Jaguar XF (the XE’s bigger, prettier sister).
But if you want the absolute best Jaguar has to offer equipment-wise – and aren't bothered by the standard V6's consumption, then this is your trim. The list of upgrades and now-standard equipment is longer than your arm, but the highlights include: Adaptive Xenon headlamps with washers, 18-way heated and cooled front seats with heated rear seats (all clad in Jaguar’s premium Windsor leather), a 12.3-inch full-TFT interactive driver display with heads-up capability, a navigation system with 10-inch touch screen and WiFi hotspot, an 825-watt Meridian sound system, lane keep assist, driver condition monitor, and blind spot monitor, front and rear parking aids and reverse traffic detection.
R-Sport
Should your tastes trend towards the sportier end of the spectrum, you can outfit any XE Prestige with the R-Sport appearance and equipment upgrade. Not only will that gird your XE in an R-Sport-exclusive full body kit – including a new front fascia, unique chrome and body-colored accents (which can be blacked out for $360 more), R-Sport badges and a decklid spoiler – but it adds R-Sport-specific interior trim, leather sports seats and multi-function steering wheel as well.
Best of all, however, is the fact that Jaguar isn’t making you choose between performance and higher-end features. The R-Sport gets a good deal of the goodies found on the Portfolio, too, including the driver-assistance electronics, xenon headlights with washers, and more, with just about every other piece of Portfolio equipment a few (admittedly expensive) options packages away.
(35t) S
At $53,720, the S does not seem much of a jump from the $51,020 35t R-Sport. And while that’s financially true, when it comes to its equipment, it not only includes S-branded versions of the R-Sport’s appearance and interior features, but includes even more Portfolio-grade safety, comfort, and convenience items atop those in the R-Sport.
The most important upgrades, of course, are in the performance department, and they do not disappoint. Not only does the supercharged V6 gain an extra 40 hp, but it adds driver-controllable adaptive electronic handling systems to help drivers take full advantage of the additional grunt. If spirited driving is your thing, this is the XE for you.
If you’re in the market for a Jaguar sedan, the XE is your entry point in more ways than one. Not only does it offer the cheapest path to Jag ownership, it also offers higher-end buyers the opportunity to sample most of the best luxury and tech features Jaguar has to offer in a (relatively) economical way. Regardless of the model you choose, the R-Sport package is a must. And if you can afford a 35t R-Sport, the $2,700 upcharge to S status is well worth it.
