S 4dr Rear-Wheel Drive Sedan
2020 Jaguar XE

2020 XE Photos
 Editors' Pick
Autoblog Rating
7

Attractive design and responsive handling are the XE's big draws, but it the clunky tech can be frustrating, and the powertrain does little to inspire.

Industry
6.5
The 2020 Jaguar XE in P300 R-Dynamic S trim is the quickest and most aggressively styled version of the XE available after its 2020 update. We lost the characterful and punchy supercharged V6 (and diesel), and in its place we found two turbocharged four-cylinder gas-engine options. The P300 is the high-output version of this engine, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to ZF’s excellent eight-speed automatic transmission and sends the power to all four wheels. There's an updated interior for 2020, adding in a few extra tech features and upgraded material quality. The cabin is typical Jaguar fare. It looks great, but can be overly complex in ways other cars aren’t — take the confusing climate/seat controls as one example. But Jaguar also spent some time improving its exterior looks. Our red tester was striking and classy with the wider grille, sculpted front bumper (exclusive to the R-Dynamic S) and thin new headlights. All this pageantry comes at a price, though. This particular XE starts at $47,290, which is already fairly expensive for this class with its level of performance. However, a number of options caused this car’s price to climb up to $63,125. Yowza. No single option or package was to blame, as this car has a number of expensive extras on it. The $1,950 Technology Pack added the digital rearview mirror, dual stacked touchscreens, head-up display and wireless phone charging. A $1,700 Drive Pack tacked on blind-spot warning, high-speed emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The $1,365 Connected Navigation Pack added navigation, traffic sign recognition and internet connectivity. Then, a $1,315 Dynamic Handling Pack added in the adaptive suspension, configurable drive modes, red brake calipers and a spoiler. It also had 20-inch optional wheels ($1,700), 16-way heated and cooled front seats ($1,500), carbon fiber trim ($1,100) and a Meridian surround sound audio system ($800), among many other options. Road Test Editor Zac Palmer: Jaguar simplified the XE greatly for the 2020 model year, and while I’m sad to see the supercharged V6 go away, this turbocharged four-cylinder is still a good little mill. There’s a slight pause as you wait for boost to build, but it’s quick enough to have some fun on the commute back and forth to work. Its forward thrust is comparable to others in the class with four-cylinder turbocharged engines — I’d place it about midpack on the butt dyno. I wasn’t impressed by the muted noise the engine made, but there was also no obvious sound fakery going on either. The ZF eight-speed is quick to react when in Dynamic mode, but it’s happy to get into a higher gear after taking it out of the sportier settings. Just like every other car with ZF’s eight-speed, daily driving is smooth, and shifts come quickly and imperceptibly. The XE is a good handler, but I don’t think it’s one of the best anymore. An Alfa Romeo Giulia or BMW 3 Series are both more composed and enjoyable to toss about. …
Full Review
The 2020 Jaguar XE in P300 R-Dynamic S trim is the quickest and most aggressively styled version of the XE available after its 2020 update. We lost the characterful and punchy supercharged V6 (and diesel), and in its place we found two turbocharged four-cylinder gas-engine options. The P300 is the high-output version of this engine, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to ZF’s excellent eight-speed automatic transmission and sends the power to all four wheels. There's an updated interior for 2020, adding in a few extra tech features and upgraded material quality. The cabin is typical Jaguar fare. It looks great, but can be overly complex in ways other cars aren’t — take the confusing climate/seat controls as one example. But Jaguar also spent some time improving its exterior looks. Our red tester was striking and classy with the wider grille, sculpted front bumper (exclusive to the R-Dynamic S) and thin new headlights. All this pageantry comes at a price, though. This particular XE starts at $47,290, which is already fairly expensive for this class with its level of performance. However, a number of options caused this car’s price to climb up to $63,125. Yowza. No single option or package was to blame, as this car has a number of expensive extras on it. The $1,950 Technology Pack added the digital rearview mirror, dual stacked touchscreens, head-up display and wireless phone charging. A $1,700 Drive Pack tacked on blind-spot warning, high-speed emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The $1,365 Connected Navigation Pack added navigation, traffic sign recognition and internet connectivity. Then, a $1,315 Dynamic Handling Pack added in the adaptive suspension, configurable drive modes, red brake calipers and a spoiler. It also had 20-inch optional wheels ($1,700), 16-way heated and cooled front seats ($1,500), carbon fiber trim ($1,100) and a Meridian surround sound audio system ($800), among many other options. Road Test Editor Zac Palmer: Jaguar simplified the XE greatly for the 2020 model year, and while I’m sad to see the supercharged V6 go away, this turbocharged four-cylinder is still a good little mill. There’s a slight pause as you wait for boost to build, but it’s quick enough to have some fun on the commute back and forth to work. Its forward thrust is comparable to others in the class with four-cylinder turbocharged engines — I’d place it about midpack on the butt dyno. I wasn’t impressed by the muted noise the engine made, but there was also no obvious sound fakery going on either. The ZF eight-speed is quick to react when in Dynamic mode, but it’s happy to get into a higher gear after taking it out of the sportier settings. Just like every other car with ZF’s eight-speed, daily driving is smooth, and shifts come quickly and imperceptibly. The XE is a good handler, but I don’t think it’s one of the best anymore. An Alfa Romeo Giulia or BMW 3 Series are both more composed and enjoyable to toss about. …
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Retail Price

$39,900 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 2.0L I-4
MPG 25 City / 34 Hwy
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission 8-spd w/OD
Power 247 @ 5500 rpm
Drivetrain rear-wheel
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