Frugal just got a heavy dose of opulence as Jaguar introduces a diesel engine into its 2017 XE model.
The 20d AWD joins its petrol-powered brethren (the 25t, 35t and S models) to do battle in a luxury-sedan segment that sees no shortage of combatants.
Luxury buyers, who you would think could afford to splurge on gas-guzzling cars, are increasingly turning toward vehicles that sip less.
The market is already well-represented, with Mercedes-Benz and BMW both offering oil-burners and Lexus and Infiniti offering gasoline-electric hybrids.
I drove a XE 20d AWD with the R-Sport trim and a few options.
As the newest kid on the block, the XE has a lot of ground to catch up to its competitors. It does have its pedigree going for it. Jaguars have done battle with the Germans, on the road and on the track, for as long as the brands have existed.
After finding itself in a rough patch a few years back, Jaguar has picked itself up and embarked upon a renaissance in recent years. After introducing well-received models such as the XF and more recently the F-Pace, it is finally turning its attention to the entry-level segment, one dominated by the Germans.
The XE is aimed squarely at the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3-Series. Until now, it did not have a diesel to offer.
A stab at the start button brings the diesel to life — immediately. No more waiting for glow plugs to warm up. And no more of the cacophony of clickety-clack from under the hood. Noise and vibration are so tamed that most of the time you could forget that you are driving a diesel.
The turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine (Jaguar calls it the Ingenium) produces 180 horsepower and 317 foot-pounds of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and, in Canada, it comes standard with all-wheel drive.
As you can imagine, any vehicle with more than 300 lb.-ft. of torque would take off smartly from a light. Jaguar claims a 0-to-100 km/h dash can be achieved in 7.9 seconds, so it is no slouch. The company also boasts a top speed of 195 km/h.
With only 180 hp on hand, a call for power at highway speeds may not press you back in your seat.
On the other hand, the diesel won’t squeeze your pocketbook. Unofficial fuel economy numbers are 6.0 litres per 100 km in the city and 4.2 on the highway. Both figures are lower than either Mercedes-Benz or BMW. If you threw in the Lexus ES 300 hybrid, the XE uses 0.2 litres more in the city, but beats the Japanese entrant by almost two litres per 100 km on the highway.
The fuel economy is helped by engine stop/start, which sees the engine turn off at a stop light, for example. While enginestop/start has been around for a few years in gas engines, this is the first application in a diesel that I have tested.
If you have a favourite stretch of road that resembles an English country lane, you will be treated to a waltz with the road. With a 50:50 weight balance, the XE will bring a smile to an enthusiast’s face. It feels planted to the road, with a confidence that is communicated through the wheel.
Thanks goes to a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension mounted on a subframe. Major suspension components are manufactured out of aluminum to reduce unsprung weight.
With a curb weight of 1,615 kilograms, it is one of the lightest vehicles in the segment. If you compare it only with vehicles with all-wheel drive, it is the hands-down winner.
If you liked the styling of the XF, I am sure you’ll love the XE, which looks like a shrunken version of its big brother. Jaguar should be lauded for being able to make the XE look contemporary and classic at the same time.
The interior looks a lot more opulent (in my eyes). While I like clean lines, some luxury German cars can be sombre and austere, devoid of any extraneous detail.
The Jaguar, on the other hand, is more flamboyant, more eloquent. The interior designers don’t seem to be comfortable with adding trappings that draw the eye, to add elegance without being gaudy or ostentatious. It’s like threading the eye of the needle, design-wise.
My tester had the R-Sport package, the top-of-the-line trim for the XE. The two-tone interior, supportive seats and other exterior trim pieces set it apart from the base vehicle.
If there is a shortcoming, it is a shortcoming shared with the competition. As a scaled-down version of a mid-sized car, the rear passengers are the ones that end up with the short end of the stick. Legroom can be tight, especially if the front-seat occupants are tall. The XE only comes with a regular sunroof. The addition of a panorama roof option and perhaps a change for tan or lighter-coloured headliner would go a long way to make the cabin feel less confining in the back.
The diesel commands a $2,000 premium over the base XE. Is it worth it? It depends on your driving. If you do a lot of highway driving, the savings can add up quickly.
But the main take-away is that there is little downside — performance-wise — to choosing an oil burner. It’s a blast to drive, perhaps the most fun diesel I have ever driven (and fun and diesel are usually two words I don’t usually use in the same sentence). The fact that it is all-wheel drive, and costs less than the Benz, is a nice bonus.
the spec sheet
Type: Compact luxury sedan. Front engine, all-wheel-drive
Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, 180 hp at 4,000 r.p.m., 318 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 r.p.m.
Transmission: Eight speed automatic
Dimensions (mm): Length, 4,672; width, 1,967; height, 1,416; wheelbase, 2,835
Curb weight (kg): 1,615
Price (base/as tested) 2.0 D R-Sport: $54,000/ $64,800 (includes $1,500 freight and PDI and $100 AC tax)
Options: Metallic paint $650, 19-inch wheels $1,500, Heads-up display $1,000, Driver assistance pack $3,100, technology pack $2,600, black pack $350
Tires: 225/40 R19 front, 255/35 R19 rear
Fuel type: Diesel
Fuel economy (L/100km): 6.0 city/ 4.2 highway
Warranty: Four years/80,000 km new car and roadside assistance