Compact Jaguar with sharp claws

The XE range is made up of seven two-litre petrol and diesel powered cars plus a flagship turbo-charged V6 XFR-S with the same engine that provides the punch in the F-Type coupé - and this was the version I recently spent a week piloting around the Western Cape.

Pushing out a supercharged punch

As is the case with the F-Type, the XE packs an almighty velocity, pushing out a supercharged punch of 250Kw and 450Nm to rocket this sexy sedan from zero to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds which is in the zone of sports car territory. With this sort of performance on tap it equals that of key opponents such as the Audi Avant Quattro, BMW M3 340i and Mercedes-Benz GLS 400 and betters that of others such as the Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS and VolvoS60.

Jaguar is still heavy on the pocket though, with this particular model priced at a rather steep R915,000, but then you do get a lot of bang for your bucks. Besides its head-turning snazzy looks, highlighted by a black grill and large air intakes, elegantly sculpted bonnet, unique-designed alloys, twin-chrome exhaust outlets and sloping roof-line, the living quarters are spacious and ooze quality craftsmanship that includes hand-stitched plush leather seats, multi-function steering wheel with flappies for lighting, fast cog-swopping, an eight-inch touchscreen that provides easy access to navigation and media selection, gear selector knob that rises up from the central console when the engine is started, and excellent insulation to keep out intrusive noises.

Impressive grip

Looks aside, where the XE S really shines is on the road where it clings with impressive grip to further enhance the fun of the sedan's rear-wheel drive sportiness. With the weight being kept down with the extensive use of lightweight aluminium and pin-sharp electrically assisted direct steering, there is virtually no body lean which makes it an easy sedan to drive, even when in Dynamic mode and being hustled along quite hard through the corners.

The only thing not to like about the XE, besides its price, is the less than generous leg space for rear passengers. Other than that, the XE is an elegant, sporty sedan, well kitted out with fancy goodies that will probably be in the realm of optional extras with some other brands.

Balancing price and performance

Like the iconic, well-selling F-Type, the XE can play a key role in attracting a new audience for Jaguar, headed by buyers who like to balance price and performance with value for money, low emissions and frugal fuel consumption, and who value a classy British name with a long and proud history.

All XE models come with a price-inclusive five-year/100,000km maintenance plan. The two-litre petrol and diesel models vary in price from R534,899 to R709,253 while the three-litre XE S we had on test retails for R915,692.