We recently discussed how the Jaguar XE is a very serious contender to the BMW 3 Series. In a recent Motor Trend review, the XE actually took victory over the 335i, as it was deemed more entertaining to drive. It was a big shock, as the 3 Series has always been the pinnacle of sports sedan performance, so the XE’s victory is impressive. However, a new review of the XE has come out by CarScoops, and it sheds some light on some of the Jaguar XE’s negatives.
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In the video, the reviewer clearly states, first and foremost, that the Jaguar XE is excellent to drive. It has really nice handling and a fantastic ride, even on rough British roads. The interior is also quite nice as well, and comes very well equipped. Jaguar has even put much thought into its new infotainment system, which seems to work far better than the old unit. But where the Jag XE starts to fall down is in the ergonomics and practicality departments, two places the Germans always get right.
At first, the reviewer complains about an air vent next to the steering wheel which blows too much air onto your hand while driving. This is an extremely minor quibble, one that can be solved by either turning the vent off or just adjusting it to a different direction. Though, it is an ergonomic mistake that BMW or Mercedes would have never made. Then comes the rear seat, which is on the smallish side. It isn’t as laughably bad as the rear seat in a Cadillac ATS or Lexus IS, but it isn’t as good as an Audi A4’s or BMW 3 Series’. Also, the rear door openings aren’t very large, meaning ingress could become difficult, especially when putting a child in a car seat. The trunk isn’t very large either.
These might sound like minor complaints, especially when talking about a car that has a supercharged V6 under the hood and looks as good as the XE does. But these are fundamental things that sports sedans need to get right. After All, it’s your average family man or woman that will be buying these cars. A single person who wants a sports car could just go buy a coupe, but these are sports sedans, so they’re meant to be practical as well. That’s the whole appeal, to be sports car when you want it to be and family car too.
So while Motor Trend might declare the XE the superior car to the 3 Series, dynamically, the 3er seems to be the more practical. And ultimately, that balance between sports car and family sedan is the most important part of a sports sedan. So which would you have, the more practical but also incredibly enjoyable sports sedan, or the ultra exciting but practically flawed sports sedan?
Jaguar are in general not very practical… The XF and the XJ have the same problem, because their roof drop down a bit too much (not enough head room at the rear and boot space could be better).
True, but they drive well apparently.
I think they focused more on that than practicality. The XE basically had to have the classic luxurious Jaguar image (as we see on the review, with great quality overall), but, as they already did with the F-Type and the XFR-S, move a bit from the classy english brand figure to a more dynamic and modern image, and that’s exactly what is happening, right now, with the XE and its superb handling capacities.
Umm.. The 3er wasn’t the pinnacle of practicality until the latest design, which was released 2 yrs back or so. They were always cramped in the rear seat. The latest version of the 3er became bigger in size but arguably have up some of the driving dynamics it was known for. You win some, you lose some..
I, for one, am glad this jag exists. Can’t wait for it to arrive here in the USA
I’d take the 3 Series over anything anytime :)
I’ve seen this before with other new models taking on the 3 series. At first the newcomer is fantastic, only to be found wanting a year or so on. You see, BMW have been building the 3 for a long time – they invented it! Just wait for the “new” dust to settle, the 3 will remain on top.
Not sure why this is such a surprise since the F30 has lost multiple times in the handling department. It’s also lost to the ATS many times, but the only reason BMW keeps winning comparisons is because Cadillac does not know how to design interiors and infotainment systems.
This was coming. I just wished they did more on the LCI than they did.
“At first, the reviewer complains about an air vent next to the steering wheel which blows too much air onto your hand while driving. This is an extremely minor quibble, one that can be solved by either turning the vent off or just adjusting it to a different direction. Though, it is an ergonomic mistake that BMW or Mercedes would have never made.”
This isn’t entirely true; in my 428i Gran Coupé the air vent is either angled so the air blows directly on my hand, or if angled away directly into my face. This isn’t a huge nuisance, unless I am wearing contact lenses in which case the choice becomes freeze out my fingers or dry out my lenses.
My spouse and I also own an M4 coupe, and have the same issue in that vehicle as well. I wonder if it’s not so much a design flaw as it is the simple reality of trying to accommodate every body type and not truly being able to do so. If that’s the case then it really isn’t the manufacturers fault, but simply a fact of making a mass produced item.
The Ultimate Practicality Machine – doesn’t really have a ring to it.
People dog on the 3 series for having a cheap looking dash (especially compared to the new C-class, and I beg to differ, I like how BMW dash boards generally look both simple and expensive, and not overstyled or busy), but the dash of the XE looks straight out of a mid-size FWD family sedan/saloon.
I’ve never been in an XE, but I always wonder if anybody has ever sat in the back of an ATS. It’s not a limo, but it’s not unusually small for the segment. I’m 5’9″ (not that tall, I know), but I can comfortably sit back there. It’s about the same as my parents’ 2014 C-Class.
Nitpicking.
I’m not drawn to Jags the same way I’m drawn to BMW, which means I’ll take my 335 everyday over the Jag. But I’m not going to win any contests by saying “Check it out. I got an extra inch…on my back door.”
vary from person to person. Been there done that, moving on to Jaguar XE come 2016 when it gets available in USA. Pretty impressed and intrigued by the car…..apprehensive but excited to become an owner of a Jag. I am sure the people working in JLR have worked something that BMW and Mercedes are taking it seriously and updating asap. Another one to look for would be the F-Pace. I think they have worked great on reliability scoring the 2nd place behind Porsche in JD Power’s latest APEAL Study, the only other thing that they need to find a groove is miles per gallon. Though someone buying a premium car doesn’t look if the mpg is less or more but it does matter at the end of the day.
Well it always come down to something. Pretty impressed and intrigued by the car…..apprehensive but excited to become an owner of a Jag starting 2016 when it goes on sale in USA. I am sure the people working in JLR have worked something that BMW and Mercedes are taking it seriously and updating asap. Another one to look for would be the F-Pace. I think they have worked great on reliability scoring the 2nd place behind Porsche in JD Power’s latest APEAL Study, the only other thing that they need to find a groove is miles per gallon. Though someone buying a premium car doesn’t look if the mpg is less or more but it does matter at the end of the day.
Oh come on, this is an absolutely ridiculous article biased heavily towards BMW, which is expected.
Those are not our opinions. Watch the video
Still surprised people see this one as being biased, especially after we previously praised the XE.
I feel you very distastefully praised the XE, it was almost as if you were saying it all of our spite and defeat. Sort of like the “Yeah you beat me, and your a better driver, but….” And then you go on and come up with some extremely minor quibble just to say you won, at something. Same thing here, you kind of praise the XE, then go on and make a huge deal about the placement of the air conditioning vents, oh come on. Back seat room is also within 1.5 inches of the BMW, the trunk is also very large and totally enough. The car is by no means not practical, and there is no reason to call it “Flawed”. Is it less oh so slightly less practical then the 3 series? Yes, but it is not “Practically flawed”, as you stated to end your article. I am in no way attacking you, just want to say I can read through the writing and I can feel your emotions, your pulling for the 3 series, I get it, I am an owner of one, but I have to give credit where it is due.
Thanks.
Honestly? We don’t. All we wrote on the XE was based on what other magazines said. We did see in person and we were neutral https://www.bmwblog.com/2014/10/03/2014-paris-motor-show-jaguar-xe-3-series-competitor-makes-debut/
And look at this article https://www.bmwblog.com/2015/01/31/can-jaguar-xe-make-dent-3-series-sales/
In no way we put the car down.
Now we have to drive it before we can conclude it’s better than the 3 Series. But I assure you we will be fair, same as we were with the Cadillac ATS
The XE actually gets better carseat scores than the 3 series.
https://www.cars.com/articles/2017-bmw-330i-car-seat-check-1420695606167/
https://www.cars.com/articles/2017-jaguar-xe-car-seat-check-1420695504024/