Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Jaguar XE AWD

Ford Focus ST Estate
BMW X4 is worth a test drive, not too big. 3L D engine is great.
Discovery Sport
Superb Estate 190 4x4 Diesel (or 220ps Petrol, 2WD)
Golf R Estate

Thanks Alistair - two of those were on my list (I like the Skoda and the 7-seater Discovery Sport).

What I have decided on is a MB GLC43 (same engine as Peter & Caroline's new toy). But dealer demos have only just been registered, so available from end April. Got a '17 GLA45 as a stop-gap. Hopefully the new gearbox settings overcome what I hated about my '14 A45 - on the test drive it was very different and held gears properly when in Sport+ ... all the memories of that fantastic engine came flooding back.

Well the decision is all but made. Took the car for a drive today. Comfortable, handles well, reasonably powerful (180hp), automatic with paddles if you want to be more sporty, looks great, nice interior, enough space in the back seat, enough space in the boot, all that and quite enjoyable to drive.

Got a quote for the R Sport with a few extras and it is very competitive. Colour as yet undecided. Alis, my fashion advisor) has vetoed red so I am left with a dark metallic blue (Dark Saphire) or a dark metallic green (British Racing Green).

At the end of the day I seem to have returned to the marque that I was originally going to buy when I came to Italy. I was very interested in the X Type.

The only other contender in the same class would be the BMW Serie 3 GT Xdrive. The price seems to be about the same, perhaps I should try it and get a quote before I make up my mind, but it is a bit longer and a bit higher, though the Jag is a fraction wider, and has the advantage that it is a lift back.

....and exudes cool in a way that the 3 Series BMW never can.

I thought that the XE was a bit conservative when I first saw them on the road, but see one in the right colour and the details like the lip on the bootlid and the front spoiler of the R Sport make the whole shape look stunning.

It's like a well-made suit, it looks understated at first, but within a minute or so you take in the shape and some of the details and realise why it looks so right.

BRG makes it for me...

For the XE I was rather taken by the really dark metallic burgundy colour.

Great choice on the GLC Stewart. I think the new 9 speed box in the latest Mercedes cars is really top notch. I'll be interested to hear how you like it.

Recall admiring them in the car park at the Motor Museum in Gaydon!

A bit of confusing punctuation there: it is the BMW Series 3 GT that is the lift back.

Alis favours the BRG. Unfortunately it was a dull day today and quite late when we prowled the dealership looking at colours. I suspect the BRG looks great in sunlight.


I agree but unfortunately, for some strange reason, it has been discontinued. I don't know why but in the land of Ferrari, Lamborghini etc. bright colours are nowhere near as popular as one would think. Most sedans are in very conservative colours.


It's all your fault John. You took me there.

The same dealership has Land Rover and Alis was rather taken by the Disco and I half think she would prefer me to buy that. When I told her that that was what you had she sort of nodded in the way that sort of said it would be a sensible choice. I have to agree but I want something a bit more sporty, The price, interestingly is not very different.

I was interested enough to see why you've decided on a diesel (in view of recent threads about the way the wind is blowing politically for oil burners) to have a look at the configurator.

I see the AWD only seems available as a diesel. Is this right ?

There appears to be some confusion between the XE (BMW 3-series rival) and the F-Pace (SUV). The OP is after the XE, which is a great car and up there with the compeition from BMW and Mercedes. Upsides are possibly the best handling in the segment, but downsides are a cramped rear and not quite the best interior plastic quality.

Also the 4 cylinder engines are Ingenium, designed and built by JLR in the UK (Wolverhampton to be precise). There are still some 6 and 8 pots built by Ford - but I understand these are exclusive to JLR. I understand that the V6s will be replaced by Ingenium straight-sixes in around 12 months or so - something I am looking forward to trying!

To the OP, I dont think you will disappointed with the car. Enjoy!

Thanks Joe. I think you are spot on. Apparently there is a pause now and they are clearing out existing orders as they are gearing up for the 2018 models. This may mean the the straight 6 will be released around that time. If I order now delivery will be in May. I don't know if that means I effectively get the 2018 model. I know that car companies always release the next year's models before the end of current year but 6 months or more ahead seems ridiculous.

It will be interesting to see how the straight 6 goes but if it replaces the V6 it will probably be in a power class that is more than I want because of the tax and insurance costs. The V6 is no slouch either 0-100 KM/H in 5.1 seconds


Italy is still pretty much wedded to diesel, mainly because it is more economic to run, and I am told a second hand petrol BMW, for example, can be quite hard to sell. Given that I expect relatively low mileage I would have opted for benzine but, as you quite rightly say, the AWD is only available in diesel. I think that with anti-particle filters and AddBlue the pollution aspects are pretty low anyway.

I must say that if you put your foot down the reaction with 430 Nm of torque on tap over a wide rpm range is pretty nice. To put that into perspective the Aero 8 and the Plus 8 have 490Nm but at lower revs would have much less. The AWD XE can do 0-100 KM/H in 7.9 seconds which is almost the same as the Plus 4.

I was thinking of going to have another look at the BMW Series 3 GT 320D but somehow I couldn't be bothered. I reasoned that if the price, features, and performance where all about the same which would I pick, and I decided the Jag, so I expect I will place an order for the Jag on Monday.