The 2018 Jaguar Xe has been making waves in the sport sedan market, touted for its blend of British luxury and dynamic driving experience. For enthusiasts like myself, the promise of a power bump to 380hp and electronic upgrades in the 2018 model year is particularly enticing. With my current lease ending, the XE-S variant specifically caught my attention as a potential replacement, aiming for that sweet spot of performance and comfort. Could the 2018 Jaguar XE-S be the sophisticated yet thrilling daily driver I’m searching for?
Initial reports and reviews have praised the 2018 Jaguar XE for its ride and handling prowess, sparking comparisons to benchmarks like the BMW M3. The idea of an XE-S delivering a significant portion of the M3’s driving excitement, but with enhanced ride quality for everyday usability, is incredibly appealing. However, real-world test drives are essential to validate these claims. Unfortunately, finding a 2018 Jaguar XE-S for a test drive proved challenging, with local dealerships reporting limited or no availability. This scarcity necessitates relying on existing reviews and, eventually, personal experience to form a comprehensive opinion.
Having finally managed to get behind the wheel of an all-wheel-drive 2018 Jaguar XE-S, I’m ready to share my detailed impressions. While the XE-S demonstrates considerable merit in numerous aspects, the overall driving experience didn’t quite ignite the passion I anticipated.
Interior and Technology of the 2018 Jaguar XE
Stepping inside the 2018 Jaguar XE reveals a cabin that’s undeniably refined. The interior fit and finish are commendable, utilizing quality materials throughout. While perhaps not reaching the opulent heights of the latest Mercedes-Benz or Audi interiors, the XE’s cabin presents a noticeable upgrade compared to my previous 2 Series BMW. Personal preference plays a role, and while I appreciate the well-appointed interiors of fully loaded F30/F80 BMWs, the 2 Series does feel somewhat экономичный in certain areas.
The interior of the 2018 Jaguar XE offers a blend of luxury and technology, although some materials feel firmer than expected.
The seats in the 2018 Jaguar XE-S are highly adjustable and generously wrapped in leather. The overall construction appears solid, and the inclusion of a digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen adds a modern touch. However, a slightly sterile and firm ambiance pervades the interior. The leather, while present, felt quite taut, creating a sensation of sitting “on” rather than “in” the seats. Similarly, the steering wheel’s contours didn’t quite match the natural ergonomics I’ve come to appreciate in my BMW M3. The tactile feedback from the switchgear, including steering wheel controls, knobs, and the touchscreen, also lacked the satisfying and intuitive feel of BMW’s controls. For me, BMW interiors consistently evoke a sense of familiarity and “home,” even when acknowledging that Mercedes-Benz and Audi often surpass them in outright material lavishness. The Jaguar XE interior occupies a middle ground in this spectrum.
The digital dashboard is a standout feature, arguably surpassing BMW’s current offerings and putting pressure on them to innovate in the next 3 Series generation. Usability-wise, the Jaguar’s infotainment system is generally user-friendly, although it slightly trails behind the latest iteration of BMW’s iDrive. It handily outperforms the convoluted system found in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, although I still need to experience a recent Audi system for a direct comparison.
Ride and Handling Dynamics of the 2018 Jaguar XE-S
The automotive press has consistently lauded the 2018 Jaguar XE’s ride and handling balance. This acclaim was a primary factor drawing me to the XE-S and prompting my consideration of moving away from non-M BMW models. The XE-S boasts all the right mechanical components and chassis geometry for dynamic performance. The suspension setup is firm and well-damped, exhibiting characteristics closer to my M3 than my previous 228i. It strikes a sporty stance while maintaining a respectable level of ride comfort.
The 2018 Jaguar XE is praised for its handling, but the test drive revealed room for improvement in damper calibration.
However, during my test drive, I sensed a need for further refinement in the damper software calibration. The ride exhibited a degree of “busyness” and unwanted pitch, tug, and bounce motions that seemed incongruous with the quality of the underlying hardware. While the 2018 Jaguar XE-S likely achieves an objectively superior ride and handling compromise compared to even my M3, it didn’t deliver the same level of driving satisfaction for me. It’s crucial to emphasize that the XE-S demonstrably surpasses any non-M BMW I’ve driven recently in terms of ride and handling.
Steering Feel and Responsiveness in the 2018 Jaguar XE
It’s important to preface my steering observations with the acknowledgment that factors like tire alignment and break-in period could potentially resolve my concerns. Despite the steering system’s responsiveness and precision, the steering feel in the 2018 Jaguar XE-S felt somewhat unnatural to me. The steering response seemed overly quick for the tires, and the responsiveness didn’t harmonize seamlessly with how the dampers managed body roll through corners.
I typically perform a specific on-ramp test, aiming to maintain a precise line along the white lane marker without mid-corner steering adjustments. The 2018 Jaguar XE-S faltered in this test. The initial turn-in felt excessively sharp, necessitating two to three corrections to achieve the desired trajectory. Throughout this process, the steering wheel exhibited minimal effort build-up in either driving mode. Again, this could be attributable to alignment issues, tire pressure, or other variables, but this was my immediate impression during the test drive. My M3’s steering, especially after proper alignment and a software update, provides a far superior and more natural feel.
Engine and Transmission Performance of the 2018 Jaguar XE-S
My evaluation of the engine performance was limited to brief wide-open throttle moments, as outright power isn’t my primary focus. However, the few instances of full acceleration in the 2018 Jaguar XE-S left me underwhelmed. If my M3 delivers 425hp and my 228i produces 240hp, my subjective assessment would place the XE-S’s output closer to 280 or 300hp, rather than the advertised 380hp. The acceleration felt “normal” and lacked a compelling engine note within the cabin. Perhaps my familiarity with turbocharger torque delivery contrasts with the more linear power build-up of a positive displacement supercharger. Alternatively, exploring the engine’s RPM range and transmission settings more thoroughly might yield different results. However, the car felt considerably slower than I anticipated. If anything, the experience highlighted the genuinely potent nature of the F8X M3’s “425hp” rating.
The supercharged engine of the 2018 Jaguar XE-S is rated at 380hp, but the test drive suggested a less potent feel.
The 8-speed automatic transmission in the 2018 Jaguar XE-S performed admirably, providing smooth gear changes. While not possessing the aggressive shift speeds of a PDK or DSG transmission, it executed shifts seamlessly without excessive delays or jarring lurches during downshifts or when coming to a stop. Overall, the transmission calibration is well-suited for a refined “normal” car, but it doesn’t significantly enhance the driving excitement.
Summary: 2018 Jaguar XE – A Good Sport Sedan, But Not an M3 Alternative
My initial hope was for the 2018 Jaguar XE-S to serve as a 7/8ths scale M3, a slightly less hardcore yet still engaging and potent daily driver for my wife. However, the XE-S doesn’t quite fulfill that aspiration. It’s undoubtedly a competent and sporty sedan, but it falls short of replicating the immersive driving experience of an M car. In reality, the 2018 Jaguar XE-S occupies a similar performance and dynamic space to what a BMW 340i should have been, particularly in terms of ride and handling and interior technology integration. If BMW’s non-M offerings still delivered this level of performance and engagement, I might be inclined to consider another BMW.
While a brief test drive offers a limited basis for definitive conclusions, it’s often all that’s available. Objectively, the 2018 Jaguar XE-S is arguably the best car I’ve test-driven for my specific criteria. However, it lacked that visceral “must-have” quality. I might still consider leasing a 2018 Jaguar XE-S if alternatives like the Audi S4 and Porsche Macan GTS don’t prove more compelling. The Jaguar dealership did seem more amenable to negotiation compared to what I anticipate from Audi or Porsche.
