Jaguar XE facelift launched in India for Rs 44.98 lakh 

The Jaguar XE is the British marque's entry-level sedan, and it faces tough competition from the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. However, it never really matched up to the Germans in terms of quality or technology so people just went and bought one of those three instead. With this facelift, Jaguar is looking to change that —  it gets better quality materials, updated gizmos on the inside and a nip and tuck on the outside. It also gets updated engines to comply with BS6 norms. Prices for the facelifted XE at Rs 44.98 lakh (ex-showroom India).

Exterior

Jaguar distinguishes itself from the competition by making sportier alternatives to the rather boring and commonplace Germans. The updated XE gets a new larger front grille, offering a more striking appearance at first glance. The more aggressive front and rear bumpers all-around give the XE an angrier stance.

The earlier headlights are replaced by much sleeker all-LED units that seem similar to that of the new F-Type, they also come with sweeping turn-indicators, and the taillights are LED as well, it rides on the 17-inch rims. The rest of the exterior stays largely the same.

Interior

The bulk of the changes on the updated XE are on the inside, which is a good thing considering you’ll spend most of your time here. The first thing you’ll notice is the new thicker and sportier three-spoke steering wheel which also gets paddle shifters. The XE gets the new Touch Pro infotainment system. The system gets a 10-inch screen with new graphics, Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Jaguar has not offered the Touch Pro Duo system that gets a dual screen setup in India, that means it retains physical buttons for the climate controls. The XE gets a new 12.3-inch digital drivers display, in place of analogue dials, that offer good configurability so you can choose what information is displayed to you. The interior also gets some sporty touches like the F-Type derived gear lever that feels sportier and more intuitive than the rotary dial, although the iconic ‘handshake’ will be missed. the new toggle-style drive mode selector is also derived from the F-Type. Jaguar has looked improve quality with this facelift, there are better quality plastics all around, chrome detailing on the door grab handles and swanky new speaker grilles. This is a step in the right direction but it still does not match the solid build of the BMW 3 Series.

Engines

The XE gets a new pair of BS6 engines, there is a 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 246 bhp and 365 Nm of torque while the 2-litre diesel variant makes 177bhp and 430 Nm of torque.

Price

The facelifted XE will start at Rs 44.98 lakh (ex-showroom India) , it competes with the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Stay tuned for a full drive review coming up soon. Check out a short walkaround of the new Jaguar XE below.