The compact executive sedan has long been German turf. The Jaguar XE S turned up to argue that the establishment needed a livelier alternative. This is the sports sedan for the buyer who wants the BMW 3 Series experience with a less obvious badge and a bit more character.
Amelia takes it from the daily commute to a spirited evening drive and finds a car with real handling poise. The chassis is keen, the supercharged engine has a hearty mid range, and the cabin wraps you in a more emotional design than the clinical Germans manage. She flags that rear space is tight and the infotainment of the era lagged the class best.
This suits the keen driver who wants a sports sedan that feels different from every other car in the office car park. Buyers who put back seat space and cabin tech first may prefer the usual suspects. The XE S is the characterful outsider, and that is exactly its appeal.
The full review is on the CarTell.tv YouTube channel above.
