Jaguar’s new XE has a diesel that’s as clean as the petrol

Did we mention that it’s a diesel? Contrary to popular belief and the endless talk of electrification, car companies are still building diesel-engined cars and some people are still buying them, and will be for years to come. The latest Ingenium unit in the Jaguar XE D180 promises to be one of the best. For starters it’s the only diesel car in its class that meets the tough new NOx emission limit that doesn’t come into force for another 22 months.

Its clean-living credentials bring not just overall emissions that beat or match the latest petrol engines, along with up to 57mpg, but also cheaper road tax and – if your company provides the car to you for business use – avoidance of the punitive four per cent benefit-in-kind diesel surcharge. In short, it’s the familiar cost-effective diesel story but updated for a more environmentally aware new world.

The new engine is just one part of the new XE story, one that sees the new version mature into a proper little Jag – and at prices that undercut equivalent models from the outgoing range by as much as £1,700. The new range is going straight into the showrooms and not via next week’s Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover having decided to give that a miss this year.

The XE’s design has been made more impactful, the interior has had a luxury makeover, there’s more kit as standard and there’s been an injection of new tech. Available features now include the twin-screen infotainment system from the all-electric I-Pace and a digital ClearSight rear-view mirror, a first in class, says Jaguar.

You can tell the new XE by its redesigned front and rear ends, along with new LED lights with signature ‘J’ running lights. Admittedly they aren’t huge changes but they combine to give an already smooth looking small saloon a more assertively Jaguar flavour. It’s the same inside, with an injection of Jaguarness shown by new soft-touch materials, premium veneers, and new door trims to complement the (standard on all) leather.

From the F-type comes the SportShift gear selector and JaguarDrive Control switch, while the I-Pace donates its trick steering wheel as well as the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. The camera-based rear-view system, ClearSight, is technology first seen on the latest Land Rover Evoque. Unlike the camera-based system available for the Audi e-tron, it shows an unobstructed wide-angle view to the rear on a high definition screen incorporated in the rear-view mirror.

It all adds up to an XE that’s a bit more special, and where it needs it most. The aluminium-intensive XE was never short of ride and handling prowess, after all. Engine choices so far are 250PS (247bhp) and 300PS (296bhp) versions of the 2.0-litre petrol Ingenium engine, and the clean new D180 diesel with 180PS (178bhp) and, predictably, a mountain of torque, at 430Nm (317lb ft).

The new XE promises to back up its extra showroom appeal with a more enticing ownership package. The entry-level XE starts at £33,915 and comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels, a Dynamic mode, electric leather seats, all-LED headlights and tail-lights with updated signature graphics, front and rear park aid, a reversing camera and lane keep assist. 

The D180 diesel, meanwhile, in popular R-Dynamic S trim, is priced from £36,145, which is £670 cheaper than the equivalent outgoing model – or £1,770 less when adjusted for extra equipment.

Time to re-evaluate the benefits of running a diesel, Jaguar-style? Could be…