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Test Drive of 2017 Jaguar XE


Airflow

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Today I test drove a 2017 Jaguar XE 3.0 AWD R-Sport. I wanted to compare something to the Z with a similar price point. The car I drove stickered at 54k. It had 19" wheels, a 340 hp engine, AWD, leather, nav, large sunroof, and an 8 speed auto transmission.

 

Acceleration was pretty decent, almost fast enough to make me smile, but not quite. And there was no engine sound to be heard. You could hear the supercharger and the exhaust, but it was otherwise eerily quiet.

 

The ride was firm and although the vehicle went around a bend without fuss, the bolstering was lacking and I found myself sliding across the seat.

 

Fit and finish was okay inside and out, but I found things to be a little bland and a little cheap. The interior door coverings were plasticky and the doors did not close with a solid thud.

 

Lease pricing was more expensive than a similarly equipped Z and the XE is smaller in and out, doesn't come with CarPlay, didn't have heated wipers, and just didn't excite as much.

 

The 2017 MKZ 3.0 AWD blows the XE away any day!

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Thanks for the report.  I was interested in the XE R-Sport for a while.  When I optioned it up the way I wanted, the MSRP came to $64G.  So much for entry level.  The automotive pundits have been raving about the handling, but your observations are right on the money.  The interior quality doesn't cut it at that price and it is smaller than the MKZ inside.  If it's a factor, the trunk is quite small as well.  Also, in my own case, I have a long-standing relationship with my dealer and I get treated quite well there.  

 

I'm taking delivery of my 2017 on Monday. :)

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Airflow did you ever order the MKZ you had spec'ed out a couple of weeks ago?

BTW I keep meaning to ask you if your screen name is a reference to the Chrysler models of the '30s?

Not yet. I was as close as this... I had my salesman and Sales Manager (both who are great guys) at a rate. My final negotiation point was to ask for included maintenance with their quote. They needed approval from the General Manager for the deal and when he saw it he said they couldn't go that low and bumped the payment $8 a month and denied my maintenance request. Not wanting to go up from a quote, I walked. Been in limbo the last couple weeks.

 

I actually picked my screen name when thinking about what truly makes power in an engine which is the oxygen from the airflow into the combustion chamber. I was also thinking about the airflow over the vehicle as it moves. Thanks for asking!

 

I'm now curious, what was the Chrysler reference?

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The Jaguar XE was one of the cars I cross shopped with the MKZ. The only thing I really liked more about the XE was one of the red/black interiors, the british racing green color, and the wheel selection. So I am now driving and MKZ. Everything else (size, engine, infotainment, sunroof) I liked better in the MKZ. Good to hear another confirmation.

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  • 1 month later...

I happened by the local Jag dealer last week to check out the XE.  The grille is nice.

Actually it looks fine until the ass end [pardon my French]...the MKZ is much more unique.

I'm sticking with my '14 MKZ h and looking at what '18's may be like.

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My impressions from test driving the XE (cross shopping) hit many of the same points.

 

One thing that the XE wins hands down on... the ZF 8-speed .... Jag got their collective sh*t together on that one. It even kills the programming of the ZF in the Audi S4/5. If could have that trans in the Z... wowzer.

Edited by schteve
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