Jaguar XE The King of the Street

The lion might be the king of the jungle, but the Jaguar XE most certainly rules the street.

The XE kind of makes me think of James Bond – it’s elegant, sleek and sexy, all while being incredibly powerful, agile and beastly. At first glance, the XE might not look all that powerful, especially if you’ve been in a F-Type before.

However, after driving in a Range Rover Sport and a Jaguar XF, the XE delivered an astounding amount of torque and thundering roar that kept me wanting more of this red monster. Beyond being elegantly designed on the exterior, the interior boasts an array of top of the line technology and attention to detail finishes.

Fine black leather seats add an element of sophistication and sportiness, the multi-functional steering wheel allows the driver to stay in control of all the digital functions without taking his/her attention from the road.

A tap on the accelerator will send the XE thrusting forward while letting out a loud growl, turning heads in the process – the XE is a true jungle cat. That might be because of its high performance engines.

The 3,0 litre V6 supercharged petrol engine is adapted specifically for the XE. A Roots-type twin vortex supercharger is mounted in the ‘V’ between the two rows of cylinders for compact dimensions. It provides linear delivery of power and maximises responsiveness of the engine’s torque, jaguar.com stated.

The 2,0 litre four-cylinder 163PS turbocharged diesel is refined and highly efficient. Low-flow direct injectors precisely control the amount of fuel that enters the combustion chamber for maximum efficiency. Intelligent, electronically controlled, adaptive engine cooling only engages when required – minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. But this doesn’t deter the driver from still experiencing full driving pleasure.

I don’t think I would have been able to handle the XE if I’d have driven it in manual. The swift shifts of the eight-speed automatic transmission provides a smooth ride, especially when driving at a higher speed. Featuring a contemporary satin black rotary selector, the transmission is responsive, smooth and efficient and offers even quicker shifts and sportier kick-down in dynamic mode, and earlier up-shifts in eco mode. You can also opt to manually control gearshifts via steering wheel paddles at the flick of a finger.

From the interior to the exterior, the Jaguar XE pays attention to refinement and details when it comes to design. Aerodynamic performance is a key function of the XE’s body design. The race car-inspired underbody protection and diffuser is designed to make the XE as efficient, economical and refined as possible.

On the winding Daan Viljoen road, many other vehicles might have been scared to take on the curves. However, the XE performs both on the straight lines and around the bends with equal tact. Driving the XE was certainly exhilarating. It wasn’t an easy beast to tame.