2016 Jaguar XE S: First Look

Competes with: BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac ATS, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS

Looks like: Somebody shrunk the Jaguar XF

Drivetrain: 340-hp, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, eight-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: 2016

Have a look at the most important car to come out of British luxury automaker Jaguar in decades — a compact, entry-level luxury sedan set to do battle with the heavy hitters in the segment, like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. This is the new 2015 XE, introduced to the world in its high-performance S trim, an aluminum-intensive rear-wheel-drive luxury car meant to continue the successes of the latest Jaguar XF and XJ sedans with a much higher volume segment.

Related: 2015 Jaguar F-Type Expert Review 

The XE will go on sale in Europe first as the 2015 model shown here; the U.S. won’t see the car until it arrives as a 2016 model, sometime in early 2016.

Exterior

The look of the XE is immediately familiar as this styling graces the larger XF sedan, which remains relatively similar to when it was introduced in 2007. From the cats-eye headlights to the shape of the rear pillars, the car is immediately identifiable as part of the new Jaguar lineup. This is a bit disappointing, frankly, as it has now been copied by a variety of other manufacturers from the latest Chevrolet SS to the Tesla Model S. It is undeniably attractive but it no longer looks fresh, and in a segment where style and image are very important, that could be a detriment to the new Jag.

Interior

Things don’t improve much inside, where the semicircular look of the dashboard, rotary transmission shifter and dual-binnacle gauges have also carried over from the larger XF. A choice of three interior trim treatments will be available — gloss black, aluminum or wood veneer — while 10 different ambient lighting colors can be selected via the touch-screen. That screen also houses Jaguar’s new and updated InControl multimedia system, which will provide full smartphone connectivity with buyers’ personal electronics.

Under the Hood

It may not be the most exciting Jaguar to look at, but it should be a blast to drive. The new XE S shares its powertrain with the F-Type sports car, featuring a 340-horsepower, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine mated to a lightweight version of Jaguar’s eight-speed automatic transmission. The combination is good for a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds, and a top speed of 155 mph, according to the manufacturer.

Weight is kept down thanks to intensive use of aluminum, just like its bigger XF and XJ sedan brothers. Curb weight for the XE S is an astonishing 3,249 pounds, which is 200-500 pounds less than its main competitors — and this is the V-6 version, not the expected four-cylinder variant that is likely to follow.

Safety

Jaguar is equipping the XE with a fully modern suite of active and passive safety systems, including something new that the company calls All Surface Progress Control. Using sister company Land Rover’s experience in traction control systems, ASPC works between 2 and 19 mph to provide optimum traction in slippery conditions by controlling the drivetrain and braking systems, and operating like a low-speed cruise control, according to Jaguar.

A new laser heads-up display will be optional, projecting color high-contrast images onto the windshield, and a stereo camera-based autonomous braking system will be optional as well. The camera system will also perform lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind spot monitor, backup sensors and automatic parking assist systems will also be offered.

Manufacturer images