Jaguar launches new XF and hybrid XE

The XF now costs from £32,585 – more sporty hatchback than BMW 5 Series territory and around £2,500 less than the previous entry model. For that you get a 204PS mild-hybrid-boosted diesel drivetrain mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. You also get what the XF has been needing for a while: an all-new cabin with a fresh focus on craftsmanship and luxury.

There may be no electrified petrol units available – surprising given that 48-volt petrol drivetrains are now available in Land Rovers – but this latest Ingenium diesel engine is as clean as they come (130g/km of CO2) as well as 24PS more powerful than before. 0-62mph takes 7.1 seconds and it can return up to 57.2mpg.

More power is on offer in the two petrol engines, both of which are carried over from the previous range: the P250 and P300, the numbers denoting power in PS and both four-cylinder turbo units. The P300, with standard all-wheel-drive and R-Dynamic trim, is the sportiest model, with 0-62 in 5.8 seconds and prices from £39,255.

While the new range has been slimmed down – there were 64 XFs to choose from, now only 28 ­– all models can still be had with all-wheel-drive and as either saloon or Sportbrake (the estate starts from just under £36,000).

All the new XFs get the well resolved new Jag look around nose and tail. Reprofiled bumpers, bigger air inlets, LED lights and a wider, mesh-filled new grille may amount to only a minor facelift but it’s a worthwhile one for the more sportily assertive looks, especially in R-Dynamic trim.

Jaguar says the interior is all new. It’s more crafted with nicer materials (think open-pore veneers and aluminium), a stronger driver focus in the layout and bigger new seats with available massage function for the first time. The cabin also claims a connectivity revolution thanks to JLR’s latest Pivi Pro dual-sim infotainment system, accessed through a 11.4-inch HD curved glass touchscreen.

The interior changes mirror those already introduced with the F-Pace SUV and offer other new technologies such as wireless phone charging, over-the-air software updates and an active noise cancellation system.

And what of the XF’s little brother, the BMW 3 Series sized XE? This range has been shrunk too – from 24 to 13 derivatives – and prices are down here as well. XEs now start at £29,635 for a D200 model powered by the same mild-hybrid diesel powertrain as that fitted to the XF. It is the first time the XE has been available with an electrified engine option. This diesel unit, with its 48-volt integrated starter-generator, powers the XE from 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and is capable of up to 58.5mpg with CO2 emissions from 127g/km.

As with the XF range, the only other engine options are the P250 and P300 petrol units, mated to the eight-speed automatic. There’s no estate version of the XE but, like the XF, all-wheel-drive can be had with any engine/trim combo.

The XE design was updated last year so there are no changes here and only some minor enhancements inside (new steering wheel, better seats). The latest Pivi Pro infotainment system is fitted though, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and there is also an improved driver display screen with enhanced graphics and a configurable layout.

The Jag saloon is back! It never went away of course but with the rise of the SUV you could be forgiven for thinking so. Can these new models at German-beating prices remind us just how appealing grace, pace and space are?