Skip advert
Advertisement

Jaguar XE Portfolio 2016 review

Can Jag's mid-range petrol executive car tempt you away from the diesel options?

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Jaguar XE
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for discounting this mid-range petrol as a pointless addition to the XE range. It’s neither as fuel-efficient as the diesels, nor as fast or powerful as the range-topping V6 S. However, it remains great fun to drive, while its ability to quietly munch miles on busy motorways is impressive. The fleet-friendly diesel remains our pick of the range, thanks to its superior fuel economy and low-down torque.

Advertisement - Article continues below

We're huge fans of the Jaguar XE here at Auto Express - so much that we've named it our top compact executive car, over the likes of the new Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class.

Most of these cars will be bought by company car fleets, so most buyers will end up in one of the punchy yet frugal diesels, while those after punchy petrol performance will be unable to avoid the glorious 3.0-litre V6. But there is another option in the form of the lesser 237bhp 2.0-litre petrol unit we're testing here.

Available in plush Portfolio or racy R-Sport trim, the Ford-sourced unit comes paired with a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. However, compared to the fleet-friendly Ingenium diesel models, this petrol is disappointingly pricey to run.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

G-Class

2024 Mercedes

G-Class

53,892 milesAutomaticDiesel2.9L

Cash £96,000
View G-Class
8 Series Convertible

2020 BMW

8 Series Convertible

62,647 milesAutomaticDiesel3.0L

Cash £35,400
View 8 Series Convertible
Mustang Mach-E

2021 Ford

Mustang Mach-E

29,223 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £25,950
View Mustang Mach-E
GLC Coupe

2023 Mercedes

GLC Coupe

15,615 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £38,500
View GLC Coupe

Jaguar claims fuel efficiency of 37.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 179g/km – the 178bhp diesel will do 67.3mpg and emit just 111g/km. In comparison, the 249bhp Audi A4 S line TFSI averages 45.6mpg – despite the quattro all-wheel drive. 

That’s not to say this XE feels off the pace in terms of performance. There’s plenty of shove from the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it feels suitably rapid off the line. It’ll easily shift through multiple ratios when you put your foot down, too, accelerating quickly from 30-70mph.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Plus, of course, the XE remains great fun to drive. The steering is direct and full of feel, while the rear-driven chassis feels taut and compliant. The ride is similarly impressive, especially in more luxurious Portfolio specification. Granted, it may not look as mean as an M Sport BMW, but there’s an undeniable class about the XE.

• Best executive cars

On the motorway, our test car shook off several hundred miles without breaking a sweat, remaining quiet and composed for hours on end. The seats are supremely comfortable, which allowed us to arrive at our destination as fresh as when we set off.

That said, we can’t help but crave more drama from the muted four-cylinder. The supercharged V6 in the XE S is lifted straight from the F-Type, and while it’s £11,255 more expensive, it makes the standard saloon feel like a real four-door sports car.

Engine aside, this petrol Portfolio is unchanged inside and out, meaning it features the same sloping roofline and slightly compromised rear seats as the diesel, as well as a boot that does fall shy of the class leaders. Up front, however, the high-grade materials and standard sat-nav make it a stunning place to sit.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,690Avg. savings £5,249 off RRP*Used from £14,350
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £3,189 off RRP*Used from £11,990
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,607 off RRP*Used from £15,997
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,788 off RRP*Used from £11,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition
Fiat Grande Panda La Prima - front cornering

New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition

The newly crowned Auto Express Supermini of the Year is available in hybrid or pure-electric form, with the EV offering 199 miles of range
News
1 Sep 2025
Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval
Skoda Elroq - front cornering

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval

Despite some models costing over the £37,000 threshold, Skoda has secured the government grant on its mid-size electric SUVs
News
2 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month
Volvo XC40 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month

Swedish company’s popular compact SUV is still effortlessly cool, and great value with our Deal of the Day for 31 August
News
31 Aug 2025