• Cabin is on the tight side for passengers
• The driver’s space is snug, too
• Folding rear seats an essential optional extra 

How much space is there?

Compact saloons aren’t best known for being paragons of flexibility but the Jaguar XE falls short of even those modest expectations. Space in the rear of the XE is very tight for adult passengers, especially if sat behind a tall driver.

That’s due to two things – firstly, the sloping roofline that gives the car its rakish silhouette cuts headroom for rear passengers, causing them to slouch and require even more legroom.

Up front, there’s a good-sized glovebox and a couple of generous cupholders, plus a small storage area under the arm rest with USB, 12V and an aux-in jack. Ahead of the gear lever is a small shelf that can be optioned as a wireless phone charger.

Boot space and storage

The XE’s boot is a decent size, but that aluminium construction once again comes into play, as it’s rather an odd shape. Soft bags or shopping will fill the gaps nicely, but hard, square cases prove more of a challenge in this car than in a BMW 3 Series.

That issue is compounded by rear seats that don’t fold down as standard – a 40:20:40 folding rear bench is an optional extra, and one that should be one of the first boxes ticked for anyone buying an XE.

Is it easy to park?

The Jaguar XE is smaller than all of its immediate rivals – shorter in length, lower and narrower all round. So, it should be easy to park and will likely fit into most UK garages. But the visibility over your shoulder isn’t great, and the windscreen is shallow and the A-posts are bulky and hard to see around.

There are options to help you park – from front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera to a clever 360-degree set-up that offers a top-down view of your parking space. Any of these options should ensure the XE poses no problems squeezing into spaces.

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Safety

• Full five-star crash test score from Euro NCAP in 2016.
• Wide range of safety kit fitted as standard
• Further safety kit is optionally available

Jaguar had the XE’s safety credentials underlined when it received a full five-star rating from the crash test experts at Euro NCAP. There’s a range of driver aids to help prevent an accident in the first place including anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB) that helps a car get round a corner if taken a little faster than normal.

Another highlight is All Surface Progress Control that is designed to find grip and get the XE rolling on even the most slippery of surfaces. Lane-Keeping Assist – which helps gently steer the car to keep it within the confines of the white lines – and Blind-Spot Assist to warn you of approaching traffic from behind remain on the options list.

Finally, pedestrians will also be better protected in the event of a front-end crash with an XE thanks to the deployable bonnet that rises up to provide a better cushion to help absorb impacts.