• Cabin envelops those in the front seats
• Clean, simple design with few buttons
• Pity it doesn’t feel as high quality as rivals

How is the quality and layout?

The basics of the Jaguar XE’s interior have always been fairly spot-on. There’s a wraparound feel to the cabin, with a high-set window line and dashboard making you feel cocooned, if at the expense of visibility. There’s a thick styling detail that envelops driver and passenger, continuing through the tops of the doors onto the dashboard and culminating in a Jaguar badge for a really cohesive look.

The analogue gauges on entry-level cars are handsome and easy to read and the further you go up the trim levels, the more sophisticated the driving environment becomes. Top-spec HSE cars get a fully digital dial pack, head-up display and twin central displays.

It’s inside the Jaguar XE where the effects of the 2019 facelift are most keenly felt. Trim and materials are much improved, while the quality feels up to the price being asked for these cars. Is it as overtly high-quality as an Audi A4? No. But it’s still a pleasant place in which to spend time.

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Infotainment and tech

Opting for the InControl Touch Pro Duo package brings a pair of touchscreens that control the car’s infotainment system, as well as the heating and settings. But mercifully, Jaguar’s retained physical controls for some heating and ventilation controls as well as a physical volume knob by the gear lever.

This setup really feels like the best of both worlds, although we found it could be quite difficult to press items on the lower screen accurately while on the move, especially as it’s partially blocked by the gear selector.

It’s also worth mentioning that only top-spec cars – or those optioned as such – get these twin screens. Doing without them sees the lower unit replaced by a rather cheap-looking climate control panel, with comically large yet somewhat unresponsive controls that have touch-sensitive ‘buttons’ as opposed to physical ones.

Selecting desired ventilation settings and – where fitted – heated seats is easy to work on the move, while all other controls use a simple layout and avoid the clutter of myriad buttons and knobs that plague some other cars. The multi-function steering wheel fitted as standard to every XE is also straightforward to use with the cruise control functions fitted on one side and audio and driving information adjustments on the other.

The only downside is while the look and feel of the cabin is both robust and looks smart, the material used on the top of the dashboard is still a step behind in quality compared with its premium rivals; Audi and BMW still lead the way in this regard.

Comfort

• Front seats supportive and comfortable
• Rear-seat passengers aren’t so lucky
• Opt for the R-Dynamic HSE for lashings of leather

Higher specification models, such as the R-Dynamic trim, feature electrically powered adjustment plus full leather interior. Depending on your size, the sports seats aren’t the most supportive, with the flat seats not providing the greatest back support or grip around bends.

Rear-seat passengers don’t fair well for space as, like most cars in this class, there’s a price to pay for that coupe-like styling. It’s significantly more cramped than its principal rivals, which have all in improved in this regard in their latest generation. This lack of room compromises the comfort of what are otherwise well-shaped back seats.