Jaguar XE reliability.
Discussion
Looking to change cars and a very low mileage, one owner 2014 XE, 2.0l petrol,197bhp version has caught my eye.
Reading up on them is enough to put you off, with the 8 speed gearbox struggling to decide which gear to be in, build quality issues, rattles and squeaks, general reliability, effectiveness or otherwise of the Jaguar dealer network, etc.
Has anybody got any real life experience to say either yay or avoid like the plague?
Reading up on them is enough to put you off, with the 8 speed gearbox struggling to decide which gear to be in, build quality issues, rattles and squeaks, general reliability, effectiveness or otherwise of the Jaguar dealer network, etc.
Has anybody got any real life experience to say either yay or avoid like the plague?
According to Whatcar? reliability survey, the petrol models were 4th top in their class (joint with some Volvo or other).
The diesel models were 10th. Make of that what you will.
Our own experience with our XE S 380, which we’ve had for 2 years, is that it’s been very reliable, needing nothing so far other than the usual servicing and consumables.
Having said that, it was a brand new car and platform in 2015 and early models, by ANY manufacturer can sometimes be the ones with issues
HTH
The diesel models were 10th. Make of that what you will.
Our own experience with our XE S 380, which we’ve had for 2 years, is that it’s been very reliable, needing nothing so far other than the usual servicing and consumables.
Having said that, it was a brand new car and platform in 2015 and early models, by ANY manufacturer can sometimes be the ones with issues
HTH
Edited by V88Dicky on Tuesday 9th March 13:57
Best friend had a 2015 XE diesel, the 163bhp model, 8 speed box.
Was reliable and actually a very nice car. I didn't notice any rattles or squeaks, and I pick up on stuff like that. Seemed like a good strong stiff chassis.
Fast enough and gearbox seemed excellent, changes imperceptible.
I guess its all relative to what you're used though, my daily is an old Astra and VW Caddy.
Was reliable and actually a very nice car. I didn't notice any rattles or squeaks, and I pick up on stuff like that. Seemed like a good strong stiff chassis.
Fast enough and gearbox seemed excellent, changes imperceptible.
I guess its all relative to what you're used though, my daily is an old Astra and VW Caddy.
Well I have just given my son my 320k mile 2011 E Class 220 diesel, so I suppose a petrol car with just 19k miles will seem a bit, er quieter, smoother and newer. Having said that nothing really went wrong with it so I am a bit wary of buying something that might not be so reliable.
I don't want to keep sorting out little niggling issues which "alledgedly" the earlier cars suffer with.
IMy budget would stretch to a 2018 or so car which might be a better proposition.
Thanks for the comments so far, it is very easy to be put off by internet scare stories.
I have always told myself that I should have at least one Jag in my lifetime so now seems as good a time as any.
I don't want to keep sorting out little niggling issues which "alledgedly" the earlier cars suffer with.
IMy budget would stretch to a 2018 or so car which might be a better proposition.
Thanks for the comments so far, it is very easy to be put off by internet scare stories.
I have always told myself that I should have at least one Jag in my lifetime so now seems as good a time as any.
Monkeylegend said:
Well I have just given my son my 320k mile 2011 E Class 220 diesel, so I suppose a petrol car with just 19k miles will seem a bit, er quieter, smoother and newer. Having said that nothing really went wrong with it so I am a bit wary of buying something that might not be so reliable.
I don't want to keep sorting out little niggling issues which "alledgedly" the earlier cars suffer with.
IMy budget would stretch to a 2018 or so car which might be a better proposition.
Thanks for the comments so far, it is very easy to be put off by internet scare stories.
I have always told myself that I should have at least one Jag in my lifetime so now seems as good a time as any.
I'd suggest that this particular car you're looking at will have had any niggles sorted way before now at 6/7 years of age.I don't want to keep sorting out little niggling issues which "alledgedly" the earlier cars suffer with.
IMy budget would stretch to a 2018 or so car which might be a better proposition.
Thanks for the comments so far, it is very easy to be put off by internet scare stories.
I have always told myself that I should have at least one Jag in my lifetime so now seems as good a time as any.
Take it for a really thorough test drive, if its good its good. Consider a warranty if it doesn't come with one.
Lincsls1 said:
Monkeylegend said:
Well I have just given my son my 320k mile 2011 E Class 220 diesel, so I suppose a petrol car with just 19k miles will seem a bit, er quieter, smoother and newer. Having said that nothing really went wrong with it so I am a bit wary of buying something that might not be so reliable.
I don't want to keep sorting out little niggling issues which "alledgedly" the earlier cars suffer with.
IMy budget would stretch to a 2018 or so car which might be a better proposition.
Thanks for the comments so far, it is very easy to be put off by internet scare stories.
I have always told myself that I should have at least one Jag in my lifetime so now seems as good a time as any.
I'd suggest that this particular car you're looking at will have had any niggles sorted way before now at 6/7 years of age.I don't want to keep sorting out little niggling issues which "alledgedly" the earlier cars suffer with.
IMy budget would stretch to a 2018 or so car which might be a better proposition.
Thanks for the comments so far, it is very easy to be put off by internet scare stories.
I have always told myself that I should have at least one Jag in my lifetime so now seems as good a time as any.
Take it for a really thorough test drive, if its good its good. Consider a warranty if it doesn't come with one.
I know Clarkson was very critical of the gearbox saying it was never in the right gear but I am almost certainly to drive it with a bit more restraint
fatboy b said:
Screen will be pretty awful for a 2014 model - ICP rather than ICTP. I believe updates have ceased for the ICP. But both are pretty dire interfaces. Much annoyance with the loaners I’ve had and I ended up doing the bare minimum with it. Just doesn’t work at all well.
That doesn't bother me too much, I am not really into all the latest gadgets and technology. Maybe unjustifiably I associate Jaguar with ongoing niggly issues and poor build quality, and the early reports when the XF and XE came out seem to point that way, but the real test is what people's experience of running them says.
I have that little voice in my head saying don't do it.
I would strongly suggest driving first, assuming you haven't already bought one 
I haven't driven the XE but I did test drive one of the first 8-speed XFs (the small diesel, 2 litre?). I just couldn't get on with the gearbox at all, hunting all over the place with the gears. I've driven/owned various 6, 7 and 8-speed autos and been very happy with them, but they all have/had bigger engines. Possibly it was to do with the torque curve or poor set-up on early cars, I don't know, but I wouldn't have been able to live with it.
I haven't driven the XE but I did test drive one of the first 8-speed XFs (the small diesel, 2 litre?). I just couldn't get on with the gearbox at all, hunting all over the place with the gears. I've driven/owned various 6, 7 and 8-speed autos and been very happy with them, but they all have/had bigger engines. Possibly it was to do with the torque curve or poor set-up on early cars, I don't know, but I wouldn't have been able to live with it.
TarquinMX5 said:
I would strongly suggest driving first, assuming you haven't already bought one
I haven't driven the XE but I did test drive one of the first 8-speed XFs (the small diesel, 2 litre?). I just couldn't get on with the gearbox at all, hunting all over the place with the gears. I've driven/owned various 6, 7 and 8-speed autos and been very happy with them, but they all have/had bigger engines. Possibly it was to do with the torque curve or poor set-up on early cars, I don't know, but I wouldn't have been able to live with it.
That was one of my concerns after JC test drove one, said exactly the same thing.I haven't driven the XE but I did test drive one of the first 8-speed XFs (the small diesel, 2 litre?). I just couldn't get on with the gearbox at all, hunting all over the place with the gears. I've driven/owned various 6, 7 and 8-speed autos and been very happy with them, but they all have/had bigger engines. Possibly it was to do with the torque curve or poor set-up on early cars, I don't know, but I wouldn't have been able to live with it.
Anyway it is a mute point now I have gone for a 528i BMW instead. Have my fingers crossed this is not the same although I have not read anything to suggest it is.
Thank you, I just had that nagging doubt in the back of my mind which wouldn't go away and just couldn't bring myself to buy the Jag.
The 5 series seems to be well regarded so looking forward to getting some miles in. I had my last BMW 35 years ago so will be interesting to see how they compare.
The 5 series seems to be well regarded so looking forward to getting some miles in. I had my last BMW 35 years ago so will be interesting to see how they compare.
fatboy b said:
Screen will be pretty awful for a 2014 model - ICP rather than ICTP. I believe updates have ceased for the ICP. But both are pretty dire interfaces. Much annoyance with the loaners I’ve had and I ended up doing the bare minimum with it. Just doesn’t work at all well.
This is becoming a standard line of criticism with new-ish but not new cars. It seems the little HCI in the centre of the dash (or plonked on top 
) ages at a rate far beyond the rest of the car. What I never get, though, is why people seem so incapable of taking them as they are and working with them. More so when you consider that the touch screen in - say - a 2003 XJ or the original iDrive in the E60 5 series were significantly worse than any 2015 Jaguar, yet people were perfectly happy to sink £60k on a car fitted with one of those.SweptVolume said:
fatboy b said:
Screen will be pretty awful for a 2014 model - ICP rather than ICTP. I believe updates have ceased for the ICP. But both are pretty dire interfaces. Much annoyance with the loaners I’ve had and I ended up doing the bare minimum with it. Just doesn’t work at all well.
This is becoming a standard line of criticism with new-ish but not new cars. It seems the little HCI in the centre of the dash (or plonked on top ) ages at a rate far beyond the rest of the car. What I never get, though, is why people seem so incapable of taking them as they are and working with them. More so when you consider that the touch screen in - say - a 2003 XJ or the original iDrive in the E60 5 series were significantly worse than any 2015 Jaguar, yet people were perfectly happy to sink £60k on a car fitted with one of those.Don't know if OP is still looking. Some notes from when I was doing my research and as noted by the others, petrol reliability is generally quite good. The diesels not so much.
I searched extensively on a 3 series, A4, XE, and a Skoda. Ended up with the XE R-Sport and have to say it is a wonderful car to own and drive. Easily the most comfortable cat I have owned on long distance drives and quite enjoyable for short and moderate distances.
Servicing at Jag isn't very wallet-friendly, with my last arriving somewhere around £500 if memory serves correctly. So far no issues. I feel the cabin is better built and with nicer materials than the comparable Audi or BMW were. Interestingly many reviews felt the Jag the more engaging and sporty drive when compared to the 3 series - my own personal take was the opposite view, but only by a small margin.
I don't care much for in car entertainment, but I opted for the pre-facelift model so I could use the buttons without averting my eyes from the road instead of the full (larger) touch screen in the facelift which requires you to look away.
Oh, and on the gearbox thing you noted. I know what the others are complaining about - my honest advice is to put it into sport and see how that goes. There are also multiple driving modes which may alter the response a bit. When pootling around town, Drive is fine in my experience. For longer or open roads I think Sport gets the balance right.
I searched extensively on a 3 series, A4, XE, and a Skoda. Ended up with the XE R-Sport and have to say it is a wonderful car to own and drive. Easily the most comfortable cat I have owned on long distance drives and quite enjoyable for short and moderate distances.
Servicing at Jag isn't very wallet-friendly, with my last arriving somewhere around £500 if memory serves correctly. So far no issues. I feel the cabin is better built and with nicer materials than the comparable Audi or BMW were. Interestingly many reviews felt the Jag the more engaging and sporty drive when compared to the 3 series - my own personal take was the opposite view, but only by a small margin.
I don't care much for in car entertainment, but I opted for the pre-facelift model so I could use the buttons without averting my eyes from the road instead of the full (larger) touch screen in the facelift which requires you to look away.
Oh, and on the gearbox thing you noted. I know what the others are complaining about - my honest advice is to put it into sport and see how that goes. There are also multiple driving modes which may alter the response a bit. When pootling around town, Drive is fine in my experience. For longer or open roads I think Sport gets the balance right.
Edited by Mr_Megalomaniac on Tuesday 13th April 13:27
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