[Auto] BMW 3 Series vs Jaguar XE: Space, features & performance comparison

[King_of_lion]

or years, the BMW 3 Series has been widely regarded as the best sports sedan on sale. However, back in 2015 when the Jaguar XE arrived, for a brief moment that title seemed under threat because the XE was and is still that good. The newest generation of the 3er on sale is bigger, more feature-rich and better to drive than it has ever been. The Jaguar XE too was been given a mid-life update so we thought we’d bring the two together to find out if the 3 Series has managed to increase its lead over the XE or has Jaguar managed to close in on it.

Exteriors

The Jaguar XE was already a looker and the revisions brought about by the facelift have only made things better. The nose especially with its sharper headlamps looks more aggressive than ever and goes quite well with the sporty demeanour of the Jaguar XE. Changes to the rear are a bit more subtle. While original’s tail lamps appeared a tad oversized, the ones on the facelift are sleeker and have a revised LED signature as well. Our test car came finished in the solid Caldera Red exterior shade along with the optional Black Pack that brings with it a gloss black finish for the grille, window surrounds and side vents available only on the top-of-the-line SE trim. The only thing that can help improve things visually is a set of lower profile wheels as the 17 inchers look a bit un-sporty.

In terms of outright acceleration, the BMW 3 Series is considerably quicker than the Jaguar XE posting a 0-100kmph time of 5.8 seconds versus the XE's 7.4 seconds. (Image - Nishant Jhamb)

With the M Sport package, the 3 Series we have on test looks sportier than the regular Sport and Luxury Line variants thanks to a different set of bumpers and deletion of chrome detailing. It also gets 18-inch two-tone alloys that are exclusive to this particular trim. In terms of size, the 3 Series is longer and taller than the Jaguar XE but

not as wide. It also sits on a longer wheelbase at 2,851mm compared to the XE’s 2,835mm. One criticism we have is that BMW has restricted colour choices to just three options white, grey and black. The XE on the other hand is available in four shades including this lovely solid red and a beautiful dark blue shade. That said as we’ve always maintained, looks are subjective and it is entirely up to you, the reader and the buyer to decide which one tugs harder at your heartstrings.

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The BMW 3 Series trumps the Jaguar XE in terms of acceleration, braking as well as fuel efficiency.

Interiors

With the facelift, Jaguar has made a handful of changes to the XE’s dashboard. The centre console sports a more high tech look with a bigger 10-inch touchscreen and revised aircon controls fusing the intuitiveness of physical buttons with touch-sensitive buttons and rather fancy digital displays. The instrument panel is now a configurable all-digital affair that varies basis the drive mode selected. Details like the mode selector toggle help carry the air of sportiness the exterior exudes to the interiors as well.