2020 Jaguar XE facelift includes mild-hybrid engine

The Jaguar XE has been updated for 2020. Jaguar’s smallest saloon has gained a mild-hybrid diesel engine and the firm’s latest infotainment system, while the trim levels and styling have been tweaked.

A new 2.0-litre diesel engine is the biggest change in the engine line-up and it has mild-hybrid technology. The system can store energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and improve fuel economy and acceleration. This engine produces 201bhp and gets the car from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. It’s not only more powerful than the engine it replaces but more efficient too, with claimed figures of 58.5mpg and 127g/km of CO2 emissions.

Meanwhile, Jaguar has fitted its most up-to-date infotainment system called Pivi Pro, which replaces the ageing Touch Pro Duo system. A new 10-inch touchscreen is joined by a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a second, smaller touchscreen that takes care of climate control functions.

The infotainment system now has its own battery, allowing over-the-air software updates to happen even when you’re not in the car. An integrated signal booster and wireless phone charging can be specified too.

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The XE is an alternative to the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class and Alfa Romeo Giulia but hasn’t been the big seller Jaguar was hoping for. The new engine and Pivi Pro touchscreen should add appeal, but a plug-in hybrid version would make it much more attractive to business users - the main market for this sort of car.

Perhaps in response to slow sales, the XE line-up has been slimmed down. There are now three trim levels to pick from, with ‘S’ acting as the entry point. SE and HSE sit above, and you can add an R-Dynamic Black option pack to the latter for sporty looks.

Read our Jaguar reviews here, or check out our guide to the best saloons you can buy now.