Jaguar XE is a brilliant 3 Series alternative – and available from £3k
Petrol engines: Early 2.0-litre petrol cars used the Ford Ecoboost in 197bhp or 237bhp form, badged GTDI. Look for silver stripes on the engine cover. The later JLR petrol Ingenium is proving reliable, as is the full-fat V6.
Gearbox: The gear selector that rises up from the centre console on pre-facelift cars can get stuck, stopping you from putting the car into drive. A weak battery or faulty brake switch is often the cause. The gearbox itself is the same excellent ZF eight-speed unit you’ll find in BMWs, while the six-speed manual (standard on diesels) is fine too.
Electrics: Play around with the touchscreen to ensure all the different menus and functions work. If it freezes, it will need to go to a Jaguar dealer for a software update. Buyers should be prepared to put up with a few glitches and forced reboots every now and then.
Also worth knowing
As well as a facelift in late 2019, there were important model-year updates from April 2017 (Ingenium petrol range introduced and extra standard kit) and in 2021 (new smooth and economical mild-hybrid diesel). VED ranges from £35 a year for the pre-2017 diesels to more than £400 for the 335bhp V6 petrol. Cars registered after April 2017 will all be £200 a year, unless they cost more than £40,000 when new (the special-edition 300 Sport is among the few that did), in which case they will incur an additional £440 until their fifth birthday.
How much to spend
£3000-£5999: Early, high-mileage diesels. Avoid any that haven’t had regular, 10,000-mile services as a minimum.
£6000-£10,999: A large range of petrol and diesel pre-facelift cars. Plenty are in great condition and have been very well looked after.
£11,000-£19,999: V6 S and facelifted cars become available here. Up-to-date servicing is still very important.
£20,000-£30,000: Late examples, including some 24-plates and desirable Reims specials in French racing blue.
One we found
Jaguar XE S, 2017, 53,000 miles, £16,940: This is possibly peak XE, with the 2017 updates bringing a spicier 375bhp and louder exhaust, as well as some nicer materials. Annual VED is reduced from £410 to £200 too. This example has a full service history and lots of files documenting other work.
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