What a shame.

Diesel engines were just getting a foothold in the United States and Volkswagen had to go ruin it.

At this point, it looks like diesel is dead for cars in the U.S., though it may hang on for SUVs and will certainly continue in heavy duty pickups.

2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

Yet in these uncertain times for oil burners, Jaguar has decided to stick with its plans to offer its new Ingenium 2.0-liter turbodiesel in the XE and XF sedans, as well as the F-Pace crossover.

I recently had the opportunity to drive the 2017 Jaguar XE 20d AWD R-Sport and test its real-world gas mileage performance.

The XE 20d AWD carries EPA fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg city, 40 highway, 34 combined. The all-wheel-drive system costs the car 2 mpg in all ratings.

Over the course of 249 miles, much of it highway, the XE returned 35.2 mpg.

2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

Mileage, of course, varied based on the type of driving. Following the readings from the trip computer, I was averaging 25.5 mpg after the first 37 miles of city driving. An 82-mile freeway trip pushed the total to 36.9 mpg. Another 33 miles of city driving lowered it to 33.0 mpg, and I finished up with another 82-mile highway trip that brought the total to 36.6 mpg.

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I finished at a gas station, where I paid $2.459 for diesel. The total of 6.768 gallons of fuel over 238.2 miles equates to 35.2 mpg, showing that the trip computer is off by 1.4 mpg (though who knows how well the pump is calibrated).

In general, I was happy with the powertrain performance. The 2.0-liter turbodiesel in the XE puts out 180 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 318 pound-feet of torque from 1,750 to 2,500 rpm. It starts up with the typical diesel clatter. That quickly fades from the background on the inside, though it still can be heard from the outside.

On the road, the engine is smooth and responsive, especially at low speeds. It launches the car from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, according to Jaguar. That's a second slower than the 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in 25t models, and 2.4 seconds slower than the 340-hp supercharged V-6 in 35t models.

Highway passing response is adequate, and that's the way I'd describe the power overall. I'd rather drive the 35t and it's not that much more expensive, but for those who make fuel economy a priority, the diesel is the clear choice and it still has decent pep.

2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

Other notes from our week with the Jaguar XE 20d:

  • The interior is a mixed bag. There are some very nice soft-touch materials up top, but they aren't found everywhere the driver might touch. The instrument cluster hood and the center console are both hard plastic that smack of cutting costs.
  • The ride quality is spot on for a sport sedan. It's firm but forgiving, soaking up smaller bumps quite well. It does get harsh over the worst potholes Chicago has to offer, but I wouldn't want it any other way.
  • Similarly, the handling feels great. The steering is quick and direct, there is very little lean in turns, and the car feels well balanced. This is where BMW used to be. Let's hope sport sedan fans tune in to Jaguar.
  • The new InTouch infotainment system is the best yet from Jaguar. It's faster than the previous version, and it's screen is nice and big. I want a scroll knob for the radio stations, though.
2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

2017 Jaguar XE

The car I drove carried a price of $49,995. That's the standard price for the XE 20d AWD R-Sport. The R-Sport trim sits at the top of the lineup and includes features such as leather upholstery, sport seats, satellite radio, adaptive HED headlights with LED signature lighting, lane keep assist, driver fatigue alerts, blind spot monitors, and forward collision warnings with emergency braking. The car also gets an R-Sport body kit with an aggressive front bumper, body-color side sills, and a rear spoiler, in addition to the features from lower line models.

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By comparison, the 35t AWD R-Sport costs $52,695 and comes with the same basic equipment.

Who knows, maybe Jaguar will stick with its diesel strategy despite the ill winds that are currently blowing for diesel cars. As long as it can be as clean as gasoline, I'm all for it.

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