2018 Jaguar XE Rear Seats Are Only Good for "Kids and Short-Legged Pets"

Looking at the lovely cream leather, we would never consider taking any pets inside this car... unless they're your crazy aunt's taxidermied cats. But apparently, the length of animal's feet determines how comfortable they will feel inside the Jag. What about cats - do they have to be short-legged to fit inside the XE?

A much better complaint would have been to note that because of the sloping roof, getting in the back without banging your head would be impossible. Likewise, legroom falls short of rivals from Audi or Mercedes.

But the XE compensates with keen driving dynamics. Consumer Reports says it's got the most direct steering in the segment, but we know that's not exactly what the market wants.

It's the interior that mostly fails to live up to the expectations that come with a $50,000 car. This leads the reviewer to say that the XE is more of a cramped cubicle than a corner office, so it doesn't quite say "I've made it."

Speaking of money, the entry-level XE starts from $35,725 in the US, and that actually makes it more expensive than a BMW 3 Series base model.

All the engines are available with either rear- or all-wheel drive. There's also an 8-speed automatic gearbox from ZF, but the tuning isn't done to quite the same consistency as on similarly equipped German rivals. However, your best pick is probably the 2-liter, since the V6 is heavier than its Mercedes, BMW or Audi equivalent.

We've not quite sure why Consumer Reports says the styling gets people's attention. To our eyes, it looks like a cheap version of the XF. We always thought the Alfa Giulia has the more attention-grabbing badge, at least in this German-dominated segment.