Jaguar XE R-Sport

The XE is the car that reminded people Jaguar could still build a proper sports saloon. Aluminium-intensive body, near-perfect weight distribution, double-wishbone front suspension and rear-wheel drive — the ingredients that make a car feel alive rather than merely quick.

R-Sport specification adds the sharper body kit, sports seats, contrast stitching and the Jaguar InControl touchscreen with navigation, DAB and Bluetooth.

Ours is presented in black with the R-Sport aero package, gloss-black grille and multi-spoke alloys. It's valeted, safety-checked and fuelled before every handover, and photographed at collection and return so there's never any dispute about condition.

It's the sensible-money pick of the fleet — genuinely comfortable for four, economical on a long run, and considerably more interesting to drive than anything else at the price.