Business Casual: The 2017 Jaguar XE

It’s a question as old as the corporate credit card; a quandary faced by every young manager at one time or another; a problem with no right answer but many wrong ones: Now that I’m the boss (well, sort of), what’s the right car for my new status?

You’re looking for a compact luxury sedan, the traditional entrée into world of high-end automobiles. The Germans comfortably dominate this market; hell, they invented it. BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have been refining their offerings in this niche for many decades. They all offer superb engineering, the latest tech and a polished driving experience. But picking one car from this bunch can be tough: too many choices, no real standouts.

Now that I’m the boss, what’s the right car for my new status?

That is, until now. Jaguar is launching a compact luxury sedan: say hello to the XE.

It is perhaps the most beautiful car in its class (although none are likely to turn heads). Under the hood, there’s a frugal four-cylinder diesel. Accountants will go for this one. Eco-conscious shoppers, too. It’s ideal for long, long commutes.

The supercharged V6, however, is the Jaguar XE for us. The one that’ll make your cubicle-trapped colleagues jealous. Dear god, does it sound good. All-wheel drive is the only thing preventing you from leaving two black lines as you peel out of the company lot on Friday. Which, for the sake of your job, is probably for the best.