“Safe” and “dynamic” may appear to be conflicting ideas at first glance, but they are two of the most important factors affecting car purchases these days.

And the Jaguar XE, Jaguar Land Rover’s premium sports sedan, has managed to satisfy both requirements.

The stormy weather was not perfect for the media test drive for the newly launched Jaguar XE, but at the same time it offered a good chance to assess what the vehicle can offer in adverse weather conditions. 

At the start, the weather was fine enough for us to assume that the storm would arrive after the test was over. But it soon turned misty, hindering visibility, and about 30 minutes into the highway drive, heavy rainfall pounded the car for an hour during my 178-kilometer drive.

Safe and sound

However, the weather enabled us to experience the car's All Surface Progress Control, which automatically adjusts the traction of the tires so that the car doesn’t slip in rain or snow.

The suspension -- a double wishbone type for the front wheels and an integral link type for the rear wheels for more stability -- has also amplified security when cornering, as well as for bumps in the road.

Its torque vectoring by braking distributes the power to any wheel instantly without having to cut power, controlling wheel spin by braking or cutting the power from the engine, the company said.

“Torque vectoring is usually adapted to higher-priced models but we have decided to bring it down for safety’s sake,” said Cho Joo-hyun, the marketing and public relations director at Jaguar Land Rover Korea. 

The electric power steering that Jaguar cars adopted for the first time makes things easier for timid drivers like me during handling -- the manipulation of the steering was brought down to the minimum even when making dramatic turns.

Jaguar explained that the system allows high-end computer controls to alter the levels of steering support; whether it may be for control and speed or providing comprehensive assistance during slow maneuvering.

Dynamic driving experience

More than 75 percent of the vehicle’s body is made of aluminum to keep its weight down. However, in order to ensure an even distribution between the front and the rear, 25 percent of the base is made with steel.

“The Jaguar XE is designed to be lighter than its peers, but with a steadier bottom and an ideal weight distribution, it adds power to the acceleration and people can truly enjoy the dynamic and sporty aspects of the XE,” he added.

In order to maximize the merits of a sports car, the steering wheel is smaller but thicker. The pedaling is also quite responsive, even compared to other German cars.

Car specs

The specs are quite impressive, too. XE is the first model with a 2.0 liter or 3.0 liter Engenium engine, which was developed by Jaguar Land Rover. The gasoline engine boasts a maximum of 200 horsepower and the maximum torque of 28.6 kilogram-meters.

The Jaguar XE is a very important model for Jaguar Land Rover in infiltrating into the mass market. The specs are often compared with Mercedes’ C-class, BMW’s 3-series or Audi’s A4. Star-studded TV commercials prove that the company is determined to grab the attention of compact car users. 

Indeed the company has been in high spirits after receiving more than 300 orders within a month or so, and is now aiming at 2,000 units of sales in its first year.

“According to our research, many of those who have made reservations -- the official sales start from Sept. 1 -- many of our customers were Hyundai car owners, newly entering into the imported car market,” Cho said.

Any reservations? Perhaps the car might not satisfy people seeking for vast interior space. At 4.6 meters long, the car may be likened to Hyundai’s Avante, but the legroom in the back seats -- about 75 centimeters -- seems a bit smaller.

Still, for those who want to enjoy plenty of fun and adventure without compromising on safety, and whose wallets won’t stretch to the Jaguar XF or XJ, the Jaguar XE, for which prices start at 47.6 million won ($40,340), will be a good bet.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)