A compact executive saloon like the Jaguar XE may not be the most obvious tow car, but it does the job remarkably well.
Stability at speed is nothing short of brilliant. Even when travelling well beyond the legal limit we had no nervous moments towing with the Jag, and plentiful grip and pin-point steering accuracy made the lane-change test easy.
It made short work of the hill-start test, too. The rear-wheel-drive Jaguar XE didn’t suffer from the traction problems of some of its front-wheel-drive rivals, and its plentiful torque and automatic gearbox made for an easy getaway.
For the most part, our practicality testers rated the XE highly for a saloon car, but the small boot couldn’t take the bulkier items from our typical load of holiday luggage.
Rear-seat space is also tight, with a rather claustrophobic feel in the back of the car. Those in the front have more room, but the finish isn’t especially plush for a car with a £34,000 price tag.
The firm low-speed ride and surprisingly high levels of engine noise also count against the Jag. But leave the caravan behind and head out on a winding B-road, and the XE is exceptionally rewarding to drive.