Jaguar has launched its refreshed XE sedan, with prices starting at Rs 44.98 lakh. Revealed in international markets earlier this year, the XE facelift gets interior tweaks to help it hold its own with newer rivals like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-class and Audi A4.

The XE facelift is available in two variants and with two engine options, with a total of four versions to choose from.

Compared to the outgoing model, prices have increased by about Rs 440,000 for the equivalent base petrol variant. However, the new top-spec XE diesel costs Rs 66,000 less. The reason for this substantial increase in the base price is due to the fact that the pre-facelift Jaguar XE used to be on sale in three variants – Pure, Prestige and Portfolio. In the updated XE line-up, the base S variant is equivalent to the Prestige, while SE corresponds to the Portfolio.

The revised styling on the updated XE has been inspired from its stablemates like the F-Type sportscar and the all-electric I-Pace SUV. The front end sports a sharper bumper and tweaked LED headlights, while the rear gets a new bumper with a reworked diffuser lower down and updated LED tail-lights. The XE facelift's alloy wheels get a new design too.

While the dashboard layout remains more or less identical, the facelifted XE gets more tech than before. A fully digital instrument cluster (in the top-spec SE variant), a larger touchscreen for the infotainment system, and another touchscreen unit for the climate control and seat functions are on offer, similar to that on newer Land Rover models. Even the rotary gear-selector knob has been replaced by a more conventional gear selector. The overall quality of the cabin has seen an improvement too, with bits like the hard plastics being replaced with higher-quality soft plastic.

The XE facelift continues to run the same engines as its predecessor, albeit in BS6 guise. A 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is on offer, which produces 250hp and 365Nm of torque, and there's a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine which puts out 180hp and 430Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox.

Rohit Suri, president and MD, Jaguar Land Rover India said: “The Jaguar XE has always been a distinctly designed executive sports saloon that provides exhilarating performance. The New Jaguar XE is an illustration of how enhancements in its design, technology and driving dynamics can rewrite the rules.”

The Jaguar is set to launch the all-electric I-Pace SUV in 2020 in India.