2019 XE SV Interior
If you're spending over $180,000 on a super sedan, you want to feel like you're sitting somewhere special. Although the Project 8 boasts features like magnesium bucket seats, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, and an 11-speaker Meridian sound system, the interior looks and, sadly, feels much like that of the regular XE, a car that has been lambasted the world over for failing to meet its luxury billing, with sub-standard materials and a very laggy infotainment system. The Project 8 is marginally better, with a greater spread of soft-touch materials and premium upholstery, but the difference between it and the regular model is not great enough for our liking.
2019 XE SV Interior Photos
Seating and Interior Space
The Project 8 is a four-seater. If that seems confusing, it's because the traditional three-seat bench in the back of the regular XE has been dropped in favor of two sculpted, bucket-like seats. Up front, two actual buckets with power adjustments cosset the front occupants. The seats are framed in magnesium and are quite supportive in the corners, although larger individuals may find the shoulder space a little confining. The driving position is good and the view out is not too bad, but once again, the back suffers with doors that are undersized and there is a minimal amount of legroom.
2019 Jaguar XE SV Interior Dimensions:
| Jaguar XE SV Trims | Project 8 |
|---|---|
| Seating | 4 |
| Headroom Front Seat | 38.2 in. |
| Headroom Back Seat | 37.3 in. |
| Legroom Front Seat | 41.5 in. |
| Legroom Back Seat | 35 in. |
| Shoulder Room Front | 56.8 in. |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 54.7 in. |
Interior Colors and Materials
Carbon fiber, piano black, and brushed aluminum trim are the contrasting accent materials in the cabin, while Ebony leather with Alcantara inserts and Oyster contrast stitching adds a racy, but slightly upmarket, feel. However, despite there being suede material on the steering wheel and leather on most of the dash and the door card uppers, the overall ambiance is largely unchanged from that of the regular XE, and that is highly disappointing - not just because you expect exclusivity in a car of this price, but mostly because the regular XE is poorly finished and feels cheap. Some of the money spent developing this car really should have gone towards upgrading the interior.
2019 XE SV Trunk and Cargo Space
Buyers of the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will likely be just as unphased with what the car can carry as they are with its fuel economy. Nevertheless, should a cross-country blast be on the cards, these owners will be able to fit a decent amount of luggage in the trunk. Just as with the regular XE, trunk space is measured at 16.1 cubic feet, enough for four large suitcases. However, the opening isn't the best that the luxury sedan segment offers, and it can be tricky to load your stuff.
In the cabin, the door pockets are reasonably sized, allowing one to stow keys and the like, while a center console bin doubles as space for a pair of cupholders and as a spot for your phone or wallet.
2019 Jaguar XE SV Trunk and Cargo Space Photos
2019 Jaguar XE SV Cargo Dimensions:
| Jaguar XE SV Trims | Project 8 |
|---|---|
| Trunk Volume | 15.9 cu. ft. |
2019 XE SV Infotainment and Features
Features
Despite its racy aspirations and achievements, the XE SV Project 8 comes with a reasonable number of standard features that include things like a panoramic sunroof, heated auto-dimming wing mirrors, a 12.3-inch configurable driver info display, automatic LED headlights, remote access through Jaguar's app suite (only on Apple devices, however), adaptive dampers, park sensors, a rearview camera, dual-zone climate control, and push-button start. Other advances are track-oriented and include a valved titanium exhaust system, an adjustable rear wing, adjustable front splitter, and adjustable coilover suspension. Variable drive modes are supplemented by features like a stopwatch, g-force meter, and digital gauges for brake and throttle input too. Options include adaptive cruise control with traffic-sign recognition and a heated windshield.
Infotainment
The XE SV Project 8 comes with a pretty high-end sound system - a Meridian 11-speaker setup that includes a subwoofer. It also features Bluetooth and USB connections, a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and HD Radio. Controlling all of this is an attractive, but dated and frustratingly laggy, 10.2-inch Touch Pro infotainment system with navigation. While you are likely to spend most of your time listening to the supercharger sing, it's a disappointment that a road car produced in the year 2019 still has such poor responses and is generally way behind the systems found in cheaper competitors.