The 2019 facelift brought significant improvements to the XE, particularly addressing criticisms of the interior quality by introducing materials and technology directly from the I-Pace, alongside sharper exterior styling.
The rear-mounted single-row timing chains on 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engines stretch due to extended 21k-mile oil change schedules. The plastic chain guides fracture, causing severe rattling from the rear of the engine and imminent valve contact requiring an engine-out rebuild.
Frequent short journeys interrupt active DPF regeneration cycles, causing unburnt diesel to wash down the cylinder walls into the engine sump. Thinning oil destroys the ceramic balance shaft bearings and turbocharger thrust bearings.
The electronic stepper motor actuator mounted to the turbocharger develops internal gear wear or thermal solder cracking, sticking the variable-geometry vanes and causing sudden loss of boost.
The central touchscreen system suffers from memory leaks and firmware bugs, leading to frozen navigation displays, black reversing camera screens, and dropped smartphone Bluetooth connections.
The aluminum integral link rear suspension bushes dry out and split, causing loud squeaking and creaking over speed humps and allowing rear-axle tramlining on rutted motorways.