Smooth, sleek and sophisticated - few cars can claim to be as refined as the Jaguar XE.

What’s more, this rear-wheel-drive R-Sport version of the brand’s smallest saloon adds even more driving pleasure and a dash of excitement to the experience.

The car is hugely efficient and quiet, yet responsive at the same time, accelerating to a decent speed and devouring corners with the minimum of fuss.

The stylish-looking XE, with its long-low nose and dynamic silhouette, was the first model developed using Jaguar’s lightweight aluminium-steel-cast magnesium chassis.

And the R-Sport version takes the XE’s sporting prowess to the next level in terms of appearance and handling.

The car’s muscular stance is emphasised by a sport bumper featuring Satin Chrome blades, a boot lid spoiler and the 19’’ Venom twin-spoke wheels fitted as an option to the test car.

Those 19’’ wheels combine with the firmer R Sport suspension set-up to give the ride a somewhat firmer edge, but it’s still very smooth on the whole.

When driving at a brisker pace, the body is nicely controlled through the corners or when driving over road imperfections, with the vehicle giving the impression that it’s gliding along the surface.

The rear-wheel-drive Jaguar has confidence-inspiring steering, being quick to respond and offering what seems to be the ideal amount of resistance when you turn the wheel. It’s crisp, balanced and composed, absorbing everything you throw at it and striking a balance between control and comfort.

The car’s Torque Vectoring by Braking system adds further control through the tightest corners. The clever piece of technology provides controlled independent braking on the inside front and rear wheels, which gives the feel of sports car-like agility.

In terms of the engine, the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine on this car is a beautifully-powered unit - the perfect compromise between performance and economy.

But, be warned! The ease with which the car builds up speed is a trait that could easily attract the attention of the police if you don’t keep an eye on the speedometer.

While many cars scream and shout when you ask them to go from 0-62mph in the quickest time they can manage, this Jag is able to retain its unruffled elegance as it performs the sprint in in a little over seven seconds.

Of course, that’s all helped by an eight-speed automatic gearbox that goes through the transitions with great fluidity. If anything, the box can be a little eager to change down, but that’s a minor gripe.

The XE’s aluminium architecture helps achieve optimum weight distribution of approaching 50:50, with the lightweight structure helping to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Inside, the low seating position immediately brings a sporty feel to proceedings, with the driver surrounded by all the main controls and instruments in a cockpit-style set-up.

During the week-long test drive, I grew very fond of the deep centre console, which is such a prominent characteristic within the cabin.

Another dominant feature inside the XE is the dashboard display, which is intuitive to use and takes the form of an iPad-style touchscreen that provides quick access to the audio, mobile phone and satellite navigation functions.

There’s a great deal of space for the front seat occupants, but the rear seats are a bit tighter for space, while the boot isn’t as big as some class rivals.

A bit of extra flair is added to the car’s interior by the automatic gearbox controller, which rises in a spectacular manner from between the front seats.

This vehicle, combining Jaguar’s normal dose of rakish opulence with some excellent economy statistics, is a real contender against the German opposition in a highly-competitive marketplace.