Skip advert
Advertisement

2019 Jaguar XE SV Project 8 review – MPG and running costs

Jaguar's XE SV Project 8 takes a rather extreme approach to the supersaloon recipe than most, but has an equally extreme price tag to match

Evo rating
RRP
from £149,995
  • Performance, poise and ability on track, usable on road, bombastic soundtrack
  • Cup 2 tyres struggle in the wet, a few levels above the usual saloon price point

Project 8 is thirsty. Oh boy, it’s thirsty. Officially, it’s capable of 25.7mpg combined, but at anything other than a steady, low-revs cruise this seems somewhat optimistic. On a recent drive we saw just shy of 13mpg, and while the normal owner’s experience will probably end up somewhere between those two numbers, potential figures in the low teens shouldn’t be ignored.

Advertisement - Article continues below

At 254g/km of CO2 the car somehow sneaks into the second-from-top tax band, meaning a first-year rate of £1815 and £465 a year for the following five years, owing to a list price considerably above the £40k cutoff.

The Cup 2s won’t be cheap to replace either once you’ve burned through a set, though in our experience the Michelin rubber puts up a pretty good fight even on track, so as a car unlikely to be used daily, changes shouldn’t be too regular.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best used cars – the pre-owned fast car favourites to buy in 2026
Best used performance cars
Best cars

Best used cars – the pre-owned fast car favourites to buy in 2026

Want a used performance car that’s fun to drive and affordable? Whatever your budget, we’ve got some suggestions for you
12 Jan 2026
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is finally here, and it costs close to £50k
Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 front
News

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is finally here, and it costs close to £50k

Volkswagen is finally letting the Mk8 Golf GTI off its leash with a hardcore, track-honed version called the Edition 50. Now we know how much it will …
12 Jan 2026
Land Rover Defender Octa review – the super SUV that’s more fun than sports cars
Land Rover Defender Octa – front
In-depth reviews

Land Rover Defender Octa review – the super SUV that’s more fun than sports cars

Put aside your SUV cynicism. The Land Rover Defender Octa is a triumph, with 911 GT3 levels of engineering making it an unexpected thrill to drive
8 Jan 2026