BMW’s popular 3 Series is essentially the Orange County Camry; well-heeled SoCal drivers probably buy more of these cars than Frappuccinos at Starbucks.

It’s safe to say this Bimmer is the standard-bearer in the luxury compact sports sedan class, a position it has held for longer than we can remember. But it’s hardly the only worthwhile offering in this rarified segment. Rivals like the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Cadillac ATS have chipped away at its hegemony and, in some instances, are even better than the BMW.

Further pressuring the vaunted 3 Series is a new challenger from a brand that’s not on many shoppers’ radar. The 2017 Jaguar XE promises to fuse style, luxury and dynamism in a uniquely British package, all while shielding buyers with best-in-segment warranty protection. We know that sounds like a tall order, but this car mostly delivers.