The Jaguar F-Pace was a long time coming, but it was well worth the wait. It beats all its main rivals for practicality and versatility and can compete with the best in class when it comes to driver fun and dynamism. It’s luxurious and comfortable, too, while company car drivers and private owners alike will be tempted by the low running costs. Jaguar has nailed its first foray into the SUV market, offering something different to more mainstream rivals.
The Jaguar F-Pace is arguably one of the best-looking SUVs on the market. It sits somewhere in between the Audi Q5 and Q7 in terms of dimensions, but designer Ian Callum has done a great job fettling its proportions to make sure the XE and XF-inspired looks don’t appear too over-styled in the transition from saloon to SUV.
From the front, the F-Pace looks intimidating with its big grille and swept-back headlights, while down the side the sloping roofline and thin glasshouse give it an almost coupe-like design. The F-Type inspired rear lights and steeply raked rear window finish off a neatly considered shape.
Inside, the F-Pace takes all that is good from the XF and XJ and translates it into a high-riding SUV package. That means the same classy materials and easy-to-operate buttons, alongside the beautifully crafted thick rim steering wheel and bright, airy cabin. Spec the InControl Touch Pro Pack and you’ll benefit from the brilliant 10.2-inch infotainment system, 380W Meridian sound system, and classy digital dials, too – an option we think is well worth the extra cash. The screen employs smartphone-style pinch-to-zoom functionality, making it extremely intuitive to use.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
All F-Pace models come with Jag’s InControl Touch infotainment system and sat-nav included in the price. The standard system is flanked by a selection of buttons, but buyers with a bit more cash to splash can opt for the InControl Touch Pro Pack, which costs £1,710 on the entry-level car. This brings a wider screen and makes everything touch sensitive – doing away with the crude and slightly dated buttons down the side. It’s a much more desirable look, and adds a touch of class to the brilliantly upmarket interior.
Other kit includes a WiFi hotspot that allows passengers to utilise the car’s inbuilt SIM card on longer journeys, as well as Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It’s all very intuitive and easy to use, too.
The Jaguar F-Pace immediately impressed us when we first drove it on European roads. It’s a dynamic, comfortable and cheap-to-run SUV that is just as happy trawling up and down the motorway as it is twisting up an Alpine mountain pass. Engineers were allegedly sent back to the drawing board when the Porsche Macan launched in 2014, that car being installed as the F-Pace’s dynamic benchmark through its subsequent development. The Porsche’s influence is clear when you take the wheel.
The steering is sharp but perfectly weighted, yet the ride is neither uncomfortable nor too soft. Body roll is well suppressed, and there’s enough feedback to belie the car’s bulk and make it feel rather nimble on its feet. Bigger undulations can upset the SUV’s balance, but you’ll never notice jolts in the cabin – even on the larger alloy wheels. It’s certainly a match for Audi’s brilliant Q7, and isn’t far off the accomplished Macan.
It’s surprisingly capable off-road, too. While Jag is leaving the proper tough stuff to sister company Land Rover, the F-Pace is admirably efficient when faced with muddy ruts or a grassy field. The four-wheel drive system does sometimes scrabble for grip but on the whole it gives you confidence to push the car some way off the beaten track.
Engines
Jaguar F-Pace buyers get a choice of three engines at launch. The Ingenium-powered 2.0-litre diesel will make up the bulk of sales, while those after something a bit fruitier should look to the V6 diesel or 3.0-litre supercharged petrol.
The entry-level engine isn’t to be sniffed at, though. It will do 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds and hit 129mph flat out. It has a broad range of torque, and if you select the brilliant eight-speed automatic gearbox you can make use of the steering wheel-mounted paddles for optimum feedback. You’ll only notice the four-cylinder’s intrusive clatter under hard acceleration, but at speed it settles into a hushed rhythm – making it an impressive long-distance cruiser.
If performance is a priority, the excellent 3.0-litre diesel adds some punch to proceedings, feeling infinitely more flexible and genuinely fast in a straight line. It shaves more than two seconds off the car’s 0-62mph time (6.2 seconds) and is just as good to drive. We’ve not yet tried the supercharged V6 petrol, but if the F-Type is anything to go for, there are unlikely to be many complaints. That benchmark sprint is dispatched in just 5.5 seconds, while top speed is pegged at 155mph.
Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the Jaguar F-Pace yet, but if it’s anything like the smaller XE then it should be prove pretty tough in the event of an accident. The XE scored 92 per cent for adult occupancy and 82 per cent for child occupancy. It even managed 81 per cent for pedestrian protection – and as the F-Pace employs much of the same technology and production techniques, we expect the SUV to be among the safest cars in its class.
In addition to its tough SUV body, all F-Pace models get Emergency Brake Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking. The latter can detect pedestrians – first providing a warning before automatically applying the brakes to prevent impact. Cruise control with a speed limiter is also available, as is lane departure warning and Trailer Stability Assist for towing.
In terms of reliability, Jaguar’s hard fought reputation is set to continue with the new F-Pace. In the 2015 Driver Power survey, the brand finished second only behind Lexus, meaning owners are – on the whole – very satisfied with their cars.
Warranty
As with many premium rivals, the Jaguar F-Pace comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. With every new car you also benefit from three years roadside assistance, which will prove handy if anything does go wrong.
BMW offers an identical warranty, though Audi’s guarantee is limited to 60,000 miles.
Servicing
Servicing prices haven’t yet been announced for the F-Pace, but it’s likely to follow the smaller XE and XF in terms of scheduling and fixed-price options. On the XF, Jaguar offers diesel drivers a five-year/50,000-mile service plan costing £525, or a five-year/75,000-mile setup for an extra £150. The petrol models cost slightly more.
The Jaguar F-Pace is aimed at a variety of SUV buyers and hopes to steal sales from a range of rivals. These include the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, as well as larger models like the X5 and Q7.
There’s currently only one bodystyle to choose from, but rumours are circulating about a smaller ‘baby F-Pace’ to rival cars like the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. For the time being though, this five-seat model is the only Jag SUV you can buy.
That’s no bad thing, though, as there’s plenty of room up front and loads of adjustment for the seats and steering wheel. Considering it’s almost coupe-like proportions, space in the back isn’t bad either, and if you avoid the full-length panoramic roof that restricts headroom then you’ll be able to seat six-foot adults in the rear.
Size
The Jaguar F-Pace sits somewhat in a class of its own. It’s wider and longer than an Audi Q5, but slimmer and stubbier than a Q7. That means that while there’s much more room inside than you’ll find in a Porsche Macan, it very nearly matches models like the more expensive Cayenne for outright carrying capacity.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
The Jaguar F-Pace is an extremely comfortable car to drive. It seems perfectly suited to all types of road – munching motorways, A-roads and urban environments with ease. The seats are supportive and there’s loads of adjustment to allow even the fussiest drivers to get set behind the wheel.
In the back, there’s loads of leg and knee room, and – providing you avoid the full-length panoramic roof – there’s enough headroom for even taller adults. Where the Porsche Macan feels rather claustrophobic, the F-Pace exudes a sense of spaciousness that isn’t usually possible on cars with such stylish sloping rooflines.
Access is good, too, thanks to doors that open wide – meaning fitting an ISOFIX child seat in the rear is all too easy. The seats fold 40:20:40, allowing a myriad seating combinations depending on who or what you’re carrying.
Boot
The Jaguar F-Pace is impressively packaged. As well as being big enough to carry five six-foot adults, you’ll also find a decent 650 litres of bootspace with the rear seats in place. That expands to 1,740 litres when the seats are folded flat, which is only just shy of models like the Porsche Cayenne that effectively sits in the class above.
The problem comes when you want to slide in big, mucky loads for the tip. Beautiful details like the brushed metal boot lip are just asking to be scratched, while the plush leather seats aren’t likely to look as fresh in 60,000 miles time. There are various tie-down points, though, meaning it’s fairly easy to secure loose loads. The seats fold 40:20:40, allowing you to slide longer items straight down the middle.
Thanks to a range of frugal diesel engines, the Jaguar F-Pace offers competitive running costs against a host of established rivals. Entry-level cars come with a manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive, which should help attract company car buyers looking for low monthly tax bills.
The two-wheel drive F-Pace 2.0d comes with a manual gearbox. Jaguar says it’ll do 57.6mpg and emit just 129g/km of CO2, undercutting four-wheel-drive-only rivals like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. Both are due for a refresh before the end of 2017, though, and are sure to raise the game by offering even lower emissions and even more impressive fuel economy.
But the biggest seller is expected to be Jag’s Land Rover-fighting all-wheel-drive version complete with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. CO2 emissions rise by 10g/km to 139g/km, while fuel economy falls slightly to a still impressive 53.3mpg. The V6 diesel is much faster but almost as frugal, posting figures of 159g/km and 47.1mpg.
Last in line is Jaguar’s supercharged V6 lifted straight from the F-Type sports car. It’ll do a disappointing 31.7mpg while emitting 209g/km of CO2. It’s seriously quick though, which goes some way to justify the high running costs.
Insurance groups
In terms of insurance, the F-Pace undercuts most of its main rivals – with the entry-level car sitting in group 27 out of 50. For comparison, a basic BMW X3 is group 30, while a Porsche Macan starts at group 40. An Audi Q5 should be marginally cheaper to insure, though, with a basic 2.0-litre TDI SE starting at group 22.
Depreciation
As well as boasting low day-to-day running costs, the F-Pace looks like a solid long-term prospect, too. The entry-level diesels will retain more than 50 per cent of their value after three-years or 36,000 miles, with the all-wheel drive R-Sport Auto holding onto almost 52 per cent over the same mileage and time frame.
For comparison, most Audi Q5s dip just below the 50 per cent mark, while the BMW X3 ranges from 47 per cent to 51 per cent. The Porsche Macan is best in class though, with some models retaining 58 per cent after three years and 36,000 miles.