JAGUAR ADDS ENTRY-LEVEL CUV TO COMPANY’S EXPANDING LITTER
The internet jeered Porsche for introducing the Cayenne in 2003. Keyboard experts (myself included) were sure this affront to traditional rear engine-loving devotees would be a flop. And we were all 100 per cent wrong.
The Cayenne went on to become Porsche’s most popular model on an annual sales basis and the F-Pace is doing much the same thing for Jaguar. The public has an unquenchable thirst for CUVs and now Jaguar has unveiled its latest offering in the segment: the E-Pace.
Don’t let the “E” fool you into thinking this is an electric vehicle; that honour belongs to the upcoming I-Pace, for now. Slotting in under the F-Pace, the E-Pace will be the most affordable car in the Jaguar lineup with a $42,700 starting price.
The E-Pace is a five-seat CUV based loosely on the Range Rover Evoque, though there isn’t a single body panel between the two that’s interchangeable and the rear suspensions are completely different. Jaguar engineers deemed the Evoque rear suspension not capable of delivering the sporty feeling that’s so important in a Jaguar and instead used a downsized version of the F-Pace’s rear setup in the E-Pace. Up front, aluminum steering knuckles and aluminum suspension components are made for better geometry and reducing unsprung weight and the steering rack is solidly mounted to the car to increase steering feel. Its fenders and tailgate are also made from aluminum to help bring the weight down to 1,893 kilograms.
Canadian models will come with Jaguar’s Ingenium 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four with 246 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 269 pound-feet of torque from 1,200 rpm, backed by a nine-speed automatic and AWD.
On top-spec models, the turbofour makes a full 296 hp at 5,500 rpm and 295 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,500 rpm. European models will be available in FWD or AWD, with a diesel or gas power plant, and with a manual or automatic transmission. Jaguar’s internal testing for the 246-hp version revealed fuel economy at 8.4 L/100 km highway and 10.2 city, though official fuel economy results haven’t been determined.
The base engine gets a standard AWD setup, which sends power to the front, rear or both depending on the situation. The 296-hp version uses an active driveline system that also incorporates an electronic rear differential with wet-plate clutches that sends power side to side for more dynamic cornering.
Standard on all models is torque vectoring, using the brakes to drag inside wheels on a turn to aid rotation and reduce understeer. As well, on R-Dynamic models, Jaguar offers an Adaptive Dynamics system with continuously variable shock absorbers.
Transferring Jaguar’s traditional low, slinky proportions into a mid-sized CUV wasn’t easy, but the designers have done well and the E-Pace is the prettiest CUV on the market. The tail lights are reminiscent of the F-Pace and the front overhang has been tucked well in, as it is with a traditional Jaguar sports car. The roofline is rakish and there’s a long rear spoiler to smooth airflow over the rear hatch.
The windshield features a tiny graphic of a jaguar and its cubs, implying that the E-Pace is the perfect car to carry around cubs of your own. Wheels will be available in 18-, 19- and 21-inch sizes, depending on the trim level.
Special care was taken to make the inside of the E-Pace feel special. Jaguar went with a dualcockpit front-seat layout divided by the centre console, featuring a prominent passenger grab handle designed to mimic the shape of the F-Type fender vents. The console is also home to a 10-inch TouchPro infotainment screen that works like a smartphone. An optional 12.3-inch HD virtual Interactive Driver Display can replace the standard driver gauges. First Edition cars also have special mats printed with a jaguar fur pattern. The same pattern is found on the tags adorning the seats at the shoulder.
Behind the 60/40-split rear seats is a 685-L cargo space or 1,487 L with the rear seats folded. This is more than the Audi Q3 and only slightly less with the seats down than the Porsche Macan. There are also generous storage bins and cubbyholes inside, every passenger seat gets its own USB port and there are other 12-volt and USB ports found around the cabin.
Of course, the E-Pace has a full suite of active safety features available, such as park assist, emergency braking and blind-spot assist, but not all will be available on the base model. The lineup will also include the S ($45,200), SE ($48,200) and First Edition ($59,000) with the base engine. With the 296-hp engine, there is the R-Dynamic ($51,000), the R-Dynamic SE ($54,000) and the R-Dynamic HSE ($57,300).
North American and European versions of the E-Pace will be assembled in Austria, while Chinese-market models will be assembled in China. Canadian models are expected to hit showrooms in the first part of next year.
In relation to its competitors, it occupies a much lower price point than the Macan, which offers turbo V-6 engines and much more horsepower. The E-Pace aligns more favourably with the Audi Q3. But the luxury compact CUV segment is a crowded one and Jaguar is sure to find plenty of E-Pace buyers.