JAGUAR F-PACE 20d AWD R-SPORT

Frugal, yes, but does the diesel F-pace have the engine to live up to the chassis' athletic abilities?

R871 266

S10,60 sec 132 kw/430 N.m 208 km/h OME may construe the marriage of muscular-looking sports SUV with a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine akin to loading a pump-action shotgun with confetti. But this execution in the F-pace 20d AWD R-sport, although challenging, has some pleasing nuances.

This model’s R-sport treatment features 19-inch rims (optional 20s on our test unit), a model-speci c body kit, bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime-running lights and a smattering of chrome and satin-black trim on the grille and window surrounds. These touches give the F-pace a subtly aggressive air that’s in keeping with its pumped-up sheetmetal 6,40 L/100 km 139 g/km … but it does command a hefty premium over its more demure Pure-spec stablemate.

The material and perceived build quality of Jaguar interiors has been a point of contention of late and, while this F-pace wasn’t the worst example of a varied recent batch, it wasn’t great, either. The cabin architecture may be pleasingly sporty, the ergonomics good (those leather-bound sports seats – another R-sport feature – are supportive and comfy) and such practicalities as the space allocated to the boot and rear passenger compartment are well catered for, but trim creaks and some subpar plastics disappointed. We were, however, impressed with the optional intouch Pro infotainment system, its slick touchscreen interface and Meridian speaker system gaining plaudits from the team.

The 2,0-litre turbodiesel is something of a mixed bag, proving impressively frugal by returning 7,2 L/100 km on our mixed-use fuel route, but dividing opinion elsewhere. With 132 kw versus an all-wheel-drive