Car (South Africa)

Jaguar E-pace R-dynamic S P300 AWD & S D240 AWD

Porsche isn’t the only brand that affixes its sportscars’ design cues to its SUVS. Jaguar’s new midsize SUV takes its inspiratio­n from the brand’s F-type … in more ways than one

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IF Jaguar’s prediction­s are astute, the SUV on these pages will soon be its bestsellin­g car globally, usurping the F-pace – it’s first SUV ever – by drawing in 80% new buyers to the British brand. No wonder, then, that the mood at the global launch of the new E-pace on the French Mediterran­ean island of Corsica was notably buoyant. The designers espoused the thrill of penning the E-pace (see Four-paw flair on page 34) and the engineers spoke enthusiast­ically about its new Active Driveline AWD system, backing up their bravado with stints along the drive route on gravel and sand where the setup displayed its traction advantages (and occasional tail-happy countenanc­e).

But, before we find out whether the E-pace lives up to the hype, some context.

Launching here this month in a range comprising a whopping 38 derivative­s across five engine variants: D150, D180, D240, P250 and P300, with the letter denoting the fuel type and the numbers representi­ng the power output in PS; four trim levels – standard, S, SE and HSE (plus a First Edition for the first year); and an additional R-dynamic package available across all four main grades, Jaguar South Africa certainly appears bullish that it has a model for every need. Pricing spans R601 579 to R901 856, which naturally begs the question: which vehicles would count as E-pace rivals?

The Jaguar’s size and pricing allows us to draw some comparison­s. At a whisker short of 4,4 metres, it will go head to head with that BMW X2 driven on page 30, as well as the upcoming Volvo XC40, the next-generation Mercedes-benz GLA and Audi Q3, and even such leftfield options as the bigger Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Lexus NX. Perhaps even the F-pace? I’m sure Jaguar wouldn’t want us to entertain the idea…

All the test vehicles waiting for us in the unseasonab­ly pleasant winter weather when we touched down in Corsica were D240

and P300 models in S grade, with a smattering of R-dynamic packages in the mix. Especially resplenden­t in Caesium Blue (pictured here), the E-pace looks expensive, taut and compact. The F-type headlamps do wonders to distinguis­h it from the F-pace (their rear-ends, however, are quite similar in execution) and the optional 20-inch rims on the launch vehicles fill the arches to the brim. Would standard models on 17-inch items look as lavish? Probably not, but there are a variety of wheel designs to tick on the options sheet.

Jump aboard and what strikes you first is the grab handle that cuts the facia and angles the controls towards the driver (there’s that F-type effect again), then you notice the absence of Jaguar’s rotary transmissi­on controller, here replaced with a traditiona­l pistol shifter, all before the 12,3inch TFT instrument screen piques your interest. The latter one is optional on most models, mind, but a 10-inch Touch Pro infotainme­nt system is standard across the range (with sat-nav incorporat­ed from S models up).

The level of fit and finish is as good as anything in this class; after a period of interiors that did not fully convince (XE and XF), Jaguar appears to have judged the balance just right on the E-pace. There are sturdy plastics at the bottom of the doors that are easy

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 ??  ?? clockwise from below Rear-seat occupants get three USB ports, plus heating on some models; space is acceptable; pistol-grip shifter in place of dial; 10-inch screen standard; seats feel a touch too firm; facia is beautifull­y finished.
clockwise from below Rear-seat occupants get three USB ports, plus heating on some models; space is acceptable; pistol-grip shifter in place of dial; 10-inch screen standard; seats feel a touch too firm; facia is beautifull­y finished.

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