NEW WHEELS
The success of the F-Pace wasn’t enough for Jaguar. Now they’re entering the luxury compact SUV market. We took the all-new E-Pace for a drive.
The popularity of SUVs keep on rising, especially compact SUVs, and motor manufacturers are cashing in with vehicles such as the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. But if you want to (and can) fork out a little more, you could consider luxury SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X2, Audi Q3, and now also the striking Jaguar E-Pace. There are two engine options: turbodiesel and turbopetrol, both of which are further divided into various models according to power delivery and trim levels. The basic model is the D150 diesel (110 kW, 380 Nm) and the top model the petrol-powered P300 HSE (221 kW, 400 Nm).
The exterior
In essence the E-Pace is a small F-Pace, although Jaguar prefers to market it as a unique product. The E-Pace uses Jaguar-Land Rover’s D8 platform (chassis, suspension, axles, etc.) that’s also found in the Range Rover
Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport. Other than it resembling an F-Pace, there are also stylistic resemblances with the gorgeous Jaguar F-Type, especially the teardrop-shaped side windows.
The interior
The inside looks a lot like the Jaguar XE sedan, only snugger. Leg room in front is fine, but at the back not so much. If Mom or Dad has long legs the teens in the back will certainly complain. The boot space is surprisingly large (577 ℓ) considering the E-Pace’s dimensions and a golf bag will fit in it sideways. The E-Pace has five USB ports to charge electronics as well as a Wi-Fi zone that eight smartphones can connect to simultaneously. There are also numerous apps like Spotifi, Stitcher, Tile and Glympse on the computer. Don’t feel bad if all of this sounds like Chinese to you. The E-Pace was designed for the first batch of Millennials who have recently started making real money and need to reward themselves.
How does it drive?
It’s super silent inside the E-Pace, even while driving. When you step on the accelerator the distinctive Jaguar growl has unfortunately been replaced with a more subdued grumble. Acceleration is satisfactory, especially in the P300 top model, but there is a pesky lag of a few milliseconds from when you put your foot down to when the car responds. It’s as if the transmission first has to consider whether to listen to you or not. When it does react, though, things happen fast. In this regard the Mercedes GLA and Audi Q3’s transmissions are better. The steering isn’t as direct as, say, an Alfa Romeo Stelvio. We wouldn’t describe the steering action as slow, but you’d expect the E-Pace to be able to change direction quicker than it does. Maybe it’s better this way because sensitive steering in the hands of a novice is asking for trouble. Although the E-Pace is all-wheel drive, the drive mode software doesn’t include an off-road mode. It’s not really an issue because potential Jaguar owners probably aren’t looking to go off-roading.
Conclusion
The cheapest E-Pace costs R598 500, which is reasonable when compared to its closest competitors, but if you opt for just a handful of extras, like any colour paintwork other than white, 19” instead of the standard 17” tyres, leather seats and floor mats, it will cost at least R50 000 above the base price. If you take the P300 model with all the trimmings you can expect to pay up to R1 143 800. Do your research thoroughly before you buy an E-Pace, because other premium manufacturers offer many gadgets as standard – BMW for example won’t charge you extra for metallic paint. An Audi Q3 is also good value even if it’s not as chic as an E-Pace.