1st JAGUAR F-PACE
If you can meet the high asking price, the F-pace is a great SUV to drive and own
THE Jaguar F-pace is our favourite premium SUV, and the model won our Car of the Year award last year. We’ve been very impressed with the 2.0-litre diesel model’s balance of economy and performance. However, if you’ve got the cash to splash on a six-cylinder model, this 3.0-litre S model is a terrific choice.
What the Jaguar gets right is its balance of abilities. The engine is mighty while overtaking, as our in-gear tests showed. The Jaguar took just 2.7 seconds to go from 30-50mph in fourth gear. Still, the Mercedes is no slouch, taking just a tenth of a second longer to do the same; in fact, both of these SUVS have enough real-world pace to challenge some sports cars. The F-pace has a hefty 700Nm of torque, 80Nm more than the Mercedes.
Still, the Jaguar was six tenths slower from 0-60mph in our acceleration tests; it took 6.6 seconds, while the 350d needed just 6.0 seconds to do the same sprint. Yet it’s the muscular and refined way the Jaguar delivers its performance that impresses. The 3.0-litre motor isn’t quite as hushed as the Mercedes’ engine, but it delivers a satisfyingly sporty growl. It’s also paired with an eight-speed transmission that serves smooth shifts in auto mode and crisp manual changes using the wheel-mounted paddles – even if these do feel a little plasticky.
The Jaguar returned 34.8mpg on our test – a respectable figure, but some way off the official number (a claimed 47.1mpg). But where the Jaguar has a real edge over the GLC is the way it drives.
The steering is quick, and while the big SUV isn’t as sharp as its saloon cousins, it feels more agile than a car of its stature really ought to. It is composed in corners thanks to a blend of ride and handling that mixes cornering ability with a suspension set-up that can handle rough road surfaces impressively well at the same time.
You can get the driver’s seat nice and low in the cabin, so the driving position feels sporty and comfortable. The dash is bulky and feels like it’s wrapping around you, which adds to the sports car impression you get inside.
It’s not the most inspiring design, and the cabin tends to seem a bit gloomy, but the Jaguar’s interior still feels classy and upmarket.
The F-pace’s infotainment screen is more neatly integrated into the dash than the unit in the GLC, but the graphics on the Jag’s screen look a bit dated and it’s quite a fiddly system to use. Its overall functionality is better, mind you, and it does include a wi-fi hotspot.