Road test:

sports car and a muscular and striking rear that gives the E-Pace a real sporting stance.

The stylish rear LED lights are another neat touch as is the silhouette of a Jaguar and its cub etched into the windscreen surround and in the puddle lights in the dark.

Inside, the cabin is very smart. It retains a number of design elements from its siblings including a central grab handle for the front seat passenger to back-up its sporting credentials and the digital dash is easy to read.

There is also a head-up display which proved to be a real bonus on Corsica’s twisty roads. Thankfully Jaguar has retained traditional round dials to control the heating system so that you do not have to take your eyes off the road to adjust the temperature or ventilation.

There is room for four to travel in great comfort surrounded by nice materials and plenty of storage areas and power points. Five adults would fit for shorter journeys and the boot is above average for the class at 577 litres.

Jaguar has certainly improved its touchscreen infotainment system but it is still not as easy to use as some others. That said, the sound system is great and the classy cabin makes you feel special.

The starting price for the range is £28,500 rising to £50,710. It is available in E-Pace and E-Pace R-Dynamic styles with different chassis settings, front and rear