Pacing yourself in SUV Jaguar style
WITH a striking appearance, the Jaguar E-PACE is a five-seat compact SUV that packs the design and performance of a Jaguar sports car into a spacious, practical and connected all-wheel-drive vehicle.
Trademark Jaguar driving dynamics and stirring design put the brand’s sports car DNA in a practical design packed with advanced technologies. The E-PACE takes design inspiration from the F-TYPE sports car.
The exterior design is characterised by the distinctive Jaguar grille, muscular proportions, short overhangs and powerful haunches while optional 21-inch alloy wheels give the E-PACE a bold and purposeful stance, instantly communicating dynamic agility. Jaguar sports car DNA is also evident in the fast sweep of the roofline and the distinctive side window graphic.
In Ireland, E-PACE prices start at a ‘relatively’ modest €37,500 for the 2.0D, 150 PS, front wheel drive with manual gearbox, to a whopping €77,700 for the 2.0D, 180 PS, allwheel-drive First Edition.
The test car was the 2.0D 150 PS all-wheel-drive Auto S variant, that comes in around the mid-range of E-PACE pricing at €54,950.
This is a very impressive car, packed with features and a car which simply oozes quality, which is only to be expected from a Jag that aims at being head and shoulders above the pack.
The E-PACE is a great drive, both powerful and economical, and very luxurious too, with it’s stylish cockpit and leather-clad seats. It is both rewarding and easy to drive, with very good all-round vision and with ideally-weighted steering.
It is rock steady on the road, with a sweet automatic gearbox, and with a sports setting available for those who feel like an extra bit of power, providing a very capable driving dynamic.
The sculpted cockpit design is thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing and clearly illustrates that this is a car designed and built by people who love cars.
The E-PACE is one of the most connected and intelligent vehicles in its class. The next-generation touchscreen infotainment system connects customers to their favourite apps, such as Spotify through Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl apps.
Configurable Dynamics gives the driver even more control with individual settings for the throttle, automatic transmission, steering and, where fitted, the Adaptive Dynamics suspension system. The Adaptive Dynamics set-up senses driver input, body and wheel movements and pre-emptively loads the suspension and chassis and adjusts the damping for improved roll control and agility in all conditions. As a result, the E-PACE delivers all the space young families need with all the character of a true Jaguar sports car.
Under the bonnet, E-PACE is endowed with the full range of powerful and efficient Ingenium petrol and diesel engines. The 300PS Ingenium petrol turbo engine powers E-PACE from 0- 60mph in just 5.9 seconds (6.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint) before reaching an electronically-limited top speed of 243km/h.
For ultimate efficiency, the frontwheel drive 150PS Ingenium diesel in the test car, delivers CO2 emissions of 124g/km and annual road tax of €270.
The E-PACE’s Active Driveline allwheel drive system is a technological first for Jaguar. The intelligent setup combines phenomenal traction with Jaguar’s unmistakable rearwheel-drive character. The system’s torque-biasing capability delivers optimal stability, dynamics and fuel efficiency in all conditions.
The E-PACE features the very latest safety and driver assistance technologies. A stereo camera underpins the advanced Emergency Braking system, which also provides pedestrian detection, and supports Lane Keep Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition, as well as the Adaptive Speed Limiter, and Driver Condition Monitor features.
After a weekend with the E-Pace, this is definitely a car I would aspire to own.
High levels of standard equipment are a core component of the E-PACE range. Convenience features such as Touch Pro infotainment, LED headlights and a stereo rear view camera system, with a wide field of view, are joined by advanced driver assistance systems including Driver Condition Monitor and Emergency Braking.
I really enjoyed my test drive in the E-PACE and this is definitely a car I would aspire to own.