SMALL WONDER
FQ editor Sally-Ann Mullin heads to the breathtaking Mediterranean island of Corsica to test drive Jaguar’s new E-Pace — a classy compact SUV/car crossover
The most playful release in Jaguar’s 81year history, the E-Pace is a seriously smart compact SUV; a perfect 21st century car. Connected, modern, practical and utterly addictive to drive, while still being affordable? Tick, tick, tick and tick. Off the back of the success of the SUV F-Pace (ahem, World Car of the Year at the 2017 New York Auto Show), it was ultimately designed and engineered to attract new fans to the brand, and being the ideal balance of beautiful, fun and clever, it’s destined to succeed. The E-Pace promises an experience of style and substance, and it delivers; its luxury sporting silhouette shrouding an interior that’s detailed to the tiniest degree. In other words, it not only looks the part, it’s a highly intelligent piece of machinery. Get a girl who can do both, amiright?
As a subcompact performance SUV featuring an all-wheel-drive system that is packed with technology, she’s also a joy to drive in all conditions. I learn this first-hand in Corsica, where the roads are extremely narrow and the rally stages we’re test driving on are playfully nicknamed The Rally of 10,000 Corners (which, to be honest, feels like an understatement). No biggie — the E-Pace handles like a dream; think the performance of a Jaguar sedan with the stowage of an SUV. Yet, I think to myself whilst navigating a flooded dirt track, still small enough to parallel park on Ponsonby Road (child, dog, and the day’s purchases all with ample space between them). Another feature I can imagine changing my home life for the better is its hardware and software, developed in Jaguar’s own digital lab, which connects to your devices (praise be), allowing seamless access to networks and data so you don’t have to miss a beat on your morning commute or school run. Or, as the case may be, while accelerating out of a hairpin corner in Corsica, trying to keep up with motoring journalists from all over the world.
Adorably dubbed the ‘Cub’ by its design team, the E-Pace’s playful side comes out in the small details. My favourites: the jaguarprint stowage mats; the 35mm-camera-lensinspired rotary ventilation dials; and the whimsical jaguar and cub graphic hidden on the windscreen — there only to make the owner smile (and I challenge you not to). Such
features ensure the car feels like the fun, younger sister of some of the more traditional Jaguar releases gone by.
There are eight incarnations of the E-Pace available. The top-spec model, the P300 AWD, is capable of reaching 60mph in a blistering 5.9 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 151mph, which isn’t bad for an SUV. At the other end of the scale, the D150 FWD offers a less nippy (but still very respectable) 0-60mph time of 9.5 seconds, and a maximum speed of 124mph. It also pips the P300 AWD on fuel efficiency.
All models boast some pretty impressive Jaguar equipment, including the Touch Pro infotainment system, All-Surface Progress Control and a safety kit including Driver Condition Monitoring, Autonomous Emergency Braking and LED headlights.
To me, this car lived up to every expectation. Not only does it talk the torque, it walks the walk. And at an alluring $69,900 starting, it’s set to be a hit.