BIG, AGILE CAT GIVES REASON TO PURR
Comfort, performance abound in Jaguar
With style and comfort, Jaguar’s F-Pace 25t R-Sport brings plenty of luxury to the compact crossover SUV market. However, it’s the feeling of total road command in the driving experience that is the F-Pace’s most remarkable feature.
With an 80 percent aluminium body, magnesium cross-car beam and composite tailgate, the F-Pace is fit and trim, having a curb weight of just 3,880 pounds. In addition to lightening the load, the aluminum platform gives this Jaguar a much more rigid feel. Coupled with its double-wishbone front suspension and an advanced rear suspension, the handling is second to none. Torque vectoring and electric power-assisted steering keep this highly sophisticated all-wheeldrive vehicle in control at all times.
The powertrain is more than adequate with a 2.0-liter 247-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It is also available in other trims with a 3.0-liter V-6 that the more energetic driver may prefer. The Jaguar’s smooth 8-speed automatic transmission has good shift points and gets even better when placed into sport mode.
This F-Pace gets decent mileage — 27 mpg on the
highway, 22 in the city — with the help of that 4-cylinder motor and an autostop feature that shuts the engine off at stoplights.
The exterior sparkles with a Firenze red metallic paint job and glossy accents. Black gloss covers the side vents, front grille and roof rails. The 20-inch five-spoke wheels provide a silver-colored accent to the deep red and black exterior. Body colored door claddings and an Rsport badge round out this SUV’s cleanly sculpted curves.
The F-Pace’s two-toned interior echoes that of a traditional race car. Pimento and ebony perforated grained leather seats are climate controlled and adjustable 18 ways. Soft grain leather covers the heated steering wheel and bright metal foot pedals complete the upscale look. The ride also features a power tailgate, a sliding panorama sunroof, and a rocking 825-watt Meridian sound system controlled by a 10-inch touch screen.
The Jaguar is equipped with some nice safety features, too. It has an interactive “heads up” driver display, blindspot monitoring and emergency brake assist — just in case you’re feeling a little too in control.
The bottom line is this is a immensely comfortable, superb handling compact SUV that might just be worth the MSRP of $63,585. And if money is no object, it just may also be worth spending the extra $5,600 for the F-Pace S model with a 3.0L V-6 engine.