Behind the wheel
Small, all-wheel-drive and, most of all, an SUV, the 2018 Jaguar E-Pace Launch Edition is an avatar of the British brand’s future. Unfortunately, my test vehicle held echoes of Jag’s past in poor connectivity and a couple of potential drivability issues.
The E-Pace compact SUV fits into Jag’s model line below the pricier midsize F-Pace, which is 13.2 inches longer and offers more powerful engines.
Jag sales suffered for years as the brand clung to its history of rear-drive luxury sedans in defiance of consumer desires. The E-Pace and F-Pace are the new face of the company.
The F-Pace rocketed to the top of Jaguar sales when it debuted in 2016. On the rising tide of SUVs sales, the smaller EPace is likely to become the brand’s No. 2 seller and attract new buyers.
Jag capitalizes on the idea of a baby cat with a nifty lighted logo that shows the silhouettes of a grown jaguar and its cub. The logo projects on the sidewalk when you walk up to the E-Pace with the key fob, a Disney-esque “Jungle Book” touch that just misses being too cute for its own good.
2018 Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD First Edition
All-wheel-drive, five-passenger compact luxury SUV
Price as tested: $53,550 (excluding destination charge) Rating: Reasons to buy: Looks; room; easy to park
Shortcomings: Smart phone integration, voice recognition, shift quality, check-engine warning.
The E-Pace competes with similarsize luxury SUVs like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Infiniti QX30; Land Rover Evoque; Mercedes GLA 250; Volvo XC40 and the upcoming Cadillac XT4.
The E-Pace’s base price is comparable to other models, but its features and technology struggle to keep pace with the competition. (Excluding destination charges) (Automatic transmission, all-wheel drive models) Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD: $38,600 Audi Q3 2.0T Premium Plus Quattro: $36,000 BMW X1 xDrive 28i: $35,900 Infiniti QX30 Premium AWD: $37,700 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: $41,400 Mercedes GLA 250 4Matic: $35,400 Volvo XC40 T5 AWD Momentum: $35,200
Source: Autotrader the highway.
(Automatic transmission, all-wheel drive models) All models use premium gasoline Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD: 21 mpg city/28 highway/24 combined.
Audi Q3 2.0T Premium Plus Quattro: 20/28/23. BMW X1 xDrive 28i: 22/31/25. Infiniti QX30 Premium AWD: 21/30/ 25.
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: 22/ 29/25. Mercedes GLA 250 4Matic: 23/31/26. Volvo XC40 T5 AWD Momentum: 23/ 31/26.
Source: www.fueleconomy.gov Engine: 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder. Power: 249 hp @ 1,200-4,500 hp rpm; 269 lb-ft of torque at 1,200-4,500 rpm Transmission: 9-speed automatic Wheelbase: 105.6 inches Length: 173 inches Width: 78.1 inches Height: 64.1 inches Curb Weight: 3,871 lbs. Where assembled: Graz, Austria
The 2018 Jaguar E-Pace brings Jaguar style to a new segment of the market. People who want a small, sporty luxury SUV will enjoy it, as long as they don’t have high expectations for voice recognition and smartphone connectivity, and the drivetrain issues I experienced aren’t repeated.