The Jaguar-E-Pace is the British brand’s second sport utility vehicle (SUV). It comes hot on the heels of the F-Pace, the quickest-selling model ever to have come off Jaguar’s production line. Here, our chief road tester, Tim Barnes-Clay, gives his thoughts on the new car, having been invited to drive it in Corsica recently.
The E-Pace is diminutive when compared with the F-Pace, and it doesn’t look much like it. It has more in common with the Range Rover Evoque because it uses the same chassis. There are other Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) models rolled into the mix, too. The new SUV’s headlights are reminiscent of the two-seater Jaguar F-Type, possibly hinting at the athletic potential of the E-Pace.
The E-Pace is diminutive when compared with the F-Pace, and it doesn’t look much like it. It has more in common with the Range Rover Evoque because it uses the same chassis. There are other Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) models rolled into the mix, too. The new SUV’s headlights are reminiscent of the two-seater Jaguar F-Type, possibly hinting at the athletic potential of the E-Pace.
There are two kinds of petrol and three types of diesel on offer. Yes, I know, who said diesel was dying? Obviously not JLR. I drove the most potent diesel, the D240 twin-turbo. As the numbers in its name suggest, the SUV churns out 240PS, and it’s fitted with an automatic transmission and four-wheel drive only.There are a couple of model line-ups: regular and R-Dynamic; the latter of which gets twin tailpipes, front fog-lights and body-coloured door cladding. Then there are four trim levels within each range. I drove the ‘S’ trim in R-Dynamic form, which boasts fat alloys, navigation, electrically-adjustable front seats and leather upholstery.
The E-Pace isn’t cheap, but it’s in step with key rivals. The foes encompass BMW’s X3, Audi’s Q3 and Mercedes’ GLA. The R-Dynamic S, hooked up to the top-dog diesel unit I tested, is £43,100.
The E-Pace isn’t cheap, but it’s in step with key rivals. The foes encompass BMW’s X3, Audi’s Q3 and Mercedes’ GLA. The R-Dynamic S, hooked up to the top-dog diesel unit I tested, is £43,100.
Behind the wheel, the E-Pace isn’t mind-blowing, but it’s very good - as far as small SUVs go. The car’s steering weights up well at speed and the baby Jaguar feels planted, inspiring some confidence in corners. Zero to 62mph is achieved in 7.4 seconds and the top speed is 139mph. Unsurprisingly, I found myself enjoying lacing the E-Pace down Corsican roads; perhaps even more so than if I’d been at the tiller of a German-made machine.The jewel in the E-Pace’s crown is undoubtedly its ride quality. The car feels refined on every road surface, behaving better than an SUV has any entitlement to, even at a snail’s pace. Potholes are soaked up so well that there are times when you wonder if the Jaguar has metamorphized into a hovercraft.
The D240 produces just a smidgeon of diesel clatter on start-up, but it soon settles. Give it the beans with your right foot, though, and the oil-burning musical score returns. To be fair, the car’s sound insulation masks this most of the time, to the point where you start to question which fuel type the Jaguar drinks.
The E-Pace’s ZF nine-speed automatic ‘box changes smoothly, and on the R-Dynamic, gearshift paddles make things more fun. Rather than staying in ‘auto’ mode, you can dance through the cogs yourself using the shifters behind the steering wheel.
The D240 produces just a smidgeon of diesel clatter on start-up, but it soon settles. Give it the beans with your right foot, though, and the oil-burning musical score returns. To be fair, the car’s sound insulation masks this most of the time, to the point where you start to question which fuel type the Jaguar drinks.
The E-Pace’s ZF nine-speed automatic ‘box changes smoothly, and on the R-Dynamic, gearshift paddles make things more fun. Rather than staying in ‘auto’ mode, you can dance through the cogs yourself using the shifters behind the steering wheel.
The cabin is a lovely place to spend time. It’s even grin-inducing at times, with neat touches, like the ‘cub’ image in the windscreen frame helping to raise a smile. The general effect is elegant enough, with skilfully placed sections of leather and double stitching to remind you-you're in a quality motor. Only some hunks of dark plastic here and their rain on the parade.The E-Pace’s infotainment system is okay, but I’ve seen better in other ‘premium’ SUVs. Don’t get me wrong, the 10-inch display, situated in the middle of the facia is vibrant enough, but the InControl system that you use to operate it is not intuitive. It’s also a bit laggy when compared with, say, any Bavarian adversaries.
Room-wise, you’re laughing in an E-Pace. The car will sit four-up, no problem, and tall occupants in the back seat won’t have cause to moan about legroom or headroom. There’s plenty of that.
Stowage-wise, Jaguar has thrown in more cubbyholes than you can shake a stick at. The E-Pace also has a huge bin area between the front seats, and there are seemingly bottomless door pockets for additional storage.
The practical side of things continues to the Jaguar’s boot. At 577 litres, it offers more cargo capacity than most other small SUVs. And things become positively van-like with the rear seats folded down. In place of human cargo, there are 1,234 litres to knock yourself out with.
Hand on heart, I feel JLR has every right to look like ‘the cat that got the cream’ with this fresh product. The E-Pace will be popular, no doubt about it. It has a near-flawless mix of comfort, practicality, power and refinement. It’s also entertaining to drive, and it can put a smile on your face. Not every premium compact SUV can do that.
Pros ‘n’ Cons
Fast Facts (2.0 D240 R-Dynamic S AWD Auto – as tested)
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Stowage-wise, Jaguar has thrown in more cubbyholes than you can shake a stick at. The E-Pace also has a huge bin area between the front seats, and there are seemingly bottomless door pockets for additional storage.
The practical side of things continues to the Jaguar’s boot. At 577 litres, it offers more cargo capacity than most other small SUVs. And things become positively van-like with the rear seats folded down. In place of human cargo, there are 1,234 litres to knock yourself out with.
Hand on heart, I feel JLR has every right to look like ‘the cat that got the cream’ with this fresh product. The E-Pace will be popular, no doubt about it. It has a near-flawless mix of comfort, practicality, power and refinement. It’s also entertaining to drive, and it can put a smile on your face. Not every premium compact SUV can do that.
Pros ‘n’ Cons
- Handsome √
- Economical √
- Comfortable √
- Kit √
- Pricey X
Fast Facts (2.0 D240 R-Dynamic S AWD Auto – as tested)
- Max speed: 139 mph
- 0-62 mph: 7.4 secs
- Combined mpg: 45.6
- Engine layout: 1,999cc four-cylinder diesel turbo
- Max. power (PS): 240
- CO2: 162 g/km
- Price: £43,100
For more CarCliq reviews click here
Looking for a used Jaguar E-Pace? Click here
