Road Test - Jaguar E Pace
I reviewed Jaguar’s F Pace SUV a while ago and was very impressed by its good looks, sporty handling and stylish interior – little surprise it became the fastest selling Jaguar model ever. Even so, Jaguar is struggling a bit at the moment with sluggish sales and reduced profitability, possibly because it has put all its eggs in the diesel basket, or more probably because it doesn’t have the development budget of German rivals such as BMW and Mercedes. No doubt they will be hoping the recently launched E Pace will restore their fortunes.
The E Pace is more of a crossover than an SUV, although it shares the core values of good looks, prestige and a sporty drive with its bigger brother. However, to save cost the body is primarily made out of steel, making it heavier than the F Pace and the engine range consists entirely of 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder petrols and diesels made in Jaguar’s own “Ingenium” factory. The styling takes many of its cues from the F Type sports car and it has a purposeful stance enhanced by big wheels, that aggressive grill and tapering rear side windows. I prefer the styling of the F Pace personally, but it certainly looks the part.
Climb inside and it’s another story though; the dash is heavily based on the S Type and is focussed and sporty. Real thought has gone into the design of even the smallest detail and all the materials used are top notch. The central infotainment screen has super sharp graphics, though it is still a bit cumbersome to use on the move. The seats are comfy and supportive and for some reason there seems to be more space in there than in the F Pace, particularly in the back seats. The range of trim levels is bewildering; there are ten in total, each of them adding a couple of pieces of kit and several thousand pounds to the price tag.
The big question is, does the driving experience live up to the sporty appearance? Jaguars have always been known for their poised handling and the E Pace is no exception. The steering is not ultra sharp but it is very precise; the car goes exactly where you point it. Body roll is minimal, and the 4-wheel drive gives great traction out of the corners; it really does drive like a well sorted saloon. Unfortunately, there is a price to be paid in terms of the ride – it is just too firm, to the point of being uncomfortable over badly surfaced roads. You wouldn’t want to take it offroad for any time.
Most E Paces will have the 2.0 litre Ingenium diesel under the bonnet. It comes in three states of tune – 148bhp, 178bhp and 236bhp; I drove the midrange version. The Ingenium engine might be technically advanced but I don’t think it’s as good as the units offered by Audi, BMW and Mercedes. It’s too noisy, especially at idle, and it doesn’t seem to have much low down torque. Throw in a weight of 1900kg and a 9-speed automatic gearbox that takes forever to select a gear and even 178bhp doesn’t deliver much in the way of performance. In its defence, the E Pace is fairly economical in diesel form and is emissions friendly.
Like the F Pace, the E Pace has much to recommend it. It looks great, has a lovely interior and impeccable road manners. There are some problems though, not least the price. Even a mid-spec car will set you back over £35k and the top of the range model is over 50 grand. I’d like to see some bigger engines available and something needs to be done about that harsh ride that doesn’t involve an expensive active suspension system. Despite this, I am sure it will sell well and restore Jaguar’s fortunes in the process. I’d still much prefer an XE saloon though. Kit Johnson Car as tested Jaguar E Pace R-Dynamic S 180D - £37,870 RRP
54 To advertise call 01237 422074 or email
mag@ex33.co.uk
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