The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace Is Proof Crossovers Don’t Have To Suck (Video)

The vehicle it resisted for so long turns out to be its best: the 2017 Jaguar F-Pace does an excellent job of putting just as much emphasis on sport as on utility.

What’s the hype all about?

Design

The F-Pace’s looks are likely to be one of its biggest draws. Jaguar’s SUV strongly resembles the C-X17 concept car it unveiled to great acclaim in 2013. Not much has changed since then and the car Jaguar used to test the waters has now translated into a production SUV.

The company is marketing the F-Pace as its “most practical sports car” and the SUV takes many of its design cues from other vehicles in the company’s stable. The sports-car connection is most evident around the back – the taillights are similar to those on the company’s F-Type – while the front end uses the design language employed by the XJ and XE. It’s all scaled up into an SUV form factor.

And according to the critics, it works. Auto Express says the F-Pace is “arguably one of the best-looking SUVs on the market”. The sloping roofline in tandem with the high, broad shoulder and angular rear window and tailgate arrangement means Jaguar has succeeded in making its SUV appear as sporty and purposeful as possible.

In a bid to make the SUV as light as possible, Jaguar has used aluminium construction for much of the F-Pace’s bodywork. The car tips the scales at 3,670lbs, it’s 15.5ft long, 5.4ft high and a little more than seven feet wide.

Jaguar has strived to make the F-Pace look sporty not just to try and keep it in line with the company’s heritage, but also to distance it from offerings from sister company Land Rover. Wheel options range from 18ins to 22ins and different trim levels come with slight styling tweaks. S and R-Line cars get sportier additions, such as bigger alloys and more aggressive bumpers, while Portfolio and Prestige cars are a little more subdued.

Interior

CarBuyer says the F-Pace makes use of a “truly luxurious interior”, featuring high quality materials, well laid-out switchgear and plenty of tech options. The dashboard is tall and chunky, with the infotainment screen taking centre stage. However, while everything inside is neat and tidy, Car magazine isn’t sure if Jaguar has been bold enough with the design.

Leather upholstery comes as standard, as does an eight-inch touchscreen mounted in the middle of the centre console. You can upgrade it to a 10.2ins unit, alongside a third display option in the form of a virtual instrument cluster, which works in a similar way to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, placing satellite navigation right in front of the driver.

The digital instrument panel is a £1,710 option. The touchscreens are intuitive to use and make use of many of the same pinch-and-flick gestures you’d use to navigate a smartphone.

Other standard interior tech highlights include wi-fi for up to eight devices – a godsend for passengers on long trips – plus USB ports and Bluetooth.

The actual space in the cabin is good. That swooping, sporty roofline is actually flat on the inside, meaning every seat comes with good headroom. Opting for the full-length panoramic roof knocks a bit of space off for passengers in the back but opens up the entire cabin, filling it with light.

All four trim levels are decently equipped. Entry level Prestige cars get leather seats as standard, as well as a DAB digital radio, satellite navigation and wi-fi. R-Line owners will get sports seats and black gloss trim inserts in the cabin, while Portfolio buyers are treated to softer, premium leather upholstery, wooden trim inserts, a reversing camera, upgraded 380-watt stereo system and a panoramic sunroof.

Practicality

Passenger space decent and so is the boot space. The F-Pace has a 650-litre trunk with 40:20:40 split folding rear seats. It beats key rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC (550 litres) and Porsche Macan (500 litres) to name a few. That 650 litres can be boosted to 1,740 litres once the back seats are folded flat.

There are a couple of nice little touches in terms of practicality, too. The bins fitted to the doors are deep cubby holes to carry things and the boot floor is reversible – one side is carpet, the other a durable rubber.

Buyers can also spec the practicality pack. This £1,100 option means the F-Pace comes with keyless entry, hands-free boot opening and a handful of smaller additions.

Engines and drivetrain

The F-Pace shares engines and mechanical underpinnings with the firm’s XE saloon, and buyers get a choice of two diesels and a larger petrol option.

Kicking things off is a 2.0-litre 178bhp diesel, capable of 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds and returning 57mpg on a combined cycle. It can be taxed for as little as £110 annually and the cheaper running costs make sense if your F-Pace is unlikely to ever leave the road.

Some buyers may pluck for the larger diesel offering though. It’s a 3.0-litre unit with 296bhp, good for 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds but with an economy hit – 47mpg is what you’ll be aiming for.

The only petrol option is the range topping supercharged V6. It’s another 3.0-litre unit, delivering 375bhp for a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds, and is taken from the firm’s F-Type sports car. If range topping power is on the agenda, Porsche holds the trump cards for now – its Macan Turbo S has a 400bhp engine and does 0-62mph in under five seconds. Inevitably, fuel consumption on the fastest models is high – Jaguar only claims you’ll get 31mpg from the supercharged V6 F-Pace.

At present the petrol 3.0-litre V6 is the most powerful option, though whispers of an F-Pace R fitted with a V8 are never far away. Regardless, the diesels are likely to be the big sellers.

Entry level 2.0-litre cars are rear-wheel-drive as standard and fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, though all-wheel-drive and an 8-speed ZF gearbox to match the rest of the range can be specified.

Reviews

According to Auto Express, the wait for the F-Pace has been “definitely worth it”, noting the looks, practicality and driving dynamics the Jaguar SUV offers compared to some key rivals.

With the Porsche Macan squarely in Jaguar’s crosshairs – engineers were allegedly sent back to the drawing board in 2014 after Porsche released its crossover – the carmaker has set the benchmark high and “the Porsche’s influence is clear when you take the wheel”.

It’s “surprisingly capable off-road too”, continues the site. Jaguar’s sister company, Land Rover, is still JLR’s key brand when it comes to off-roading but on the whole, the F-Pace can cut it away from tarmac.

The Daily Telegraph says this “is surely the best looking SUV out there”, its XE/XJ-inspired design subtler than the “curves, bling and coupe-like roofs” seen on the likes of the Macan, but all the better for it. But the paper issues a stark warning if you want a smooth journey – the 22ins wheels aren’t suitable “if you want any sort of ride comfort”.

Like Auto Express, the Telegraph says the 2.0-litre is the pick of the engines.

Stuff investigates the tech Jaguar has equipped the F-Pace with, picking up three additions buyers should consider: the optional virtual instrument cluster, the 10.2ins central touchscreen and Jaguar’s Activity Key – a Fitbit-like strap worn around the wrist that could make the F-Pace “the perfect adventure car”. It can be used to lock and unlock the car, deactivating the normal key so drivers don’t have to worry about losing it on active days out.

Overall, Stuff is pretty complementary about the tech, saying that for now, Jaguar’s F-Pace still has an air of exclusivity.

Agencies/Canadajournal