Jaguar E-PACE review

The subcompact luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) continues to stand out with its sleek design, unmistakable premium features and practicality.

The Jaguar E-PACE received a significant facelift in 2020, a handful of years after it was ushered in, back in 2017. The updated model reviewed here is a plug-in hybrid that combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and battery.

As the smallest luxury model in the Jaguar family, the E-PACE takes inspiration from the original Jaguar F-Type sports car in its design, both inside and out.

The exterior features sharp lines and an aggressive stance, with LED headlights and taillights that give it a distinctive look. The Jag’s interior is roomy and comfy, with ultra-supportive seats and ample space, relatively speaking, for passengers to stretch their legs.

The Jaguar E-PACE is firmly, if you hadn’t guessed, a bona fide premium-priced SUV that competes with other models in its class, such as the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q2. The current line-up has been streamlined to feature Jaguar’s R-Dynamic specification across all editions, which adds a more athletic look and feel to the luxury-oriented car. The plug-in hybrid version vaunts all-wheel drive, with the petrol unit powering the front wheels and the electric motor propelling the rear wheels – as long as the battery is charged up.

While the Jaguar E-PACE is primarily voguish, it also offers practicality for everyday driving. The boot has sufficient volume to carry several large suitcases for your business trip or holiday. And when it comes to family time, there’s more than enough cargo capacity for a pushchair, making it an ideal luxury purchase for small families who demand nothing but plush, sumptuous motoring.

The E-PACE’s back seats can be folded to boost the luggage space. But even better, the Jaguar also has a maximum towing capacity of 1,600kg, making it suitable for small trailers or boats. The latter is perfect if you live near the coast or have a holiday home near somewhere like the beautiful Lake District, or the relaxed Norfolk Broads.

In terms of pricing, the Jaguar E-PACE is more costly than many cars of its size. However, this is a luxury SUV and its premium features and build quality offer good value for money. Sure, the Jaguar has been around for several years, but the styling is ageless – and still gives off a modern, clean and attractive vibe.

The interior of the E-PACE is elegant and well-designed, with high-quality materials and finishes. The dashboard features an 11.4-inch touchscreen display that is easy to use and responsive, and it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto factory fitted.

The luxury SUV also has a digital driver display showing essential information such as speed, navigation and media. The Jaguar E-PACE’s infotainment system was overhauled as part of its mid-life update, replacing the old system with JLR’s latest Pivi Pro system, which is faster and more intuitive.

The P300e plug-in hybrid version of the E-PACE offers a combined 309hp output. It has a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol mill that produces 200 horses and an electric motor that yields 109hp. The Jaguar can accelerate from zero to 60mph in just 6.1 seconds, which is notable for a subcompact luxury SUV.
The official fuel consumption figure is 182mpg, but this doesn’t quite reflect real-world driving conditions – especially at this soggy and cold time of the year. It is still very economical, though.

Overall, the Jaguar E-PACE is an undeniably modish car, and it has an above-average reliability record, making it a good choice for that latter reason alone. It has a superb feel that sets it apart from other models in its class, and its plug-in hybrid version offers commendable performance and running costs.

The car is well-built, and it comes with many standard safety features that make it a top choice of luxury car for families. Indeed, Jaguar deserves credit for making safety a priority in the design of the E-PACE, and the SUV earned an impressive five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2017. Okay, while Euro NCAP’s safety standards have been raised since then, the Jaguar E-PACE still offers strong protection in the unfortunate event of a crash. Most of the safety features come as standard equipment in the E-PACE, which is a commendable effort on Jaguar’s part.

The E-PACE is certainly worth considering if you are looking for an opulent small SUV for business or pleasure. There is no denying that this Jaguar oozes that heady mixture of style, fuel efficiency and performance.

Words: Tim Barnes-Clay
Follow on Instagram @tbarnesclay

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