DesignSome SUVs look like they’re built to conquer the Yukon trail. The F-PACE takes a different route. Its lines are inspired by the F-TYPE sports car and it features marque signatures like Jaguar’s ovoid honeycomb grille, slim headlights, bonnet bulge and muscular haunches over the rear wheel arches. The roofline tapers to the rear screen without encroaching on passenger headroom, and the slim taillights and rear spoiler combine to give the F-PACE an appealingly coupé-like profile.
PerformanceAlthough the F-PACE SVR is a separate high-performance model, there’s plenty of drivetrain choice in the F-PACE line up. Diesel engines start with the Ingenium 2.0 diesel with power outputs of 163, 180 and 240PS respectively, and there’s also a 300PS 3.0-litre V6 diesel that offers 700Nm of torque and a 0-60mph time of just 6.2 seconds. There are also two petrol Ingenium engines of 2.0-litre capacity, developing 250 and 300PS respectively. The latter can hit 60mph in 5.8 seconds. Unusually for an SUV, the 163PS diesel is only available in rear-wheel drive form while the 180PS diesel can be chosen with either rear-drive or all-wheel drive. The rest of the range is all-wheel drive only, though power is still sent to the rear wheels unless they lose traction – another sign of Jaguar’s bias towards sporting handling. To aid traction, Jaguar offers All-Surface Progress Control, a low-speed cruise control that helps F-PACE to cope with low-traction situations.
TechnologyEvery F-PACE is equipped with the Pivi Pro system and a 11.4” touchscreen. The Jaguar InControl interface understands clear spoken instructions and the Smartphone pack offers both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality. Other options include Remote Premium for remote access, unlocking and checking of fuel levels. As the F-PACE is targeted at people with active, sporty lifestyles the waterproof Activity Key wristband allows you to leave your keys safely locked in the car while you swim, surf or cycle, secure in the knowledge that your wristband will let you unlock it on your return.
SafetyThe F-PACE has achieved the full 5-star Euro NCAP rating, thanks to standard driver assistance features such as Emergency Braking, which uses a front-facing camera to monitor for potential collisions and warn you in time to act. If no action is taken the system will apply the brakes autonomously. Other safety features include Driver Condition Monitor and Lane Keep Assist; the Navigation Pro system includes Traffic Sign Recognition while other options include a 360° camera and Blind Spot Assist.
