- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
221kW, 400Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2017)
2018 Jaguar E-Pace she says, he says review
- Style
- Personalisation potential
- Strong engine
- Expensive
- Complicated range
- Too heavy
He: Jaguar’s first SUV, the F-Pace, was a cracker, combining an attractive design with first-class dynamics made possible by extensive use of lightweight aluminium and front-end mechanical elements shared with the F-Type sports car. That model has a new sibling in the E-Pace, a smaller, cheaper take on the high-riding crossover theme.
She: Dave, I absolutely loved the F-Pace and couldn’t wait to try out this smaller version. The E-Pace looks just as athletic and striking, with plenty of F-Type influences but there are some unique touches too. The brand’s Director of Design, Ian Callum, has affectionately nicknamed the E-pace the “cub” and tried to mimic the big eyes and paws of a baby jaguar by putting big wheels and lights on the E-Pace. Also, if you look closely at the windscreen you’ll see tiny silhouettes of a mother jaguar and cub. The adorable duo also features in the puddle lights and I really love that fine attention to detail. It adds a warm and fuzzy feel to a smoking hot car. What do you think?
He: I’m less convinced by the looks – while it’s not offensive, the proportions are a touch frumpy and I feel as though the Jag is a step behind the sharp-looking BMW X2 and Volvo XC40 in the design department, a sense which carries through to the cabin. There’s little to break up swathes of matte black plastic which make it feel more like a Ford Focus than a luxury car, and I still feel as though Jaguar’s 10-inch ”Touch Pro” central infotainment screen isn’t as intuitive as key rivals. You can liven things up with a splash of coloured trim ($3470) or a digital dashboard ($690) which feature on an extensive and expensive options list.
She: The cockpit looks premium and sporty but obviously not as extravagant as the interior of a classic Jaguar. There’s decent room at the front but the rear is a bit cramped. It doesn’t have the biggest boot for its segment though it’s considerable at 484 litres. There are several USB charging ports and 12-volt sockets but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. However, the E-Pace is well equipped in safety gear.
He: You get low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, a reversing camera and parking sensors as standard, but drivers looking for active cruise control, blind spot assistance or high-speed emergency braking will pay $1020 for a “Drive Pack” which is optional on some models but standard here. We tried the E-Pace SE R-Dynamic P300, which is one of the sportier options in the three-dozen-strong range.
I’ll be upfront and say the E-Pace didn’t meet my expectations on the road. I’ve come to expect an agility and light-footed poise from Jaguar which doesn’t feature in the E-Pace. It’s the least satisfying Jaguar to drive in recent memory, partly because it is heavier than the F-Pace, and partly because it lacks the sophisticated front-end hardware of larger models – the fixed-rate suspension on our test example wasn’t particularly plush or precise. This model weighs in at 1894 kilograms before you add optional extras, so realistically you’re looking at a staggering two tonnes with a passenger and half a tank of fuel on board.
She: Jaguar’s rich racing heritage may be incorporated in the design, but it doesn’t translate performance-wise. It’s nowhere near as seamless as the F-Pace which benefits from the more lightweight aluminium chassis. That extra weight from the E-Pace’s heavy steel platform compromises handling and the auto can be indecisive. However, the engine is eager and the E-Pace never felt underpowered. What did you think of it?
He: I agree that the nine-speed automatic transmission isn’t the smoothest in class, and that the P300 doesn’t feel underpowered – but you would hope so, given that this is the most powerful engine available in the range. Serving up 221kW and 400Nm through an active all-wheel-drive system capable of reaching 100km/h in 6.4 seconds, I feel like that heavy body blunts what should be stirring performance from a range-topping petrol engine - it must feel really ordinary with the standard 110kW diesel engine on board.
The cheapest E-Pace costs $44,750 plus on-roads, but Jaguar expects customers to progress further through the range and dip into the options sheet. Normally priced from $76,505, our P300 example asked $81,305 plus on-road costs thanks to extras including a sunroof ($2160), black-painted 21-inch wheels ($1690), and tinted rear windows ($690).
That price brings a reasonable amount of standard equipment including LED headlights, a powered tailgate and active cruise control, though you still have to shell out for heated seats, metallic paint ($1370 or $2740), a tyre pressure monitoring system ($580), smart keys ($950), multi-mode suspension ($1950) and much more. A three-year warranty is standard, but Jaguar sometimes does deals with a five-year guarantee which is worth pursuing.
She: While this cub is a more affordable alternative to the F-Pace, it’s still pricey. I think the E-Pace is the best-looking luxury compact SUV around but you have to be prepared to pay a premium for the famous British badge. Your heart will need to rule your head, but you’ll be turning plenty of heads.
2018 Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic SE P300 pricing and specifications
Price: From $76,505 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 221kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1500-4500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 8L/100km