Jaguar F Pace 2017 Review - A Luxury SUV Comparison

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Introduction

The Jaguar F Pace is the British marque’s first take on an SUV, designed to compete with the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Porsche Macan. Catered to city slickers who wish to stand out, the F Pace offers a contemporary alternative to its traditional rivals.

Key Features

Exterior Design

Brawny and intimidating, the Jaguar F Pace's silhouette denotes its relationship to the stunning F Type. With a bulging hood that suggests power, it stands as one of the most striking contenders in its segment.

Distinctively Jaguar, the F Pace features sleek headlamps, a prominent diffuser, and gaping air inlets, all complemented by 22-inch alloys with 265/40 Pirelli P Zero tires. Highlighting its sporty pretensions are red brake calipers, a wide stance, and a protruding roof spoiler.

Interior Features

Dressed in a combination of red and black leather, the cabin is a blend of parts from the unused JLR parts bin. While stylish, the interiors unfortunately include a significant amount of hard plastics that detract from the overall quality.

With a wheelbase of 2,874mm and a high transmission tunnel, the F Pace accommodates just four adults, a limitation compared to its rivals. Due to the elevated seating position and sloping roofline, rear seat occupants face limited head and legroom, a consequence of its sporty design.

You might also be interested in: Jaguar XF S 2016 Review

Safety & Features

Equipped with a wealth of safety, comfort, and convenience features, the Jaguar F Pace is a technophile’s paradise. It boasts a fully digital and customizable instrument cluster that not only looks great but also eliminates any sort of lag.

The 10.2-inch infotainment screen, known as InControl Touch Pro, allows for a multitude of controls and is paired with an 11-speaker 380W Meridian sound system. Adding to the extensive feature list are a Head-Up Display and a full-length panoramic roof, making the F Pace quite impressive.

Performance

The 3.0-liter Supercharged V6 engine delivers 380 horsepower and 460 Nm of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission to an All-Wheel-Drive layout. With the supercharger utilizing Octane 98 fuel, the F Pace accelerates to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of 250 km/h.

Balancing plushness and sportiness, the suspension setup provides an exhilarating driving experience without being excessively harsh. With Torque Vectoring and precise steering, the F Pace is an SUV that delights in spirited driving.

However, the Sports mode activated via the rotary gear shifter feels unnecessary, making little difference in performance. Once at speed, the squealing brakes disappoint, hinting at quality issues, lacking the expected performance.

Averaging 13.5 liters per 100 kilometers, even when driven conservatively, the F Pace is not fuel efficient. Struggling to deliver 400 kilometers on 63 liters of gasoline, it may not please environmentally conscious drivers.

You might also be interested in: Jaguar F Type 2016 Review

Verdict

The Jaguar F Pace has several shortcomings and its AED 329,000 price tag is not justified. With a distinct lack of quality, it struggles to compete against segment veterans like the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Porsche Macan.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Great seats that hold you in place.
• Impressive handling.

Cons:

• Squeaking brakes and creaking interior panels are unacceptable for a car with just 6,000 kilometers.
• Missing the phenomenal adaptive exhaust system of the F-Type.
• Unusable glove compartment.

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