Sophistication, style and sport are the words I would use to describe the Jaguar E-Pace 2018. A beauty that turns heads wherever she goes, the E-Pace is currently the smallest SUV in the brand’s line-up and competes with the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Volvo XC40.
Exterior
She is an ideal luxury crossover with subtle hints of a sedan and an SUV rolled into one. She has a perky base but doesn’t sit high up like a regular SUV. However, what she lacks in height she compensates in color, a vibrant blue, a sight for sore eyes. Having said that, she’s not the kind of girl that fights for attention on the road - she’s simply given it.
Interior
Simple and minimalistic in nature, but oddly enough, despite being part of the same company and using much of the same hardware, Land Rover seems to be having significantly better luck than Jag when it comes to making their interiors feel both rich and sophisticated. Most of the center console is made of plastic which kills the overall luxurious look and feel of the car.
The E-Pace seats five and comes standard with cloth upholstery. Leather upholstery; 10-, 14-, or 18-way power-adjustable front seats; heated / cooled front seats; heated rear seats; and a heated steering wheel are available. There are two full sets of LATCH connectors for installing car seats. The front seats are wide and comfortable, and they provide all-day support. However, legroom is slightly constricted by the front wheel wells. The rear-seat setup is geared vertically, so headroom is abundant, but legroom is rather limited.
While on the topic of space, this beauty offers twenty-four cubic feet (680-liters) of cargo space, and easily surpasses what most competitors can muster.
Features
On safety (one of the key features that determine my attitude towards a car) the Jaguar E-Pace offers forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist as standard on all versions of the E-Pace. Front and rear parking sensors also come standard; these are handy in a vehicle with such dismal rear and side visibility. Other advanced safety features, including high-speed automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning, along with convenience features such as adaptive cruise control, are available.
For the young, hip and trendy crowd, there’s a colorful 12.3-inch infotainment system that gets tucked neatly into the dashboard and runs Jaguar's reasonably intuitive InControl Touch Pro operating system. Through that you can integrate your phone with the car, sort of, porting some apps to the infotainment screen to reduce distractions while driving.
Drive
Engine wise, The E-Pace offers two turbocharged, four-cylinder engines paired with standard all-wheel drive. Out on the roads of the UAE, the E-Pace feels small and light irrespective of the fact that she is heavier than her bigger mate, the F-Pace. This machine is smooth and has excellent noise reduction ensuring you enjoy a hustle free drive. Don’t underestimate the power of her small steering wheel, she pounces on the nearest corner in sight, entering turns with an eager and responsive nature, while the taut suspension keeps body lean to a minimum.
Verdict
I was practically sold courtesy of its good looks and safety features and I was ready to overlook everything else, however, what set me aback is the pricing for the R Dynamic HSE. Starting at a whopping AED 231,420, the E-Pace is tempting but its price point definitely isn’t.
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