Jaguar

E-PACE

The E-PACE is the second SUV to be launched by Jaguar and is the smaller sibling to the F-PACE. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a softer option – it’s packed with technology and boasts excellent driving dynamics and thrilling handling capabilities. It now features milld hybrid technology for improved efficiency.

The good

Styling, performance, technology

The bad

Can be pricey with options fitted

Tech Specs

Price from

£27,770

Combined Fuel up to

60.1mpg (141mph PHEV)

0-62 from

6.4 seconds

max speed up to

151mph

co2 from

181g/km (44g/km PHEV)

Test Drive

Jaguar E-Pace PHEV – First Drive (2021)

Jaguar’s most compact SUV – the E-Pace – now has added appeal thanks to the introduction of plug-in hybrid technology with an EV-only driving range of 34 miles.

It coincides with the five-door model getting a facelift that adds slimmer lights, a freshly-designed front grille and larger air scoops.

Prices for the plug-in E-Pace start from £45,995 and rise to £50,860 and there are a number of trim levels to choose from with buyers given the chance to fully personalise their models with a host of optional extras.

The E-Pace P300e features Jaguar’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine delivering 309PS and 540Nm of torque when combined with the electric motor.

We tested the E-Pace in entry-level R-Dynamic S trim priced at £45,995 (increasing to £51,645 with options). This sporty model performs like a composed hot hatch with a 0-60mph sprint time of just 6.1 seconds and maximum speed of 134mph (84mph in EV-only mode). It offers a combined 141mpg with carbon emissions of 44g/km under stricter WLTP testing.

The car features some exclusive R-Dynamic styling traits to help it stand out, such as an exterior pack, R-Dynamic badging, an R-Dynamic steering wheel and branded metal treadplates. And the 20-inch upgraded Satin Grey alloys on the test car really looked the business for £1,240 extra.

The interior is beautifully laid out with a wealth of technology to explore inside a premium quality cabin environment that boasts the finest leather upholstery, a 12-way powered and heated driver’s seat and a pitch perfect Meridian sound system.

But, the main focal point inside this latest E-Pace is the new Pivi Pro infotainment set-up. This feature-rich system is accessed via an 11.4-inch display screen and there is also a fresh digital tft display behind the steering wheel.

The car is generously equipped with kit, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, DAB radio, two-zone climate control, a 3D surround camera and a sat nav system which is one of the best on offer at the current time.

When it comes to performance, the E-Pace is dynamic to drive and super grippy into tight bends meaning country roads can be attacked with confidence.

The acceleration through the eight-speed automatic gearbox is both smooth and responsive, with paddles for added driver fun, and there is ample power on tap at all times from the three-pot petrol engine.

It cruises effortlessly at 70mph, is agile in town centres with great driver visibility and is eager to perform on faster B roads.

It’s easy to switch from EV to Hybrid mode or the car will do this automatically if you are heavy on the throttle, or if you put the vehicle into Dynamic drive mode. There is also a Save button to keep the EV-charge for later when it may be needed such as driving through a congestion charge zone.

Noise levels within the car are well contained with barely a sound from the engine or road surface filtering through. And most bumps and dips are smoothed out by the highly efficient suspension system.

As one would expect from Jaguar, the level of on-board safety systems is comprehensive, with a number of driver assist aids to help prevent accidents happening in the first place. Technology includes lane keep assist, dynamic stability control, hill launch assist, traffic sign recognition and adaptive speed limiters, trailer stability assist, brake pad wear indicator, a driver condition monitor and lots more besides.

Possibly the best complement you could pay Jaguar is that the E-Pace PHEV model drives as superbly as its more traditionally-powered counterparts. It just brings plenty of extra options to the mix, especially for anyone with a short daily commute with charging from zero to 80 per cent taking about 30 minutes from a fast charger.

Visit Jaguar for more details.

Test Drive

Jaguar E-PACE D200 MHEV R-Dynamic SE (2021)

The five-door E-PACE may be the smallest in Jaguar’s SUV line-up, but it’s very big on character, technology and performance making it a worthy rival for the likes of the Audi Q2 and Volvo XC40.

It boasts a modern, sporty design when viewed from any approach with sweeping lines, twin tailpipes, privacy glass, LED headlights with signature daytime running lights, a rear spoiler, metal treadplates with Jaguar script and E-PACE badging. Our car also featured an R-Design exterior pack for added sportiness and certainly had head-turning potential thanks to its stunning Firenze Red metallic paint, fixed panoramic roof and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the interior is upmarket, clutter-free and elegantly laid out with a mix of fine leather upholstery, soft-touch surfaces and beautifully crafted decorative trim. The ebony grained leather sports seats are 12-way power-adjustable with memory settings and there is a neat Jaguar logo just below the headrests. There is a chunky gearstick, a separate panel for the climate control, plus a new 11.4-inch touchscreen with the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system.

There are generous levels of on-board technology with the likes of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, a Meridian sound system, a heated steering wheel, plus a Technology Pack on the car costing £1,220 extra, that introduced a head-up display, wireless device charging with phone signal booster and an interactive driver display. It also added a ClearSight interior rear view mirror that gives a camera view of what’s going on behind the car and is really handy if there are passengers in the back blocking the driver’s view.

The vehicle was priced at £42,250 (£47,260 with options,) and powered by a 2.0-litre 204PS diesel engine with mild hybrid technology. It was mated to a slick nine-speed automatic transmission with paddles shifts for added driver engagement and could reach 62mph from a standing start in 8.4 seconds and maxed out at 131mph. According to official figures, under stricter WLTP testing, the E-PACE could deliver a combined 43.9mpg with carbon emissions of 169g/km.

When it comes to performance, the 2021 E-PACE is an absolute dream to drive with beautifully smooth acceleration through the automatic gearbox and plenty of power on tap. The steering is nicely weighted and it cruises on motorways effortlessly eating up the miles, but is also accomplished out on the country lanes too with great agility and confident road-holding through tighter bends.

There are drive modes called Eco, Comfort and Dynamic that are fairly self-explanatory, along with an AdSR mode that stands for Adaptive Surface Response and helps the car maintain grip in more adverse driving conditions.

In busier town centre settings, the E-PACE is nimble and easy to manoeuvre with all manner of cameras, parking sensors and assistance systems to help squeeze into tight parking spaces.

The driver benefits from good all-round visibility thanks to the elevated seating position and this is a major plus factor on any vehicle that is likely to feature regularly on the school run.

Comfort levels within the car are excellent up front with ample room for six-foot-plus occupants. But the legroom in the back is a little cramped if the front seats are pushed right back and, although there is space for three passengers, they will be rubbing shoulders.

The boot can hold 495 litres of kit, increased to 1,386 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat, and throughout the cabin there are plenty of places to store bits and pieces, including a glovebox, door bins, an underfloor boot area, seatback nets, a deep central cubby box, front and rear cup holders and a compartment to put your sunglasses.

The Jaguar E-PACE secured a maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating and is packed with safety kit. Features include blind spot assist, traffic sign recognition and adaptive speed limiter, auto high beam assist, dynamic stability control, a rear traffic monitor system, torque vectoring by braking, lane keep assist, hill launch assist, emergency brake assist, rear Isofix fixtures, plus a full suite of airbags.

All in all, the latest Jaguar E-PACE is a beautifully crafted compact SUV that ticks all the boxes for anyone looking for an upmarket, stylish vehicle that’s big on performance, technology, handling and comfort. It’s also fairly competitively priced too which is another plus factor.

Test Drive

Jaguar E-PACE 300PS petrol HSE R-Dynamic Automatic AWD

You know the weekly test car is a little bit special when a neighbour takes the trouble to knock on the front door and rather cheekily ask for a closer look. That’s exactly what happened when I took delivery of a Jaguar E-PACE.

Despite being a scaled down version of the mighty F-PACE SUV it’s very big on performance, styling, technology, thrills and all-round appeal. And with the likes of the Audi Q5 and Porsche Mecan in its sights, it needed to tick all the right boxes – I can happily say it does just that.

Approach the car from any angle and the E-PACE looks muscular and dynamic in its styling. Our car was supplied with Pearl Black premium metallic paintwork and together with the 20-inch black alloys, red brake calipers and tinted windows, it looked pretty menacing too.

Other eye-catching styling cues include twin tailpipes, tailgate spoiler, fixed panoramic roof, chrome side vents, sweeping light clusters with signature LED daytime running lights and an R-Dynamic body kit that introduced a unique bumper design and gloss black grille.

Move inside the spacious cabin and there’s a wealth of state-of-the-art technology to explore. Creature comforts include the likes of Oyster Windsor leather upholstery with suede headlining, 18-way electric heated front seats with memory functions, a head-up display, pitch perfect Meridian sound system, sat nav, a 12.3-inch interactive driver display, a 10-inch Touch Pro infotainment system, a surround camera and lots more besides. In fact, the list of features on the E-PACE was so long it extended to a second page of A4 in miniscule print size!

Our range-topping HSE R-Dynamic model was powered by a 300PS 2.0-litre petrol engine and could sprint to 62mph from a standing start in a very rapid 6.4 seconds. It maxed out at 151mph and, according to official figures, delivered combined fuel economy of 35.3mpg with carbon emissions of 181g/km.

Clearly with such a generous list of features, the E-PACE was not cheap but it’s competitively priced to. Our car began life at £50,710 but the optional extras saw that cost rise to £57,015. It’s worth remembering though that this was a range-topper fitted with all the bells and whistles, and the E-PACE line-up starts from £27,770 which is very reasonable for an SUV carrying the big cat Jaguar badging.

Comfort levels within the car are sublime with all the seat and steering wheel adjustment necessary to find an ideal driving position. There is ample space for four adults to travel in comfort, a fifth is possible but may mean rubbing shoulders. And when it comes to storage space, the E-PACE is well equipped to cope with the demands of any active family’s lifestyle. The boot can accommodate 575 litres (484 if there is a space saver spare wheel) which is more than its closest rivals, and it can open up to a capacity of 1,234 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. Elsewhere there’s a good-sized glovebox, central bin, practical door pockets, cup holders and lots more storage options scattered throughout the cabin.

So the E-PACE has the styling, practicality and technology aspects covered, but what about performance? After all, Jaguar customers expect a dynamic experience. Well, the E-PACE with that mighty petrol engine lives up to any high expectations. Admittedly it’s the punchiest of all powertrains on offer so was never going to be left wanting, but it delivered blistering performance. The acceleration through the eight-speed automatic gearbox was very swift and there are paddles if you fancy taking extra control of the gear shift changes.

The road-holding is ultra-grippy and tight bends can be attacked with every confidence. There are various driving modes that alter the car’s responses and if flicked across to Dynamic you can almost watch the fuel gauge drop before your eyes. If driven with a little more respect, the economy is better, but still not great. However if fuel efficiency tops the wish-list then look for a more frugal engine as there’s plenty of choice.

Out on the faster motorways, the cabin is nicely refined and well insulated against any road surface or engine noise. And irritating road creases and minor potholes are ironed out by the highly efficient suspension. Then, in busy town centres, the E-PACE behaves like a tamed animal moving nimbly through the crowds turning heads and drawing glances of admiration as it passes.

Move back into the country and that dynamic performance is back to its best, proving the car is an ideal model for all types of driving demands.

Our car also came with an Activity Key (costing £310) which is a clear indication that the E-PACE is being marketed towards a younger, more adventurous audience. The key is a security wrist strap that can be worn for swimming or diving to depths of 30 metres. It’s also shockproof. While it is being worn the ‘proper’ keys can remain safely inside the car and when the activity key is activated, the car is locked, the alarm armed and any smart key inside the vehicle is disarmed. This process works in reverse when you return from a dip to cool off.

And of course, the car boasts all the essential USB outlets along with 4G Wi-Fi hotspot to stay connected on the move.

So, when you factor in the comprehensive list of safety specifications and the car’s all-wheel-drive capabilities, the E-PACE is most definitely the complete all-rounder. It’s a fact that Jaguar is a relative newcomer to the SUV scene, but it’s certainly proving a strong contender for sales in a fiercely competitive sector.