Best Motorbuys: February 10, 2017

Jaguar F-Pace S
Price: Jaguar F-Pace S, $130,000
Dimensions: Length, 4731mm; width, 2070mm; height, 1652mm
Configuration: V6, four-wheel-drive, 2995cc, 280kW,
450Nm, eight-speed automatic.
Performance: 0-100km/h, 5.1sec
Fuel usage: 8.9l/100km
By Ross Kiddie
Motoring writer Ross Kiddie checks out Jaguar’s first sport utility vehicle.
My introduction to Jaguar’s new
F-Pace sport utility vehicle was a
little out of the ordinary. At first use, I
was driving at considerable speed on a
slalom course on one of the runways at
the old Wigram Air Force base. It was
part of an event titled the Jaguar Art
of Performance Tour, which showcased
various Jaguar models in a sporty
environment. The F-Pace was well suited
to the challenge, even against its far
sportier stablemates, the heritage for
which we know Jaguar was immediately
evident.
The vehicle this evaluation focuses on
is a little different to the one I drove at
Wigram, instead of being diesel-powered,
it has a 3-litre supercharged V6 engine.
English car makers are no strangers
to the supercharging concept, they’ve
been doing it since Bentley in the 1930s,
and Jaguar’s partner Land Rover have
produced many Range Rover models
with superchargers.
With that statement in mind, the F-Pace
arrives here in six variations with three
engine options, the 2-litre four-cylinder
diesel as mentioned, a 3-litre V6 diesel
and two supercharged V6s depending
on how much power you want to own –
250kW or 280kW.
The range spans from $95,000 to
$130,000 for the range-topper as tested.
For that money you get a wealth of
specification, all of the items you would
expect in a luxury car, and those fitting
the Jaguar brand are fitted to the F-Pace.
The concept of the F-Pace is different to
that of any Jaguar I’ve driven before. As
a company, Jaguar knew that it would
have to produce an SUV in order to stay
competitive in the global market. The way
it has done that is far from traditional, the
F-Pace S has style and design flair, it is far
from boxy, yet still offers the practicality
we demand from SUVs, along with
providing stunning performance.
Against its V8 powered stablemates the
F-Pace’s 2995cc engine may seem a
little underwhelming, but at 280kW and
450Nm it does have enormous get-upand-go.
According to Jaguar, the S will
scamper to 100km/h from a standstill in
5.1sec, and it will lunge through a highway
overtake in 3.8sec. Jaguar also claims a
250km/h top speed.
Drive flows through an eight-speed
automatic transmission. It is a classy unit,
with ratios and shift patterns well suited
to the strong boost of supercharged
power. As you would expect, there are
sport shift protocols and an eco mode
for those inevitable times when you are
caught up in traffic. In eco mode, there
is a gentle response to the accelerator,
which under those circumstances is by far
the best option.
For the Jaguar enthusiast who is familiar
with the centre console-mounted
gearshift dial, it is there in the F-Pace.
Early January was a good time to be on
the road evaluating as there was little
traffic and dry roads. I took the test car
on a long highway loop just east of the
main divide on the scenic route SH72.
The F-Pace cruises much like its highprofile
stablemates. It is quiet and takes
on quite a sporty persona, unlike many of
the SUVs in today’s market. There is little
indication of height (1652mm), the centre
of gravity seems low, body movement
over the suspension is controlled and
balanced. The fully independent system
can be felt working, especially the rear
linkages, but you would expect that from
Jaguar; as a company it builds vehicles
that offer an involving driving experience.
The F-Pace has drive to all four
wheels, and it is an adaptive system,
sending power to the rear when grip is
threatened. In most cases the F-Pace
would have a life on-road, it’s not an
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actual off-roader as such, but with 213mm
of ground clearance, it does have useful
cross-country ability.
Providing the grip are huge Continental
tyres (255/50 x 20in) which send strong
information to the driver. On the Wigram
slalom course, there was little indication
of push at the front or oversteer from the
rear; steerage is direct and turn-in strong
and decisive.
The F-Pace in this form is also a frugal
highway cruiser. The engine is loping
along slowly at just 1700rpm at 100km/h
sipping fuel at the rate of just 7.5-litre
per 100km (38mpg). Jaguar claims an
8.9l/100km (32mpg) combined cycle
average, which sits well with the trip
computer readout of 10l/100km (28mpg)
during my four days with the evaluation
car.
Jaguar’s first foray into the sport utility
vehicle market is a result of many years
of development; the F-Pace is a late
entry, but you can guarantee it has been
engineered so that it won’t disappoint.
You can certainly see that in its styling;
it is a cross between sporty and
functionality, and as a Jaguar owner, you
wouldn’t want anything less.
I enjoyed my time with the vehicle; I’d be
torn between petrol and diesel power and
I hope to drive the latter at some point.
However, in the interim, I’m sold. If I was a
luxury car SUV buyer, it would be the top
of my list.