Jaguar F-PACE

Jaguar F-Pace – Overview

British carmaker, Jaguar attempted to add an SUV to their prestigious lineup for the first time and it was previewed in the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. One year later, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia launched the Jaguar F-Pace in Malaysia, and only one model, the 35t was available in two trims: Prestige and R Sport.

In 2018, a new base model, 25t was added, and this time available in three variants: Prestige, R Sport Mid-Spec, and R Sport Hi-Spec. Finally, in 2020, all previous F-Pace models were discontinued and replaced with the new 30t models with the same variants as the previous 25t. 

The F-Pace competes directly with other compact executive SUVs such as the Porsche Macan, BMW X3, Mercedes Benz GLC, Audi Q5, and Lexus NX. The Jaguar F-Pace prices in Malaysia are RM 436,421 (Prestige), RM 470,213 (R Sport Mid-Spec), and RM 485,434 (R Sport Hi-Spec) respectively.  

Jaguar F-Pace – Exterior

The F-Pace’s styling and design are inspired by its older siblings. The front fascia is taken from the X260 Jaguar XF with both models sharing the front headlight design and large grille, but the lower bumper opening is larger on the SUV. Moving to the rear, you will find a familiar design and the inspiration is the Jaguar F-Type sports car.

Jaguar took the rear wide panel with the rear LED lights and combine it with the SUV body. The side profile makes the F-Pace looks sporty because of the sloping roofline and large rear spoiler. Far from the usual, thick SUV look. The Prestige trim gets Xenon headlamps while both R Sport trims have Adaptive LED units with a ‘J-blade’ design LED Daytime Running Lights across all trims. 

These stylish headlights make the F-Pace instantly recognizable on the road. It also improves safety on the road by producing a color of light that is close to natural daylight that will reduce driver fatigue. The standard rim option is a 20-inch 5 Split-spoke rim, and the highest R Sport (Hi-Spec) gets a 22-inch 15 spoke rim upgrade.

Jaguar F-Pace – Interior

At a glance, you will notice the interior is similar to the Jaguar XE. This is because the top half of the dashboard is actually from the XE but the center console has been raised higher to suit an SUV seating position. The Prestige trim receives an analog instrument cluster with a five-inch full-color TFT display.

Meanwhile, the R Sport Mid-Spec gets an additional R Sport steering wheel and ambient lighting, and the Hi-Spec gets the best goodies: a fixed panoramic roof, and a 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster with virtual dials. 

The boot offers 508 liters of storage compartment space and if the seats are folded, it will expand to 1,700 liters. Access to the boot can be done with the hand gesture, electrically powered tailgate. Interestingly, while the body is mainly made with aluminum, the tailgate is made of plastic.

Jaguar F-Pace – Features

The F-Pace gets a dual-zone air-con and controls with physical buttons, making it easy to access while driving. The rear passenger gets centralized air-con and two air vents along with two USB ports and a 12V socket on the center console. Standard safety features of the F-Pace include six airbags, lane keep assist, cruise control, Driver Conditioning Monitor, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).

Parking aids available are front rear parking sensors and reverse camera, and a surround camera system is standard with the R Sport Hi-Spec. Buyers can also opt for the Drive Pack which consists of blind spot assist, adaptive cruise control, and high-speed emergency braking.

Inside the F-Pace, you will be entertained with Jaguar’s InControl infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen in the center dashboard. It has physical buttons around the screen that can be convenient to use while driving. Sound system is provided by the 380W Meridian sound system that includes 11 speakers throughout the cabin. 

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also available as standard to support your devices. The top of the range R Sport Hi-Spec gets an upgraded, InControl Touch Pro system that features a 10.2-inch, wide touchscreen instead over the equipment of the lower trims. 

Jaguar F-Pace – Powertrain

In the beginning, the only option available was the 3.0 liter supercharged V6 engine. It is the same engine featured in the Jaguar F-Type coupe and makes 340 PS @6,500 rpm and 450 Nm of torque @4,500 rpm in the F-Pace. The new base model introduced in 2018 had the Ingenium 2.0 liter turbo four-cylinder engine. The output was 250 PS @5,500 rpm and 365 Nm torque figure @1,500 to 4,500 rpm. Currently, for the 30t model, power is raised to 300 PS (+50 PS) and 400 Nm (+35 Nm) at the same rpm range from the same engine.

Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission from the German manufacturer, ZF. The V6 engine uses the 8HP70 gearbox to handle high torque. Meanwhile, the Ingenium four-cylinder uses the 8HP45 gearbox which is lighter and more compact. It has a pendulum damper that helps absorb low-frequency vibrations to enable the engines to run at low speeds without sacrificing smoothness.

The ZF gearbox is highly responsive, smooth, and efficient by delivering rapid shifting for effortless acceleration and overtaking. Gears are chosen with a rotary dial, similarly to Land Rover’s, and can be shifted with Jaguar Sequential Shift via the steering wheel paddles.

F-Pace is built on Jaguar’s Lightweight Aluminum Architecture which is an 80% aluminum-intensive body structure strong enough to offer excellent protection to all occupants. It helps to reduce weight, boosts efficiency, and enhances handling and braking. F-Pace is among the lightest cars in its class to achieve a weight distribution with near perfect 50:50 balance.

Jaguar took the Double Wishbone from the F-Type for the front and the Integral Link from the XE for the rear. The highest trim, R Sport Hi-Spec is equipped with Adaptive Dynamics, an electronically controlled damper and together with the Adaptive Surface Response (AdSR), the F-Pace can modify dampening and respond with maximize grip on all type of surfaces.

All units of F-Pace sold in Malaysia are all-wheel drive models. Having said that, the system only sends around 10% of the power to the front wheel on normal drives. When needed, a maximum of 50% can be sent to the front wheels, making the all-wheel drive a rear-wheel bias system.

Although not meant to focus on its off-road abilities, that did not stop Jaguar from including several features such as the All-Surface Progress Control (ASPC) that is a low speed, off-road cruise control that helps maintain optimum handling and the Low-Friction Launch (LFL, a Jaguar first) for getting a grip on slippery surfaces. The F-Pace also has Adaptive Surface Response (AdSR) adjusts engine and brake settings after recognizing different surfaces to exploit available grip.

Jaguar F-Pace - Fuel Economy

Among the 3 engines made available to the Malaysian market throughout its lifespan, the supercharged V6 is the thirstiest and consumes 8.9 liters per 100 km (~11.2 km/L). Meanwhile, the Ingenium turbo engine in the 250 PS guise consumes 7.4 liters per 100 km (~13.5 km/L). The current tune (300 PS) for the 2.0 liter engine’s fuel consumption is 7.7 liters per 100 km (~13 km/L), which is worth it for the extra power and torque.

Jaguar F-Pace – Driving Performance

The F-Pace is a sporty and dynamic car that sometimes makes you forget that it is an SUV. It has cool technology like the unique JaguarDrive Control system that allows you to change your driving mode. For example, when in Dynamic Mode, it shifts quicker and kickdown is sportier. Earlier up-shifts in Eco Mode can improve efficiency while the Rain Ice Snow Mode becomes more gentle progress in low grip conditions. 

When Dynamic Mode is selected, the Configurable Dynamics system (inspired by the F-Type) allows for throttle mapping, gearbox shift points, and steering to suit your performance needs. It brings out the sporting character, sharpens throttle response, increases steering weighting, and performing gearshifts more quickly and at higher engine speeds. In addition, there is Brake-applied Torque Vectoring. This system allows the car to maximize capability through even the tightest corners, reducing understeer, and delivering sports car-like agility. It would greatly enhance your cornering ability.

The seating position is expected to be on the high side, but it feels like every other Jaguar model, be it the sedan or sports car. The F-Pace handles very well and drives similarly just like a hot hatch, thanks to the above-mentioned features. It also allows you to choose between exploring full dynamic performance and maximizing fuel economy of the F-Pace. All this helps the four-cylinder turbo engine to achieve the 0-100 km/h sprint in around 6.1 seconds. It is electronically limited to a top speed of 233 km/h.

Jaguar F-Pace - Ride Comfort

Seats are the main provider of comfort in a car, and it is important to have the right ones. The front seats found in the F-Pace are a 10-way electric seat with memory function wrapped in grained leather. You could get the seats with contrast stitching with the R Sport trims. The seats provide adequate support but are a little hard as the F-Pace leans towards sportiness rather than luxuries. Rear seats can fit three adults, but the middle passenger would struggle with feet space. For better comfort, you should get the option for power-reclining seats. 

Jaguar F-Pace - Conclusion 

In the sea of luxury brand SUVs, the Jaguar F-Pace stands out in the crowd. While others compete to be the most luxurious, Jaguar has been aiming to be sporty. There are many borrowed components and influences from the Jaguar F-Type sports car such as the drivetrain, all-wheel drive system, and suspension, which makes it a proper sporty SUV. In addition to that, the F-Pace is also practical and spacious with its cabin and boot space. If you are looking for a stylish SUV with sporty DNA and handles well, look no further. The Jaguar F-Pace is the right car for you.