Jaguar F-Pace reviewed: classy SUV gets expensive if you tick the options

BRITISH car maker’s sporty SUV looks a million bucks and is fun to drive, but the cost of the optional extras will make your eyes water.

Jaguar may have hopped on the SUV bandwagon later than most, but the F-Pace was worth the wait.

Hairy chested Supercharged V8 and V6 versions are available, but we tested the slightly more sensible 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol R-Sport 30t model.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

IAIN: When I was growing up the idea of Jaguar doing anything but luxury and sports cars was sacrilegious.

JULES: As you keep telling me though, car brands need an SUV to survive, and I for one am glad Jag has made the E-Pace and this F-Pace. They’re design knockouts.

IAIN: Much like Porsche, it’s the SUVs keeping Jaguar’s tills ticking over.

JULES: Premium buyers want SUVs, fact of life. Stunning design, high ride height, luxury inclusions and unsealed road ability. They want it all.

Iain Curry and Jules Lucht living the high life in the Jaguar F-Pace. Picture: Supplied.

IAIN: The F-Pace provides a stylish an alternative to the ubiquitous German luxury SUVs. It was awarded 2017 World Car and World Car Design of the Year, did you know?

JULES: Deserved. Look at that beautiful big front grille suggesting power, and its curvaceous rump with those slim rear lights. It’s like the F-Type sportscar’s steroid-popping big brother.

IAIN: Have to say, it’s a good sized five-seater for our family, if only we had the means to buy one.

JULES: What’s the damage?

IAIN: Jag has a ludicrous 18 different F-Pace versions on sale, from $72,510 to $140,020 for the 404kW V8 SVR. Ours costs $88,075 before on-roads.

JULES: That’s not bad at all. Looks a prestige bargain.

IAIN: Hang on a minute. Jag has an options list to make printer ink run dry. Ours adds nearly $40,000 or extras, making it $125,675 before on-roads.

JULES: Ouch, I thought it too good to be true.

There were $40,000 worth of options fitted to the test car. Picture: Supplied.

THE LIVING SPACE

IAIN: Leather everywhere and a simple elegance to the cockpit design.

JULES: I agree it’s beautiful, but not as dripping in luxury as I’d expect for the money.

IAIN: Agreed. Its platform-sharing Range Rover Velar cousin is more salubrious, tecchie and modern. The F-Pace feels sportier though. The dash wraps around you and it feels like you sit lower too.

JULES: I love the large navigation touchscreen and virtual instrument display.

IAIN: A $2690 option that, standard is an 8-inch screen. A smart key with keyless entry’s part of a $3850 Practicality Pack; head-up display is $2650; panoramic roof $4420 and DAB+ radio $950. Some of those you’d expect as standard.

The cockpit is simple but elegant. Picture: Supplied.

JULES: No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto made connecting my phone a bit of a pain.

IAIN: If we forget these negatives, the pop up rotary dial gear selector is a treat, the three-spoke leather steering wheel is brilliantly sporty with Jag logo in the centre and the piano black centre console looks really prestige.

THE COMMUTE

JULES: It’s nice to have an SUV with a revvy petrol engine, as most this size are diesels. Ours feels quick. It’s called the F-Pace 30t so it’s a 3.0-litre?

IAIN: Ah, no. Forget the name, it’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder. But it produces a mighty 221kW and turbodiesel-esque 400Nm.

JULES: If feels really well insulated and cruises beautifully. And the glass roof means it feels light inside.

IAIN: Ours has optional 22-inch wheels with skinny rubber, costing $4520. Even so, the ride is quite plush helped by a $3140 Adaptive Dynamics Pack, which modifies damping.

JULES: I can see how the bill adds up.

Bigger wheels and low profile tyres can set you back more than $4500. Pic: Supplied.

THE SHOPPING

IAIN: Forget how many bags it carries, you’ll look a million bucks parking the F-Pace outside boutique shops.

JULES: That $3850 Practicality Pack brings a powered gesture tailgate. Good. There’s nothing more peasant-like than actually using a handle to get in the boot outside said boutiques.

IAIN: Totally true. When you do get in there are 508 litres. That’s a tad more than the old Holden Commodore sedan.

SUNDAY DRIVE

JULES: It may be an SUV, but it corners really well, doesn’t it?

IAIN: Ours has all-wheel-drive and a Sport setting to sharpen throttle, gearbox and steering response. It’s an eager thing.

JULES: I really like the satin chrome paddle shifters to up driver involvement.

IAIN: Thanks to the F-Pace having loads of aluminium architecture it feels lighter than its size. With this engine it hits 100km/h in six-seconds flat. Really, all you need.

THE FAMILY

JULES: Loads of rear space for the kids in their car seats, but I struggled to fit grandma between them.

IAIN: It is family friendly with four-zone climate control ($1890), good size bins in the doors for bottles and the boot swallowed my bike.

JULES: We returned 9.9L/100km, so the diesel version would be better for the family budget.

IAIN: There’s decent standard safety kit, but paying extra for blind spot monitor and rear traffic detection ($1180) and 360-degree parking aid ($1280) at this price is disappointing.

THE VERDICT

JULES: I simply love the style and drive of the F-Pace, but it’s expensive. As it only has five seats, I’d get the smaller Jaguar E-Pace SUV; equally stylish for less cash.

IAIN: You’re right about the price. This F-Pace costs $120k, and for the same money I’d get the revolutionary Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV.