2019 Jaguar F-Pace

By New Car Test Drive October 8, 2019

New in 2017, the Jaguar F-Pace was the first crossover SUV vehicle to be produced by the British carmaker. Jaguar may have joined the luxury-SUV parade a bit late, but the F-Pace comes across as a balanced, worthy crossover with premium credentials.

Modifications are modest for the 2019 model year, including the addition of a standard 10-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Following up on addition of a 247-horsepower base engine in 2018, Jaguar has launched a high-performance F-Pace SVR that cranks out a whopping 550 horsepower.

Style and grace abound, though performance takes precedence. Each powertrain – 25t, 30t, and 20d (diesel) – comes in a choice of trim levels: Premium, Prestige, and R-Sport. The 30t also is offered in Portfolio trim. An S Supercharged model, with V-8 power, elevates the performance potential.

The base engine, in 25t models, is a 2.0-liter turbo-4 rated at 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The higher-output turbo-four in 30t models develops 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet. That stronger engine yields 0-60 mph acceleration in 5.7 seconds, versus 6.4 seconds for the 247-hp version.

In the S model, the supercharged V-6 generates 380 horsepower. The turbodiesel 4-cylinder (20d) makes only 180 horsepower, but releases a burly 318 pound-feet of torque. Diesel power costs $1,500 more than the gasoline-engine equivalent.

In the new SVR, the 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 whips up a mighty 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of twisty torque.

No F-Pace has been crash-tested by either the NHTSA or the IIHS.

A number of contemporary driver-assistance and safety features are available. Some are standard, including active lane control and parking sensors. An optional Drive Pack includes blind-spot monitors and high-speed automatic emergency braking.

Model Lineup

Prices do not include $1,025 destination charge.

25t Turbo ($44,800), the base F-Pace, comes with synthetic leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, 380-watt Meridian sound, 10-way power front seats, panoramic sunroof, and power tailgate

25t Premium Turbo ($47,250) has 19-inch wheels, a memory driver’s seat and power-folding mirrors, and garage-door opener.

25t Prestige Turbo ($51,850) adds leather seating, heated front seats and steering wheel, power lumbar support, keyless entry, wi-fi hotspot, and navigation

25t R-Sport Turbo ($56,200) gets 20-inch wheels, more aggressive R-Sport trim, adaptive LED headlights, 18-way sport seating, foglights, and satellite radio

 

30t Premium Turbo ($50,250) is equipped similar to 25t Premium, but with 296-horsepower version of the 4-cylinder engine.

30t Prestige Turbo ($54,850) is similar to 25t Prestige, but with 296-horsepower engine.

30t R-Sport Turbo ($59,200) is similar to 25t R-Sport, but with 296-horsepower engine.

30t Portfolio  Turbo ($63,300) adds 20-way leather seating, ebony veneer trim, heated front seats, heated power-reclining rear seats, 825-watt Meridian audio, four-zone climate control, and a head-up display.

 

20d Premium Diesel ($48,750) substitutes the turbodiesel engine, but is equipped similar to 25t Premium.

20d Prestige Diesel ($53,350) is equipped similar to 25t Prestige.

20d R-Sport Diesel ($57,700) is equipped similar to 25t R-Sport.

 

S Supercharged V-6 ($61,800) upgrades to 380-horsepower V-6, including configurable Dynamic mode, adaptive suspension, and “S” body kit.

SVR Supercharged V-8 ($79,990), the hottest F-Pace, contains the 550-hp, 5.0-liter V-8, plus an array of performance-focused features.

Exterior

The F-Pace wears captivating sheetmetal that suggests an adventurous personality. Promising an appealing blend of sportiness and utility, the F-Pace has tapered windows and a sloping roofline. Leading the way is Jaguar’s big “signature” grille, augmented by headlights that look ready to snarl.

Interior

Short on visual flair, the subtle F-Pace cabin aims to place serious business ahead of mere pleasure. Classy yet practical, it’s a frill-free example of stressing function over form.

An F-Pace is bigger inside than its sleek body might suggest. Space is plentiful for seating five adults comfortably, even if some are taller. 

Slimmed-down sport seats are firm and flat, though lumbar support isn’t quite as effective as hoped. Despite sporty appearance, the driving position is comparatively high.

The newly-standard 10-inch touchscreen display, visually impressive and incorporating gesture controls, dominates the center stack.

Cargo volume beats most rivals, measuring 33.5 cubic feet. Fold-down seats are optional. A power-operated liftgate can open via a quick wave of one’s foot.

Driving Impressions

Stirring performance is the F-Pace rule, regardless of engine – from frugal turbodiesel to screaming, high-output V-8. Vivacious responses, agile on-road handling, and a sporty nature are matched by well-composed driving manners.

The new 550-horsepower SVR behaves almost like a sports car – a vigorous one at that, able to hit 60 mph in a startling 4.1 seconds.

While generally comfortable, the ride grows harsher with large wheels mounted. The F-Pace suspension does a good job of inspiring confidence. So does the all-wheel-drive system, which yields rear-drive characteristics

Off-roading is on the menu, helped by impressive approach/departure angles and 8.4-inch ground clearance (except for SVR). The F-Pace’s inner nature comes to the forefront on twisty back roads, matching nearly any competitor in fun and competence. Few of them are capable of fording through 20.7 inches of water.

Fuel economy ranks as reasonable for a crossover SUV. The base-engine F-Pace is EPA-rated at 22/27 mpg City/Highway, 24 Combined. Picking the V-6 S-model sinks those estimates to 18/23/20 mpg, while going turbodiesel raises them to 26/33/29 mpg. Lowest of the lot is the V-8 SVR, EPA-rated at only 16/21 mpg City/Highway, 18 Combined

Final Word

Even in base trim, the 2019 Jaguar F-Pace feels luxurious and high in quality. Like other modern-day Jaguars, it pushes performance over plush amenities. Adding graceful moves to simple brute force, the F-Pace is one of the best-handling—and most comfortable—SUVs. Though costly when fully-equipped, widescreen infotainment and ample active-safety features add value.

 

Driving impressions by The Car Connection. James M. Flammang contributed to this report.