Jaguar E-Pace in driving test: that's good for the British handsome!

It is one of 130 models. There are so many SUVs now and this stands out. The driving test in the 180 hp Jaguar E-Pace.

• Does the Jaguar beat its rivals BMW X1 and Audi Q3?
• The SUV heavyweight is surprisingly nimble.
• Points are only deducted from the available space.

The tide became a tsunami. Over 130 different SUV models are currently on the road. From Alfa to Volkswagen, from Rolls Royce to Lamborghini. There is nothing that does not exist: sportbacks, coupes, crossover coupes. And there is also something for every budget - from 11,700 euros for the Dacia Duster to 750,000 euros for the Mercedes Maybach G 650. They are called Urus, Bentayga or simply E-Pace .

The Jaguar E-Pace sets the pace

Jaguar E-Pace  - that sounds more mysterious than it is. The name E-Pace is simply based on the larger F-Pace. The F-Pace was Jaguar's first SUV and extremely successful. It should be sporty, sporty like an F-Type *. Hence the F. And pace means speed. The phrase "make the pace" actually comes from equestrian sport and means something like: "set a fast pace".

In our test car, an E-Pace D180 AWD , 180 horses under the hood ensured the pace. The gallop of the two-liter turbodiesel was limited. Which is mainly due to the weight of the E-Pace. The British gasoline carriage weighs just under 1.9 tons on the scales, so it is quite nice to pull something. Thanks to the torque of 430 Nm, the Jaguar sprints from a standing start, but then it loses its strength. 9.1 seconds from 0 to 100 . These are rather values ​​for more comfortable contemporaries. If you have an e-pace and want to be dynamic, you should afford the 300 hp four-cylinder petrol engine . Although it costs around 10,000 euros more, it can reach 100 km / h in just 6.5 seconds.

Red calipers and black rims. It's almost a design classic, but it also looks great with the E-Pace.

© JLR

Related to the topic : The duel of the dissimilar brothers: Who is better - Velar or F-Pace?

Jaguar E-Pace: nimble and economical for an SUV

However, more patient people get along well with the 180 PS diesel . And should actually reach the predicted six liters in consumption . Even if you chase the diesel, more than 8.5 liters will not. And that's an announcement for such a heavy SUV.

Also astonishing how nimble and brisk the heavyweight is on the road. A sports car no longer becomes this Jaguar, but among the many SUVs the precise steering  and the tight chassis of the E-Pace stand out.

High shoulders, crisp rear, fine coupé lines - this is what a modern SUV has to look like in order to score points with buyers.

© JLR

Greetings from the group brother Evoque. No wonder, after all, the two have the same technical basis. Just like the Range Rover, the engine, chassis and drive are not the stars, but the design . And that's what the E-Pace did. Although the radiator opens its mouth voraciously, this does not look martial, but peaceful and friendly thanks to the cute headlights . The rear is perky and crisp, with a distinctive edge in the shoulders. The gently swinging coupe line provides an elegant touch. These are perfect proportions that seem familiar and familiar to you. Especially when the E-Pace is parked right next to a Volkswagen T-Roc. Who copied from whom? A rogue who thinks evil.

The roof spoiler of the E-Pace fits perfectly into the vehicle line. To clean under the edge, you have to do it yourself. No car wash brush comes here.

© JLR

Jaguar E-Pace: is the SUV also suitable for off-road use?

But beauty isn't everything in a car. Practicality , comfort  and then of course the price are decisive . The E-Pace is just the thing for everyday use. In the Jaguar SUV you actually have a good overview because you are sitting higher than the competition. This is due to the close relationship to Land Rover, who build real SUVs and not SUVs for Sunday drivers. However, the E-Pace itself is not necessarily suitable for off-road use . Apart from the all-wheel drive and a hill start aid, there are no specific features.

The E-Pace is only of limited suitability for the terrain. Thanks to better ground clearance and all-wheel drive, it easily copes with simple water fords.

© JLR

The interior of the Jaguar E-Pace

For this, the Jaguar offers even more comfor t . Since the vehicle is quite wide at just under two meters, you can sit comfortably in the rear. Even if the wide center console takes up space again - like the dashboard that is pulled low down on the passenger side. 

With white leather, the Jaguar interior looks even more elegant and tidy. The clasp on the center console is striking, an additional handle for the passenger.

© JLR

There is also plenty of space in the back for people up to 1.90 meters tall . Getting in is difficult, however, because the size of the doors is rather limited. For the long-term transport of four adults, you should take the larger F-Pace, provided that Jaguar has a soft spot. The smaller Briton is sufficient for the small family with one or two very young children. The trunk has no loading edge - that should actually become standard in vehicle construction. The place itself is an average of 577 liters . A visit to the furniture store, even if you only need small things, can therefore only be completed by two people. With the rear seat folded, at least 1,234 liters fit in.

The trunk of the E-Pace holds 577 liters. Rather average, the best thing is that it has a flat loading edge. Exemplary.

© JLR

In terms of connectivity and usability , the E-Pace ranks in the standard midfield. The menu of the infotainment touchscreen is a bit cumbersome, Jaguar promises that the facelift, which is due to come next year, will be digitally cleared out. The screen fitted in the cockpit, which slopes gently downwards, will unfortunately remain. With a certain amount of sunlight, you can no longer read anything because it is not glare-free.

The cockpit is characterized by ease of use, the menu of the infotainment system should be greatly improved in the next model.

© JLR

That costs the Jaguar E-Pace

In terms of price, the Jaguar is just ahead of the competition. The D180 costs almost 44,000 euros with all-wheel drive and automatic . With the comparable BMX X1 18 d (but with 30 HP less) almost 40,000 euros are due. The Audi Q3 35 TDI quattro (also 150 hp) is 41,300 euros. With 190 hp, however, it already costs 43,700 euros. Only the Volvo XC 40 contests the Jaguar's rank. Here 44,050 euros must be transferred. But all of these are only rough indications, because the equipment packages are quite different and are not 100% comparable.

Read also : The new Defender: This is how the luxury toy from Land Rover drives.

The conclusion to the E-Pace

The fine Brit pleasantly stands out from the mass of over 130 SUV models due to its modern and stylish design . Technology and driving dynamics are solid but not necessarily exciting. A car for individualists with a pronounced soft spot for what others do not have.

If you like curve dynamics, the E-Pace is right for you. Although you notice the 1.9 ton weight, he still whizzes around the corners amazingly quickly.

© JLR

Datasheet Jaguar E Pace D180 AWD

Also interesting : Classic car test: This is how an almost 100 year old roadster drives.

Rudolf Bögel

About the pros and cons of SUVs

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