Jaguar F-Pace Premium 2017
General
Also called:
C-X17
Expert Reviews
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace ranks 2 out of 14 Luxury Compact SUVs. Very few rivals can match the brand-new Jaguar F-Pace when it comes to space, dynamic driving performance, and the prestige that comes with a Jaguar badge.
Although Jaguar doesn't like to call it an SUV – they call it a practical sports car and performance crossover – the F-Pace is the first SUV for the luxury brand. The British carmaker says the F-Pace was built to be functional enough as a daily driver, but fun to drive on the weekend. It is spectacularly successful in both arenas. The F-Pace also has one of the largest cargo holds in the class. Additionally, its Land Rover parentage (Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by the same company and share some components) helps its off-road cred, making the F-Pace surprisingly practical for a little trail-riding. Overall, the F-Pace is an excellent SUV.
Pros
Sports-car-like performance
Excellent traction on slippery or gravel roads
Spacious interior and cargo room
Cons
Subpar acceleration with diesel engine
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace does an excellent job of putting just as much emphasis on sport as on utility.
Jaguar Land Rover is in the business of building excellent SUVs, but until now, those SUVs were the exclusive province of Land Rover.
Even with Range Rovers and Discoverys sitting across the showroom, there's plenty of room for more vehicles in the broad spectrum that grabs everything from the Buick Encore to the Benz G-Class. And if a sort of automotive purity test is invoked, well, Porsche's proven that no brand can really thrive in the U.S. without some kind of crossover SUV in its lineup.
This is all a convoluted way of explaining how we got to the first Jaguar crossover SUV in history, and as luck would have it, one of the most satisfying luxury utility vehicles of all.
Pros
The SUV Jaguar's always wanted
Sleek aluminum body
Wide-screen InControl Touch Pro
Turbodiesel or supercharged six
Nimble, skillful handling
Cons
Firm ride degrades on 22s
Rearview camera a $400 option on base model
Cockpit can be a subdued, dark affair
If you're looking for a luxury SUV that stands out in a crowd, the striking new 2017 Jaguar F-Pace is hard to ignore. It's more than just a pretty face as it's also great to drive, surprisingly practical, competitively priced and can even venture off road. It's a new SUV you don't want to overlook.
pros
Spacious backseat and cargo area for the segment
Sharper and more engaging to drive than most
Supercharged V6 power at a four-cylinder price
Fuel-efficient diesel engine option
Higher-than-usual ground clearance and surprising off-road capability.
cons
Gasoline engine is considerably less efficient than similarly priced rivals
You might find the ride too firm over broken pavement
V6's boisterous exhaust may get tiresome in day-to-day driving.
