Jaguar E-Pace: The new king of compact SUVs

Yochanaan Coetzee When the first member of Jaguar’s Pace family was introduced in 2016, it brought a dashing new dimension to the wildfire SUV segment. The F-Pace’s mix of elegance and exhilaration was so potent and posh, that when the news broke that we’d be seeing a new compact sibling, it set the news wires on fire.Initially perceived as a huge departure from its illustrious history of classic race cars and stately luxury sedans, Jaguar made sure to approach the Pace-family concept in a manner that would pay homage to this heritage, while simultaneously showing its willingness to throw off its dinner jacket and monocle, and shake up the segment. Jag execs have since openly forecast an even better run by the E-Pace, so that gives some indication of the emphasis and effort invested into the E-Pace.Jaguar Land Rover made sure to launch its new E-Pace in a deservedly audacious manner, and claimed a Guinness world record for the longest aerial barrel roll by a production car in the process, at a whopping 15.3 meters.With all the hype about the titanic battle in the compact SUV segment, I was curious to see whether this cub was truly meant to be king. Thankfully, the good folks over at Jaguar Land Rover Windhoek were more than happy to oblige me.Captivating catArriving at the dealership, I spot the Cub menacingly gleaming in the morning sun. Its sculpted bonnet, coupé-like profile and muscular rear haunches, make it resemble the F-Type sports-coupé, rather than the F-Pace SUV. From headlights that stretch back into the bonnet to side windows that taper to a point above the flared rear wheel arches and the phenomenally familiar F-Type rear, it simply screams athleticism, even when stationary.A bold honeycomb mesh grille framed by LED headlights with signature 'J' blade leads on the front and sweeps back into the dynamic roofline which blends with a spoiler and raked rear window.The stunner in front of me was the P200 All-Wheel Drive Automatic, in HSE trim and decked with a black contrast fixed panoramic roof. Wrapped in the sultry Caldera Red and complimented by 19” claw-like alloys, it’s a literal endorphin factory... and that’s just the exterior.Fine felineThe interior is well-thought out and a more comfort-orientated iteration of the F-Type’s driver-focused cockpit.The center console is dominated by the SportShift and Drive-Mode Selectors, while stocky, yet the sculpted 3-spoke leather steering wheel feels immediately sporty and reminds you of Jaguar’s racing heritage. They’ve littered the vehicle with design Easter eggs like the exclusive Jaguar and cub design hidden in the corner of the front windscreen. There’s also a subtle Jaguar print in the cubby box and on the center console.The E-Pace has class-leading interior stowage. Everywhere you look there are cavernous stowage binnacles cup- and water bottle holders. Inside the console, a 12V socket and two USB sockets are available for charging, while the rear of the center console has three optional USB sockets for passengers in the back. The dash looks modern, sculpted and minimalistic, thanks to many functions being accessible through the 10” touchscreen display and Touch Pro infotainment system.The interactive driver display is reminiscent of that found in luxury Land Rovers, and along with the integrated heads-ups display, ensure that the driver’s eyes stay on the road ahead.There’s also a full spectrum of interior ambient lighting to suit whatever your mode for fashion choices are for the day.Feral, yet refinedIt comes with a range of diesel and petrol engines, most of which have all-wheel drive and automatic gearboxes, although front-wheel drive and manual gearbox versions are available too. The P250 2.0L 4-Cylinder we had was turbocharged and produced a thoroughly enjoyable 183 kW and 365 Nm.Maximum torque is available at 1 350 rpm and the twin-scroll turbocharger is employed to make sure this big cat is always ready to pounce.Oh, and as touched on numerous times in past features, many premium cars these days come with sports tyres, but many don’t really have the legs or the lungs to put such serious shoes to good use. The E-Pace, friends, is not one of those. Shod in Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV rubber, the “Rooi Kat” as our test model definitely showed she deserves this level of tyre design and engineering. She’s get peppery instantaneously, spicy soon after that, and from there it’s darn hot. Seriously, the three thoughts that kept running through my mind were, “this is so sophisticated”, “that was seriously quick” and mostly just straight “SJOEEEE!!!”.The chassis is firm, comfortable, but phenomenally agile and steady through fast corners. This, coupled with its impeccable 9-speed automatic gearbox, make for a thrilling, yet smooth driving experience.Yes, it uses a tweaked platform sourced from the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, but one must keep in mind the R&D that went into putting this amazingly versatile architecture together in the first place.In town, its graceful gait will have you feeling like you’re royalty, (and no, not Prince Phil, we hear the Queen is a much better driver).Comfort mode really is that. It feels like you’re riding around atop of deliciously delicate afternoon tea sandwich. But once you flip it to Sport Mode, you better have your wits about you, because the E-Pace’s entire personality changes, which made for many memorable moments as it honed into the horizon, seemingly devouring the tarmac as one peers through the slightly widened windscreen, thanks to the shaved down A-pillars.Digital, yet debonair Standard safety features include Lane Keep Assist, Driver Condition Monitor, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, along with Front and Rear Parking Aids and Rear Camera. Opting for the Drive Pack, ups the tech to feature Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist, High-Speed Emergency Braking and Blind Spot assist. The Park Pack lets you enjoy the added peace of mind of having a Rear Traffic Monitor, Park Assist and 360° Parking Aid, with the option of a 360 Surround Camera.The “cub” in the range competes with the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40, and although it entered a jungle filled with wild, versatile and engaging beasts, it makes an excellent case for itself by just being all the Jag it can to be. However, we got the sense that it needed to visit with some of its feline fellows, and thankfully, the wonderful conservationists at the Naankuse Foundation and their family of cheetahs were happy to host “Rooi Kat”. Located only thirty minutes from Hosea Kutako International Airport amongst camel thorn trees, riverbeds, and a stone canyon, the world-reknowned Naankuse Lodge was worthwhile test of the E-Pace’s grasp of gravel.Unsurprizingly, “Rooi Kat” came into her own and seemingly sensing the feline fun that lay instore, she simply lapped up the short drive to the lodge.Once there, it was time to introduce the Rooi Kat to two of the lodge’s Cheetahs, which took an immediate liking to their cousin’s clean lines and athletic aesthetics.Judging the JagAt the end of the week, returning the E-Pace was definitely not fun. Never before had a vehicle’s personality been so pronounced and so tangible. It’s fun, fabulous and can be ferocious when need be.The Jaguar E-Pace starts from N$ 635 000, which considering the build quality, dynamics and level of individuality, is a steal.Please visit the Jaguar Windhoek dealership so their Expert Sales team can structure a deal for you.

Jaguar E-Pace: The new king of compact SUVs

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Republikein 2025-05-02

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Jaguar E-Pace: The new king of compact SUVs

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