Jaguar E-PACE revisited…The Cub put through its paces on home soil

Duo-tone interior treatment lifts the ambience.

IN cat-speak, a cub is the junior member of a (wild) feline clan and that’s effectively the nom de plume Jaguar has chosen for its newest offering that occupies a position in the SUV lair below the 2017 World Car of the Year, the Jaguar F-PACE.

There’s nothing entry-level though about the sporty, compact E-PACE as it offers a host of features and luxuries in standard form and a lot more still to those who wish to personalise their own Cub.

Alert readers will hopefully recall that I’ve already reported on this model following its international launch in Corsica in late January but when the chance came to drive the E-PACE on home soil, I couldn’t turn down the offer as for all its grandeur, Corsica totally lacks open road terrain and is tightly speed-restricted in all areas.

So, Gauteng it was on a route that took in everything except dirt, a situation that pleased me personally as I detest getting paintwork dirty – and especially paintwork as well applied as that on the E-PACE which happens to be built in Graz, Austria.

My sojourn started with a Caesium Blue P300 R-Dynamic HSE. Those figures tell you the motor, Jaguar’s 2.0 Ingenium petrol turbo, produces 300HP (221kW) and it’s powering a top spec model which will crack 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and go on to 243 km/h when P.C. Plod isn’t looking.

Headlamp shape imitates that of the F-TYPE and adds to sporty disposition.

All the E-PACE models, whether in S, SE or HSE spec or derivatives thereof, feature all-wheel drive (AWD) and a 9-speed auto box. The underpinnings owe a lot to the established Range Rover Evoque but Jaguar representatives were keen to emphasise that Jaguar’s chassis engineers have finessed the detail to provide responses which are expected of a more sporty Jaguar configuration.

Bear in mind though that largely for cost reasons, the E-PACE is not endowed with the group’s much-vaunted aluminium intensive tech that is found on the more expensive F-PACE. The result is a rather lardy vehicle that in round figures spans the 1800 to 1900kg mark according to model.

On the sinuous roads of Corsica, this extra mass could be felt when pressing on but the flatter roads of Gauteng disguised the Cub’s calorie count to good effect. Sure, even the 221kW model doesn’t have the responses of a gecko in full flight and the otherwise nicely-weighted steering can be a tad slow to respond when sudden movements are executed, but I suspect that most drivers putting their vehicle to normal use won’t be aware of the lard.

Even on 20-inch wheels, the ride on admittedly good surfaces is  well controlled and acceptably absorbent but my advice to anyone driving on indifferent roads so typical of most of Africa should forego the sporty looks of 45-profile tyres and opt for 18-inch (or even 17-inch) wheels that are home to tyres with a deeper profile that provides not only a softer ride but more resistance to the ravages of potholes too.

The most powerful engine in the range provides effortless, thrusting performance and lovely, relaxed high-speed cruising but can sound a tad gruff under duress, a situation that’s rarely encountered as there’s enough reserve power on tap to negate the need to rev the motor out.

The 9-speed auto box for the most part shifts seamlessly and is slip-free but when driven gently, it learns the driver’s mood and can hold on to higher gears longer than is ideal if there’s a need to get going. Happily, in this application paddle shifters are on hand to activate the desired cogs swiftly and decisively.

Overall, refinement levels are good thanks to effective suppression of wind and engine disturbances, other than when on full tap, and road noise on most tar surfaces is subdued but the big tyres on 20-inch rims do make themselves heard on coarse chippings.

The second vehicle sampled was another R-Dynamic HSE but with D240* propulsion. In simple-speak, that means the engine is a new Ingenium turbo diesel derivative producing 240HP or 177kW at 4 000rpm. More importantly, a generous torque peak of 500Nm arrives at a mere 1 500 rpm and it’s this muscle that makes the oil burner a better proposition in give and take slower speed driving.

AWD and reasonable ground clearance allow the E-PACE to head off-road with confidence.

There’s always usable energy on tap even when the gearbox is holding on to higher ratios but as with the petrol mill, this one can sound (but not feel) a little gruff when extended and from outside at idle, there’s no mistaking what fuel is being digested. In terms of handling, the extra mass over the front wheels is disguised by the power steering and I suspect it’s only when sharp corners are attacked with vigour that a slightly slower turn-in might be detected.

For the most part though, you’d be hard-pressed to identify the fuel being consumed albeit that the service station pumps will confirm it really is diesel thanks to a significantly lower thirst. As for final choice of powerplant, driving style should be accounted for, albeit that all models are offered with a four-driving-mode Drive Control system.

For those who like sharper and more immediate responses and better top end pace, petrol is for you. But if you adopt a more relaxed style and spend a lot of time cruising around so to speak, the diesel is up your street but with one caveat. If you don’t drive at least 20km a day in a single run, petrol is more sensible as such engines warm up much more quickly from cold starts and therefore are less prone to early wear from constant cold running.

The D240 was painted in very fetching Firenze Red that positively glowed and just like the P300, panel gaps all round were tight and even. In fact, it’s my view that the E-PACE is clothed in the best-finished bodywork of any Jaguar of recent memory so hats off to the Graz factory.

As for appearance, looks are obviously very subjective but I think the E-PACE has hit a sweet spot with a lovely balance achieved between sporty overtones and practical considerations. For a compact vehicle, there is still a pleasing flow to the lines which are somehow taut and muscular at the same time but there’s adequate underbody clearance to allow for a measure of off-roading.

As for interior execution, this P300 scored huge points for me as it was decked out in navy blue and black leather, the former being my favourite – albeit hard-to-find – colour. The D240 featured SA-default black fittings and didn’t look so inviting to my eyes but be under no illusion that the cabin ambience in any derivative is pleasing even if hard plastics are widely employed in lower regions where they are not so visible.

In terms of size, the E-PACE doesn’t try to hide that it’s a compact sporty SUV but there’s enough space for four adults and 577 litres of luggage with the rear seat upright or 1 234 litres with the split folding seat dropped. Configuration varies according to model designation, but I suggest you go online or visit your local dealer for a full run-down on the myriad of options which allow you to personalise your E-PACE to a truly extraordinary degree.

Flowing rear flanks confirm this is a Jaguar

In summary, I’m saddened that virtually every car manufacturer has been forced by consumer purchasing patterns to develop SUVs at the expense of conventional three-box sedans that mostly prove to be the better driving machines owing to a lower centre of gravity and less compromised suspension settings. But that’s how life is and Jaguar, with its sporting saloon traditions to the fore, has been a little tardy in joining the SUV rush.

The F-PACE though has already proved the wait has been worthwhile as it’s currently the best-selling Jaguar of all, but this model has found itself competing in a more premium environment inhabited by some very well-established rivals. The E-PACE is geared to appeal to a broader market with more accessible pricing, particularly at the lower end of the extensive range, and it does so with a very distinctive style that I predict will make it the new best-selling Jag.

Just be aware that the extensive options list will also stretch the purchase price, so I suggest potential buyers weigh up looking at a more powerful engine with less kit or a lesser engine with more kit should the bank manager be in a bad mood.*

In summary, the E-PACE is something of a sporting charmer endowed with a desirable image and a 5-star safety rating, and to back it all up, Jaguar offers a compelling long-term warranty that will provide absolute peace of mind for a five-year period. It might be the Cub in a growing range but mark my words – the Cub will soon be the pride leader.

 *Four engine derivatives are available in sub-Sahara Africa markets, namely:

D150 diesel with 110kW/380Nm and D180 diesel with 132kW/430Nm

P250 petrol with 183kW/365Nm and P300 petrol with 221kW/400Nm