Jaguar has updated its popular F-Pace SUV range for 2021. There's new technology,
a refreshed cabin and a range of new mild-hybrid drivetrains. Let's take a closer look.
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The F-Pace has been a staple in the Jaguar garage ever since it debuted globally in 2016.
For this mid-life update, Jaguar has sought to inject more technology, design and style into
the F-Pace range, while retaining its sporty ride and handling mix. In Australia, the F-Pace range
is being paired back to six models, with the choice of updated petrol and diesel drivelines.
From the outside, the F-Pace sports a sculpted bonnet, larger front grille and new detailing,
front and rear, but you'd argue there are even more meaningful changes on the inside. Jaguar
says that the interior of the F-Pace is all new, with high-quality materials, cabin air ionisation,
a new steering wheel and a lot more storage options than before. I gotta say,
in the skin, it feels really well executed. There are some really practical touches
like this bridge design center console, which liberates a heap of space underneath.
Now, infotainment is now facilitated by a new 11.4-inch PV Pro Touch Screen
system with Apple Car Play, Android Auto, digital radio and a wireless phone charger.
As with most luxury car makers, the devil here is in the detail,
with lots and lots of optional extras. In the case of our particular test vehicle,
almost $10,000 worth of extras, including wireless charging and head up display.
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As ever, one of the real hallmarks of the Jaguar F-Pace is the way it drives. Now,
I haven't driven this vehicle for about 18 months or so, but you just jump in
and you find yourself comfortable straight away. It's a real driver's car, but it doesn't go for
that objective at the outright compromise of ride comfort either. In the regular F-Pace range,
there are three powertrain options: The entry P250, four-cylinder petrol driven here,
as well as two new six-cylinder drivetrains, one petrol and one diesel and both fitted with new
mild-hybrid systems. The three engines shuffle drive to all four wheels via a rear-biased,
all-wheel drive system and are paired standard to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In
due course, the scintillating F-Pace SVR will follow, with its gurgling petrol V8.
Now, the P250 engine that I'm in at the moment is actually the only engine that hasn't been updated
with that mild-hybrid drivetrain. I've gotta say, though, it works quite well as an entry-level
engine. It does feel the Jaguar F-Pace's weight of about two tons, but it gets up to speed nicely.
It has a nice linear power curve, and when you want it to, it can be quite sprightly as well,
using that all-wheel drive grip and gearbox to really get down to business.
The entry P250 misses out on adaptive dampers found on other F-Pace models, but you can fork
out an additional two-and-a-half thousand dollars to tick that box. That meant our test car,
riding on optional 20-inch wheels, tended to reflect pitter-patter bumps a little more
prominently than models higher in the food chain, while bigger bumps posed the occasional thud.
Importantly though the F-Pace remained controlled and composed on our extensive test loop.
More than anything, the F-Pace feels really planted on the road, especially as you move
up into the higher-spec derivatives with adaptive suspension and a little bit more equipment.
Through corners, it sits really flat. It settles all of its weight to the outside
wheels quite quickly and there's a really nice mechanical premise to the key controls,
like the weighting of the steering. They sound like little things, but on the road, they all
come together to make the F-Pace feel like more of a driver's car. Thankfully, the sporting premise
isn't at the expense of cabin space either, with adequate proportions in the first row and enough
space for a couple of adults in the second row. A relatively open window line, rear air vents
and two ISOFIX attachment points mean the F-Pace lives up to the expectations of families as well.
With that said, you have to pay extra for second-row USB ports, and the boot space
isn't as generous as others in the segment, even if it is underslung by a space saver spare tyre.
Changes to the Jaguar F-Pace for 2021 have made it a more rounded
and overall improved SUV. Jaguar's recent extension to a five-year
warranty will also go a long way in broadening the British SUV's appeal.