Hello and welcome to another of our video group tests. Today we're focusing
on upmarket family SUVs. That's cars that are a similar sort of size to an
Nissan Qashqai, but they have a premium badge on the bonnet and frankly a
premium price to match. From the left we've got the BMW X2, Jaguar E-Pace, and
the Volvo XC40. Now they're all brand new models, all have two litre diesel
engines, and an automatic gearbox so they all cost between 36 and 40,000 pounds.
We're going to tell you what they're like sit-in, what they're like to drive, how
practical they are, and how much they'll cost you to own. But before we get
started it's important to remember that if you want to buy any of these cars you
could save quite a lot of money by visiting the new car deals section of
our website whatcar.com The prices on the screen were correct at the time this
video was published but they do change regularly, so for the latest deals
just click the link up there in the top right hand corner. So let's kick things
off by finding out what these SUVs are like to drive. The X2 is the lowest and
the lightest car here so you won't be surprised to learn that it's the most
car liked to drive. By that I mean its body sways about the least through
zigzagging roads and it's the most comfortable with quick changes of
direction. Now we wouldn't say it's fun to drive but there is at least plenty of
grip, and when it comes to the steering it's heavier than we'd like at parking
speeds but it does at least give you a good sense of connection with the front
wheels when you're pressing on.
BMWs 20d diesel engine roughly on par of the
others for power but once again because the X2 is quite light it actually
destroyed the others in our acceleration tests. It's just a shame the X2 isn't
more comfortable, despite the car I'm driving here being fitted with BMWs
optional £150 adaptive dampers, even in its most comfortable driving mode
it's on the firm side for an SUV and there's loads of road noise over coarse
surfaces. Now although the E-Pace looks a bit like a cross between Jaguars larger
F-Pace SUV and the F-Type sports car it has little in common with either. It's
actually based on the same underpinnings as the Range Rover Evoque and that means
it's pretty heavy. It disguises that bulk reasonably well through corners
I mean it's not as agile as the X2, but it doesn't lean too much and the steering
is sharp enough to give you a good sense of connection with the front wheels.
The trouble is the E-Pace is no more comfortable than X2. This SE model has
19-inch alloys as standard and as you can probably tell the whole car tends to
shimmy from side to side along any road that isn't perfectly smooth.
If we're honest it gets quite tiring quite quickly. There isn't much in it but
the E-Pace also has the least powerful engine and when you factor in all that
extra weight it has to carry around it was unsurprisingly the slowest in all
of our acceleration tests. The gearbox isn't great either because it sometimes
takes ages to respond when you push the accelerator pedal for a quick burst of
speed. On the plus side at least there is less road noise than there is in the X2.
Now if you're looking for something sporty you might as well cross the XC40
off your list now. Those big 20-inch wheels might suggest it's some sort of
mini Porsche Macan it's actually most easygoing car here and the most
comfortable. That's particularly over potholes where the X2 will crash into
them the XC40 glides over the top without much fuss at all. The fact the XC40 is
most wallowing in the bends won't actually worry many buyers in this class.
It just never really encourages you to push it hard around corners because there's lots
of body lean, and the steering is quite numb. You're much better off sitting back
relaxing, enjoying the comfortable ride and it's punchy engine. Although we would
like a little less road noise on the motorway.
So the relaxing XC40 is the
most pleasant to drive with the sporty X2 running it closest. The E-Pace is no
disgrace but it's average performance and the unsettled ride puts it in third
place.
Now although the XC 40 is very good to drive it's in here that it
really knocks you for six. The driving position is pretty much perfect the
seats are comfortable and supportive, something Volvo always does really well
and the pedals line up neatly with the steering wheel which is always important
the XC40 obviously isn't a cheap car but for interior quality it genuinely
isn't far off some cars from the class above like the Audi Q5 for instance.
The dashboard materials are really classy and all the buttons dials and stalks
feel properly well engineered the only downer is this touchscreen infotainment
system because although it looks very smart some of the icons are just too
small and the screen itself can also be a bit slow to respond when you prod it.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring isn't standard but
at least you can add it for a reasonable price.
The E-Pace also has a fantastic
driving position it has loads of adjustment and like the Volvo has
electric seats so making minor adjustments is really easy. Now the
infotainment system is decent enough this 10 inch touchscreen system comes as
standard but if we're being picky it could be more user-friendly and it's a
shame you can't have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone mirroring.
Although you do get a really good 380-watt Meridian sound system as standard.
One of the biggest disappointments about the E-Pace though is its interior it just
doesn't look or feel special enough for a car that costs nearly forty thousand
pounds yes there's a bit of vinyl on the dashboard but these plastics feel pretty
cheap and some of the buttons particularly these on the steering wheel
feel quite flimsy too. The X2 certainly has a classier interior than the E-Pace
in terms of material quality and how solidly everything is put together
is pretty much on a par with the XC40, but the dashboard is rather more
conservative in its design and if one of the reasons you want an SUV is because
you'd like to sit quite far from the road then you'll definitely prefer the
high driving positions in the XC40 and the E-Pace. We also think it's a bit
cheeky that BMW charges extra for electric seats and adjustable lumbar
support when these things are standard on the other two cars. The X2 does have
by far and away the best infotainment system though, this car has the optional
professional system which costs twelve hundred and sixty pounds and gets you an
8.8-inch touchscreen but even if you stick with the standard six
and a half inch screen it is so much easier to use than the systems in the Jag and
the Volvo. You can use it as a touchscreen if you want but when you're
driving it's far less distracting to use this rotary dial between the front seats.
You just twist to scroll and then press down when you found what you want.
It really couldn't be simpler. The only thing you will want to add if like me
you've got an iPhone at least is Apple CarPlay it's a reasonably priced option.
If you've got an Android phone then tough because I'm afraid BMW doesn't
support Android Auto at all.
It's that brilliant infotainment system
that helps the X2 just edge our behind the wheel section followed closely by
the XC40 with the E-Pace once again bringing up the rear.
Now as you'd probably expect there's room for two six footers in the rear of
all three cars although if you had to sit in the back on long journey you
choose the Volvo. The X2 has the least knee room and headroom, these small rear
windows make it feel the most claustrophobic inside and it's also the
most cramped on those occasions you need to put three people in the back.
Now it's a pity that none of these SUVs has sliding rear seats but when it comes to
boot space the Volvo comes out on top once again. It has the largest main
luggage area and there's some extra storage space under this floor and if
you have the optional convenience pack you get this clever flip-up floor that
has hooks for hanging your shopping bags on to stop them flying around.
Now the E-Pace's boot isn't much smaller than the Volvo's but it has fewer clever touches
inside and unlike the Volvo it doesn't have proper on the floor storage.
Now the official figures suggest the X2 has the biggest boot but that's only if you
count this huge underfloor storage area. The main compartment is actually
the smallest of all three cars and there's also a pretty big lip at the
entrance. So if practicality is a priority the
Volvo is your best bet.
The Jag isn't a bad family car but the
X2 is best avoided if you need to carry lots of people and luggage. But what
about money well if you're paying cash the XC40 will cost you the least to
begin with especially if you're prepared to haggle - because discounts around
eighteen hundred pounds are already available. The E-Pace is the most
expensive and it's so new you're unlikely to get more than a few hundred
quid off the price even if you're a really good negotiator.
Then again the E-Pace is predicted to be worth the most after three years so it
won't actually cost you much more than the XC40 in the long run even after you
factor in it's mildly disappointing fuel economy. Heavy predicted depreciation is
the main reason the X2 is expected to work out the most expensive in the long
term. If you're buying on PCP finance the Volvo is once again the cheapest choice
over three years and with a three and a half thousand pound deposit you'll be
paying £483 a month the BMW and the Jag will both cost you around five
hundred and sixty pounds. Then again the X2's relatively low CO2
emissions mean it is the cheapest to run as a company car. Choosing the E-Pace as
your next company car will mean sacrificing the biggest chunk of your
salary each month. The E-Pace might be the most expensive but you do at least
get a lot of standard equipment. It's the only one of the trio with standard
adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera for example and it comes with the
most safety kit too. Believe it or not the X2 doesn't even get leather seats unless
you pay extra although it and the E-Pace do come with a powered tailgate
something that Volvo charges £375 for.
Overall the XC40 racks up
the most stars in our buying and owning section with the X2 impressing the least.
In the end then the XC40 wins fairly easily, it's the most comfortable most
practical and has a fantastic driving position. It's also the cheapest
whether you spend cash or via a PCP finance agreement. Second place is a
really close run thing but the X2 just edges it. It's definitely the most fun to
drive has a great interior and a fantastic infotainment system and if
you're a company car driver it'll actually cost you the least. However that
overly firm ride, cramped interior, and the fact it'll likely cost you the most
in depreciation means it can only score three stars. The Jaguar E-Pace also gets three
stars but it isn't without its strengths. It has a long standard equipment list which
goes some way to making up for its high price and it'll also hold on to a lot of
its value. Trouble is it isn't comfortable enough and that interior
just feels out of place in a car that costs nearly forty thousand pounds.
For lots more information on any of these cars just head to our website
whatcar.com and as we've already mentioned if you want to buy any these cars we
could help you with that as well.
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