Feast your eyes on the F-Pace 30d R-Sport, the big cat in the Jaguar family. Based on the C-X17 concept crossover that Jaguar showcased back in 2013, it doesn't look all that different from its concept avatar.
You also get a sense that the design is slightly outlandish, because it is a Jaguar. If anyone can pull off a concoction like this, it has to be the legendary British luxury car maker.
The Looks
Unlike other SUVs that sport subdued looks, the F-Pace has no qualms standing out in a crowd. The looks turn quite a few heads when the car’s on the move, and stays true to the current Jaguar design philosophy.
While there's no denying that it looks striking (especially in this shade of red), it does end up looking a tad too similar to its stablemates, more so when viewed head-on. There's a strong resemblance to the XF which is hard to ignore, but that’s not a bad thing at all.
The big geometric grille laced with mesh and a big Jaguar insignia grabs your attention right away. The angry-looking all-LED headlamps with the signature 'J-Blade' daytime running lamps and large intakes both do their bit in lending the F-Pace the trademark Jaguar face. Aggression is clearly the flavour of the season, and this one has it in abundance.
There are hints of the F-Type too: the chrome tab on the front fender, the slender tail lamps and the curvaceous rear haunch, all draw their inspiration from the two-seater sports car. The stance is typically Jaguar too, akin to a big cat waiting to pounce.
Power
The 3.0-litre diesel V6 hardly ever stutters. In fact, it doesn't even trot over 2,000rpm unless the speedometer is showing speeds in excess of 140 kmph. The engine feels responsive and ready, and there's a boatload of torque raring to go as you flex your right foot.
There's no perceptible turbo lag, and once you do decide to put the hammer down, the 8-speed automatic doesn't hesitate one bit to drop a few gears. The motor feels relaxed and composed even when the speedometer needle is swinging to the other side rather furiously.
The engine doesn’t bellow or scream or make itself heard, and in fact, there are times you forget there’s an engine running the car.
And like all Jaguars (almost all high-end cars, in fact), the F-Pace gets a set of drive modes that one can choose from – Normal, Eco, Dynamic and Ice/Snow.
Features
The F-Pace delivers the SUV experience well when it comes to the seating. You sit nice and high, and Jaguar has borrowed some nuances from the Land Rover too.
Take the window switches for example – they are placed on top of the door pad, much like the Land Rovers. The elbow-rest (where you would usually find your power window switches) are home to the memory buttons for the 12-way adjustable driver’s seat.
The SUV is pretty big, with ample space to seat five, and there’s several thoughtful storage spaces too. The boot offers 650 litres of cargo volume, which can be bumped up to a mind-boggling 1740 litres by folding the rear seat down.
The cabin also has the usual theatrics, including the pulsating back light for the start-stop button and the rotary gear knob that rises to the occasion (quite literally).
Compare it to a top-spec XF, and the tech on offer isn't all that different either, like the 12.3-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster (we love the bright colours!), the 10.2-inch 'InControl Touch Pro' touchscreen infotainment system and the Meridian speakers.
The Drive
If anything, the F-Pace feels more like the luxury sedans Jaguar is known for rather than feeling like an SUV, albeit one that is being driven in Sport mode.
The suspension setup is thus delightful with its stiffness. It lets you enjoy long curves on highways at speeds without a hitch, while also offering a good ride on your daily commutes. And that’s what we expect of a performance SUV, don’t we?
The 213-mm of ground clearance and chunky tyres can handle uneven terrain easily, no matter how bad it gets.
The only perceivable downside is that the tyres tell you what type of surface you are driving on. You wouldn't mind this on smooth tarmac, but paver blocks and concrete roads make themselves felt inside the cabin a little more than you would like.
Verdict
Prices for the F-Pace start at Rs 68.4 lakh, for the base-spec Pure model with the 2.0-litre diesel motor. For the top-spec R-Sport variant, you will have to shell out a whopping Rs 1.02 crore though, and that is before you get to the options list or pay for the insurance.
The only competitor for this kitty though is Porsche’s Macan, the only other SUV we can think of that’s worthy of being called a ‘performance’ SUV. Come to think of it, the F-Pace does justice to the tag quite well too.
There's a healthy blend of practicality, performance, everyday usability and, of course, snob value and a sense of exclusivity. Just what you would expect of a Jaguar.
(CarDekho is one of the leading automobile portals in India, part of GirnarSoft. The site offers in-depth analysis, comparisons and reviews of the latest car launches in the country.)
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