The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace Cannot be Ignored

When a company is known for only one thing you expect that company to produce the very best to be able to capitalize on that one thing. There have been several exotic car names that have chosen to ignore the industry trend, but these boutique brands don’t have the same need for at least a medium volume production that Jaguar needs. Even with that said, the brand that’s known best for sultry sports cars and elegant sedans is finally following the industry trend by offering us a new SUV for the 2017 model year.

The Jaguar version of the SUV is called the F-Pace and its being advertised as a sports car that can be driven in all sorts of weather while also being family friendly as it offers some practicality. If you’re a fan of an oxymoron, that billing is exactly what Jaguar has to offer, but even though it seems the F-Pace is being expected to offer more than most SUVs, it appears to be more than capable of providing the necessary power, performance, look and luxury that we associate with Jaguar, just in a lifted and larger form to be the SUV we want to drive.

Looking to some of the features of this new SUV we find a construction that is nearly eighty percent aluminum, which is on track for the rest of the Jaguar lineup as well, giving us a lightweight build that can make use of all the power from under the hood. The platform for the F-Pace is shared with the XE sedan to give us a vehicle that will drive and perform well. Adding to the capabilities, the F-Pace is nearly perfectly balanced with a 50/50 weight distribution from front to rear, giving is a vehicle that is easy to handle on the road.

The target placement in the lineup for this SUV was somewhere between the X3 and X5 from BMW, which is right where it landed. This makes the F-Pace an SUV that fits nearly every family situation, as it’s not too large or too small to be fun or functional. The space inside for cargo is as much as 63.5 cubic feet, giving you a great deal of space to haul whatever you need to take with you. The F-Pace is the perfect SUV to drive to the ski lodge for the weekend or to park by the lake while you enjoy boating around on the water.

From under the hood you will find three engines to choose from on the F-Pace. The first is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder model that only has 180 horsepower, but does have a whopping 318 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is enough to bring the F-Pace to sixty mph in 8.2 seconds, not blinding fast, but not sluggishly slow either. There is also a diesel engine offered for this SUV, but it’s a bit on the lethargic side but it is an engine that offers you a smooth ride and shifts nicely. At the top of the lineup you will enjoy the supercharged V6 which makes 340 horsepower and 332 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine can even be upgraded by 40 horsepower to give you even more ponies for the ride.

When you take a look in the cabin you will immediately put a smile on your face. This area of the F-Pace is spacious, comfortable and meets every need you have as a driver. The ride from in the cabin is quiet and the cockpit is full of all the controls you can imagine. There is room for three across the back and this seating is perfect for adults to sit as well as children. Moving up the trim line will give you the benefit of upgraded leather upholstery to add to the already exceptional premium appearance of this excellent SUV.

As you would expect the Jaguar F-Pace comes with a wide variety of safety and tech features, so we won’t go over that part. Let’s instead discuss the fact this SUV is one of the smoothest, most enjoyable and luxury drives you will ever find in an SUV. If you seek excitement from behind the wheel the F-Pace can deliver, but if you want to enjoy the cruise along the road you can enjoy the drive at a slower pace as well.