Spacious and Comfortable
Every once in a while as an automotive journalist, I find a test vehicle that suits my tastes a little bit more than the others. Generally I am not a SUV kind of person, but the F Pace is special in the fact that it has plenty of luggage space, lots of room for four-adults (five in a pinch), and best of all it handles like a sports car. The vehicle I was given to test was the F Pace S, the sport model of the line-up.
The F Pace is the middle model in the Jaguars line of SUVs. I find it a perfect size for city driving, but stable enough to travel on the highway quite well. During the time I had the Jag, I had it loaded with people and luggage and it handled perfect all the time. Speaking of luggage, the F Pace is very capable of holding four decent-sized suitcases without any problem plus a little more. What you find getting into the F Pace is a nice leather interior and comfortable seats both front and rear. The dash area is fairly easy to use with just a little learning. The large tach and speedometer were easy to read and placed right in front of the driver – something that is not always that easy to see. The steering wheel has basic controls for the extra functions, as well as cruise control and radio volume.
For those who like to sift through the gears themselves, paddle shifters are mounted behind the steering wheel that don’t get in the way of regular driving.Both driver and passenger seats have plenty of controls, providing endless amounts of adjustment for a comfortable seating position. Getting in the rear is easy; back seats can be folded for more cargo space with a 40/20/40 split combination depending on your needs. The test F Pace also had a large glass sunroof with I enjoyed completely.
The F Pace is light compared to many of its contemporaries as it is made of 80 per cent aluminum. Pushing power to all four wheels is a 3-litre supercharged V6 engine developing 360 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque giving the F Pace a 0 to 100 kilometre per hour in just 5.5 seconds.
This works well on highways like the Sea to Sky where long upward climbs are the norm. One other nice feature of the F Pace is a Hill Launch Assist which stops hesitation when taking off on a hill – great around the general Vancouver area. Moving the power out to the optional 22 inch wheels is an eight-speed automatic, which as you would expect shifts seamlessly up and down through the gears. Though 20 inch wheels are standard on the F Pace, my test vehicle had the optional 22 inch wheels that have shod with 265/40R22 tires. These tires kept the F Pace well adhered to the pavement in dry or wet weather.
The test F Pace listed for $70,000 and with the options on this car it topped out at just over $83,300. Considering its great handling and numerous options, it is really not badly priced when one compares it to other luxury SUVs. Would I buy one if I were in the market? Yes, without hesitation.
Highlights
MSRP: Base $69,900, as tested $83,330
Motor: 3-litre double overhead cam supercharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Layout: All-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 13.3 L/100 km city and 10 L/100 km highway