Jaguar F-Pace Track and Road Test
The Jaguar F-Pace isn’t usually a car some would consider putting on track. But for Jaguar customers the Jaguar Landrover Experience in Cape Town is a place to explore the limits of the car in a safe environment. I just happened to have the new 2.0 Twin Turbo Diesel Jaguar on test and decided to try Jaguar Experiences 3.0 V6 diesel out for size on track… and was left pleasantly surprised!
Hidden weight
Even though the 3.0 Diesel weighs around 1800kg it’s still lighter than your average SUV thanks to that aluminium chassis. Managing the weight on track is one of the most important aspects of fast driving with any car and with the Jaguar F-Pace, it’s no different. I found that braking smoothly and firmly while maintaining brake pressure and making sure to trail brake was the best option for this big cat. The optional 20” tyres with 255 rubber made sure I could hit the apex and that clever 4WD system made corner exits easy, but planning was of course needed. No banzai entries and exits here.
The brakes coped just fine and so did the tyres even with passengers in the car. (Don’t worry, I’m an instructor) The short handling circuit format we used on the day didn’t have a switchback where the car might have been tested even more. The Jag is clearly more track biased than a regular SUV but with this car that does seem to be the point. I got to test drive the new E-Pace on the circuit as well and even though it has smaller dimensions, it got outshone by the bigger Jaguar F-Pace on the twisties.
Pic by Christian Gustafsson
My time at the Jaguar experience had come to an end, and it was time for me to hop into my test car, a brand new 2018, 177kW 25D and enjoy the drive home.
The Drive Home
The 25D costs R871 000, that’s almost R80 000 less (before options) than the 30d and with a slightly softer setup for road use, I wasn’t complaining. This one also came shod with the standard 19” inch wheels, not as pretty, but it felt much more practical. The 500Nm of torque is available just after idle and was surprisingly comparable to the 700nm of the V6 thanks to those sequential turbos, and I felt like it was the kind of car I could drive for days in total comfort. The fuel consumption is respectable at a claimed figure of 6.6l/100, and this car boasts the usual Jaguar ergonomics I’ve come to know and enjoy. The interior was equipped with stylish, two-tone perforated “Leather” seats. (Jaguar’s gone soft on the environment so no animal skins here)
On the road the torque vectoring was more noticeable when exiting slow intersections and so was torque steer. Something owners will have to get used to when trying to make a quick getaway.
The blue on our test model was quite eye-catching on the road and I felt like I was doing passers-by a favour just by virtue of just being in their field of vision.
Verdict
Jaguars are sharp on the track but not as focused as, say, the Alfa Stelvio or Porsche Macan, neither of which have Diesel models available in SA. And I would imagine for most in this market the German trio need not apply. Starting at just under R800 000 for the 20d the F-Pace is quite dear, but exclusivity has always come at a price. The aluminium chassis is one of Jaguar Land Rovers best and the size and weight disappear from behind the wheel. With an extra turbo and much more torque and power, this 25d Coventry cat has become even more playful and capable, taking it much closer to the bigger models available in the Jaguar line up. Soon there’ll be an SVR version available on sale in SA and I cannot wait!
If you want to experience some of the Jaguars currently available on sale, contact the Jaguar Landrover Experience on 021 852 0728.
Pic by Christian Gustafsson
