There’s something exciting about stepping into a brand you’ve never driven before, especially when it carries as much heritage as Jaguar. The E-Pace was my first encounter with the marque, and it sets an interesting tone as the smallest SUV in the lineup. Positioned just below the F-Pace, it aims to deliver the commanding driving position people crave today while maintaining compact dimensions for city maneuverability – a baby Jag if you’d like. But does it live up to the badge?
From the design perspective, Jaguar really went for the cub look, and they nailed the proportions here. The short overhangs and slightly too tall posture looks like a cat ready to pounce, which might be exactly what they were going for. The E-Pace feels perfectly sized for urban environments, large enough to project some presence, yet compact enough to remain nimble. It is a design that strikes a balance between elegance and athleticism, with the brand’s signature curves blending into the haunches, and making nods to many familiar Jaguar elements without stealing the thunder of the other models.
Getting inside led to a very positive first impression. Even though this car shares its platforms and underpinnings with plenty of other cars from the group, the interior looks and feels very Jaguar. The driving position is nothing short of spectacular, being one of the most adjustable cabins I’ve sat in recently. The steering wheel can be placed virtually anywhere to suit your preference, and it feels delightful in hand. The wheel’s ergonomics deserve praise too, with logically placed controls that are intuitive and have a great overall fit. The metal paddle shifters add a premium touch, though their usability is limited to sport mode—a strange decision for a car in this segment.
The seats are comfortable, beautiful and elevate the cabin by using elements that match what’s used elsewhere. The switchgear is another highlight because of how satisfying it is to interact with: the column stalks feel one segment above, and rotary knobs for media controls and the merged one for A/C temperature, fan speed and seat heating are a smart and delightful touch.
The traditional gear selector, while pleasingly old-school, eats into centre console space. As a result, storage options up front are not as plentiful as in some competitors. That said, door bins and the armrest compartment offer decent practicality, and the boot impresses for this class – bonus points for the ski pass-through on top of the seat split, which is genuinely useful. Space at the second row is adequate for a car of this size, with plenty of headroom and limited knee room only when behind a 1.9m driver, all complimented by the same nice upholstery everywhere and heated seats in this trim.
Jaguar’s latest infotainment setup feels well thought-out, especially from the integration point of view. The centre screen sits neatly within the dashboard rather than looking tacked on, a consequence of this not being exactly an all-new car that had a screen there since its debut. Its image quality is sharp, and the driver display matches with tasteful fonts and crisp graphics. It still has the occasional lag, however, and the cameras refused to assist me twice, but it didn’t kill the experience. The Meridian sound system brings a warm low-end character, but is best enjoyed under 6/10 to avoid distortion creeping in.
Under the bonnet lies the Ingenium 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. It delivers respectable performance, with a smooth build up of power and plenty of midrange grunt, in a manner that matches the market positioning and size of the E-Pace rather than the 6 and 8 pots we normally associate with the larger felines. The 9 speed gearbox is smooth until it isn’t: it gets regular upshifts sorted with no issues, but it is very easy to catch it off guard, leading to slight harshness during on-off throttle transitions. It gets the job done, but is possibly the least enthusiast friendly part of the experience.
And, when it was finally time to get the cat off the leash, I thought it could be unfair to approach it with all the baggage of Jaguar’s dynamic pedigree, considering the purpose of this SUV. That was until I took some 5 turns with it: the steering is literally two turns lock to lock, which is quicker than most sportscars I drove recently, and provides it with nimbleness that puts it in its own league against the competition.
It will be off putting to some, as it was to me at first, to the point you give steering input and then have to correct it before the bend is finished. But it is easy enough to adapt your driving to it, and it also makes the car easier to maneuver in certain situations. These quick changes in trajectory lead to significant weight transfer, so it’s great that the suspension, which is in normal circumstances very compliant and comfortable, still manages the hefty weight of this SUV.
In terms of efficiency, in a very relaxed, hypermiler drive, I got a very high driving score (as judged by the car) and as low as 6.9L/100km, a nice figure considering the mild hybrid system didn’t get to assist me too much there. And then, as usual with turbocharged engines, things changed significantly when I took the E-Pace for a very spirited drive down my local windy road.
But that was also the opportunity the car had to really wow me. The quick steering allowed the SUV to be nimble and enjoyable, and in Dynamic Mode and the gearbox in S mode, you can extract the most of the powertrain. It led to a genuinely engaging drive, all of that while always surrounded by nice surfaces, refinement and the poise which was always what I thought the Jaguar brand was all about.
The E-Pace is a beautifully designed SUV with great ergonomics, a comfortable ride, and a generally premium feel. It’s a strong alternative in a segment filled with Germans, and it holds its own. The unexpected dynamics will make it the more enthusiast-tailored option, and, as my first Jaguar experience, it left me impressed overall—and curious to explore more from the brand. Thanks, Jaguar, for the opportunity, and thank you for reading this far!
