Jaguar F-Pace 30t Review New Zealand
I have to admit, I don’t really get starstruck and certainly not when it comes to the latest plethora of ‘celebrities/influencers’ (aka people famous for doing what exactly?). However, I do hold the utmost respect for people that have worked hard to be at the top of their game and that does include movie stars, musicians, business people and sports stars. This, of course, is leading somewhere and that somewhere is the back seat of the Jaguar F-Pace 30t.
This summer, Jaguar took the mantel of sponsoring the ASB Classic, the biggest annual tennis tournament (and event) in New Zealand, and how they embraced it. Aside from the signage everywhere, they had a VIP lounge, Cocktail and Mocktail lounge, an ACE PACE app, Serve speed radar, the I-PACE and F-PACE SVR on display and last but not least, an F-PACE 30t that chauffered the tennis stars to and from the event, the same F-PACE that Jaguar handed me the keys to.
That’s right ladies and gentlemen, by means of osmosis, I have now indirectly (and possibly unceremoniously) been introduced to the likes of Bryan, Pavic, Marach, Isner, Venus, Williams, Wozniacki, Babos and Bouchard, to name drop a few. They would have all undoubtedly at some point relaxed in the F-PACE’s furniture and just to be sure, I tried them all out (that sounded less creepy in my mind). Hmmm, moving on quickly.
The furniture is contrast-stitched perforated leather and in the case of the front seats, 10-way electronically adjustable. They’re comfortable and supportive, have a 40:20:40 split and there’s plenty of room in the rear to stretch your legs. My particular SUV came with R-Sport flair including leather wheel with R-Sport logo, door trim and oodles of chrome and piano blacks, oh and the Panoramic roof option that floods the cabin with natural (but slightly tinted) light. The exterior is F-Pace all the way but again with R-Sport options. Blacked out brightwork and accents, black 20-inch paws, rear privacy glass and shiny chrome tubes along the sills. It’s a handsome British SUV make no mistake.
Under the bonnet sits a 2L 4-cylinder turbo ingenium engine and its 221kW and 400Nm are ample figures to play with. It boasts 7.7L/100km efficiency but I spent most of my time in Sport, Dynamic and playing with the paddles to keep the engine revving high (because I could) so I didn’t get near that figure, frankly didn’t want to. What I did want to do, however, was to drive this sporty SUV around corners, lots of them.
Free of the city (and tennis courts), I found some roads with more than their fair share of bends and put my foot down. The AWD system and lighter nose combined to produce a thrilling ride that’s more akin to a car than a vehicle of this size. Turn in is great, road stance is confident and although it lacked some of that Jaguar roar, the cornering speed and high revs made up for it (well in the most part anyway).
If you’re thinking that a Jaguar should bellow and swear like a deaf miner then I agree with you wholeheartedly and for those ‘purists’ bear in mind that there’s still the SVR models and even the regular V6 that has an exhaust note that’s ringtone worthy. But, for those that are looking for a sporty Jaguar SUV that serves up a lot of bite in the corners, is well-connected both techically and spiritually and has a British stiff upper lip, then forgive my tennis score, but this F-PACE is definitely a 30 (you’ll) Love.
