2020 Jaguar F-Pace Review: R Sport 25T

In the 21st century, Jaguar has finally mastered the art of recognizing its star back catalog without getting stuck in the past. And if you need proof of this, look no further than the topic of this review. 

Introduced in 2016, the F-Pace has decisively transcended the British manufacturer's celebrated walnut and leather heritage that has kept it in design and engineering for so long.

Yes, the F-Type sports car broke the ice, but it was an SUV. Cool, modern, and aimed at young families rather than "men of a certain age." 

As the name suggests, the R Sport 25T relies on sporty looks and driver engagement to live up to the promise of everyday practicality as a five-seater. So what does this $80 car look like with a snarling cat on its grille?

2020 Jaguar F-PACE: 25T R-Sport AWD (184 kW)
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	7.4l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$66,600

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

Priced at $80,167 before road expenses, the F-Pace R Sport 25T competes with a host of premium midsize SUVs from Europe and Japan, including the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti ($78,900), Audi Q5 45 TFSI Quattro Sport. ($74,500), BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport ($81,900), Lexus RX350 Luxury ($81,890), Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic ($79,700), Range Rover Velar P250 S ($82,012 dollars) and Volvo XC60 T6 R-Design (78,990 XNUMX dollars).

For that many bucks and in this company you expect a nice list of standard equipment and this F-Pace comes to the party with perforated leather seats with contrast stitching (Luxtec faux leather on the doors and dash), R-Sport leather-trimmed steering wheel, sports 10-way power front seats (with driver memory and 10-way power lumbar adjustment), and a XNUMX-inch Touch Pro multimedia screen (with voice control).

You can then add dual-zone climate control (with adjustable rear vents), sat-nav, 380W/11-speaker Meridian audio system (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support), keyless entry and start, 19" alloy wheels, cruise -control. , automatic headlights, LED DRLs and taillights, front and rear fog lights, heated and power outside mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, illuminated front (metal) treadplates and 'Ebony' suede headlining.

F-Pace is equipped with LED DRLs.

It's not a bad feature set, but for a $80k+ car, there were a few surprises. For example, the headlights are xenon instead of LED, the steering column is manually adjustable (electrically adjustable $1060), digital radio is an option ($950), and a handsfree tailgate is $280.

In fact, the list of options is as long as your hand, and besides the digital radio, our test unit had several such as the Driver Assist Pack (see Safety section - $4795), the fixed "Panoramic Roof" ($3570 ), Metallic Red Paint ($1890) "R-Sport Black Package" (Gloss Black side vents with R-Sport badging, Gloss Black grille and surrounds, and Body-colored door panels with Gloss Black trim - $1430 US), protective glass (950 US dollars). ) and heated front seats ($840). Even the remote unlocking of the rear seats costs an extra $120. Which adds up to a total price of $94,712 excluding travel expenses. About 50 other options are also available, either individually or as part of a package. 

Our test car was equipped with a fixed "panoramic roof".

The car in the standard form is quite decently equipped for the money. Just remember to clarify exactly what you need and take a close look at the lists of standard equipment and options. 

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

Few automotive brands can match Jaguar's emotional appeal, and few automotive designers seem to understand this as well as Ian Callum. As Jaguar Design Director for 20 years (from 1999 to 2019), he was able to capture the essence of the brand and deftly express it in a modern way.

With the F-Type sports car (and the various concept models that preceded it), Callum created a design language of smooth curves, perfectly balanced proportions and instantly recognizable details.

I, for one, think Jaguar's current taillight design is brilliant.

And that approach has been seamlessly transferred to the larger F-Pace SUV. A large honeycomb grille, sleek headlights and gaping side vents create a new face for Jaguar while tipping the hat to various classics.

And I, for one, think Jaguar's current taillight design is brilliant. Taking the thin cluster shape of an early E-Type and turning its round reflector into a little curve that cuts into the body below the main brake light is a wonderfully creative mix of old and new.

The interior follows the curved shape of the exterior, with a small hood over the two main (round analog) instruments and a 5.0-inch TFT screen in between. The signature rotary gear selector indicates the F-Pace's relative age, as the later E-Pace compact SUV switched to a more traditional gear selector.

The interior follows the curved shape of the exterior, with a small hood above the two main (round analogue) instruments.

A hint of the F-Type is present in the form of a raised hood at the top of the dash above the air vents at the top of the center console, while contrast stitching on the neatly stitched leather seats is a high-end touch. The overall appearance is relatively discreet, but of high quality. 

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

At just over 4.7m long, just under 2.1m wide, and about 1.7m high, the F-Pace is big enough without going too big. But the almost 2.9-meter wheelbase is enough to accommodate only two rows of seats.

There's plenty of headroom up front, even with our car's optional sunroof installed, and plenty of storage space, with a large lidded box between the seats (which doubles as an armrest and contains two USB-A ports, a micro SIM card slot and a 12V outlet), two large cupholders on the center console, small compartments neatly cut into either side of the console (perfect for a phone and/or keys), an overhead sunglass holder and a modest glove box (with pen holder). !). The door shelves are small but can hold standard drink bottles.

There's plenty of headroom up front, even with our car's optional sunroof.

Move to the rear and that long wheelbase and high overall height provide a ton of room. Sitting behind a driver's seat sized for my 183 cm (6.0 ft), I enjoyed plenty of legroom and headroom, with just enough width for three adults abreast for short to medium trips.

The rear seats also feature adjustable air vents, two more USB-A inputs (only for charging), and a 12V socket, so there's no problem with charging devices and happy passengers. There are also mesh pockets on the backs of the front seats, a small storage shelf at the rear of the center console, two cup holders in the fold-down center armrest, and small door pockets with plenty of room for small items and a drink bottle. .

Sitting behind the driver's seat, I enjoyed plenty of legroom and headroom.

The luggage compartment weighs 508 liters (VDA), which is a rough estimate for this size segment, opening to no less than 1740 liters with the 40/20/40 folding rear seats down. There are handy bag hooks, 4 tie-down anchors, a flexible storage compartment (behind the wheel arch on the passenger side) and another 12V outlet at the rear. 

Drawbar pull is 2400 kg for a braked trailer (750 kg without brakes) with a traction weight of 175 kg, and trailer stabilization is standard. But the hitch receiver will set you back $1000. 

The space-saving spare is under the boot floor, and if you prefer a full-size 19-inch alloy spare, you'll have to pay another $950 or wring the seller's arm.

The F-Pace comes standard with a spare part to save space.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

The F-Pace R Sport 25T is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol version of Jaguar Land Rover's modular Ingenium engine, based on multiple 500cc cylinders of the same design.

This AJ200 unit has an aluminum block and head with cast iron cylinder liners, direct injection, electro-hydraulically controlled variable intake and exhaust valve lift, and a single twin-scroll turbo. It produces 184 kW at 5500 rpm and 365 Nm at 1300-4500 rpm. 

The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine develops 184 kW/365 Nm.

Drive is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission (from ZF) and an Intelligent Driveline Dynamics all-wheel drive system consisting of an electro-hydraulic, multi-plate wet clutch controlled by a centrifugal electro-hydraulic drive. . 

Lots of tricky words, but the goal is to seamlessly shift torque between the front and rear axles, which Jag claims takes just 100 milliseconds. Even a full power shift from 100 percent reverse to 100 percent forward takes just 165 milliseconds.

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

Claimed combined fuel consumption (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) is 7.4 l/100 km l/100 km, while the R Sport 25T emits 170 g/km CO2.

In a week with the car in a mix of urban, suburban and freeway conditions (including enthusiastic B-road driving), we recorded an average consumption of 9.8L/100km, which is pretty good for a 1.8-ton SUV.

The minimum fuel requirement is 95 octane premium unleaded gasoline and you will need 82 liters of this fuel to fill the tank.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

The Jaguar F-Pace received a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2017, and while the R Sport 25T boasts a wide range of active and passive safety systems, some important technologies are in the options column and not in the list of standard features.

To help you avoid a crash, there are expected features like ABS, BA and EBD, as well as stability and traction control. Also included are more recent innovations such as AEB (10-80 km/h) and lane keeping assist.

A reversing camera, cruise control (with speed limiter), "driver condition monitor" and tire pressure monitoring are standard, but "blind spot assist" ($900) and a 360-degree surround camera ($2160) are optional options.

Adaptive cruise control (with "Steering Assist") is only available as part of the "Driver's Assist Pack" ($4795) as an option on "our" vehicle, which also adds blind spot assist, a 360-degree surround view camera, high AEB, Park Assist, 360-degree parking assist and rear cross traffic alert.

If an impact is unavoidable, there are six airbags (dual front, front side and full-length curtain) on board, as well as three upper child seat/child restraint attachment points in the rear seats with ISOFIX anchorages in the two extreme positions. .

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 6/10

Jaguar's three-year/100,000 km warranty is a significant departure from the usual pace of five years/unlimited mileage, with some brands seven years. And even in the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz recently stepped up the pressure by moving to five years/unlimited mileage. 

An extended warranty is available for 12 or 24 months, up to 200,000 km.

Service is scheduled every 12 months/26,000 km and the "Jaguar Service Plan" is available for a maximum of five years/102,000 km for $1950, which also includes five years of roadside assistance.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

The F-Pace shares the iQ-Al (intelligent aluminum architecture) chassis platform with the Jaguar XE and XF, as well as the Range Rover Velar SUV. But despite its light base, it still weighs in at 1831kg, which isn't too much for a car of this size and type, but it's not exactly light either.

However, Jaguar claims that the R Sport 25T will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds, which is fast enough, the 2.0-liter turbo-petrol four-cylinder delivering a hefty 365 Nm of peak torque from just 1300 rpm, all the way up to 4500 rpm.

So there's always plenty to do, and the smooth eight-speed automatic does its part to keep the revs in that optimal range when needed. And for relaxed highway driving, the top two gear ratios are overdriven, reducing revs, reducing noise and reducing fuel consumption. 

But relaxed cruising isn't the F-Pace's primary name for the game. Of course, Jag will sell you a crazy 400+kW V8 supercharged version of the SVR under the hood. But as the name R Sport suggests, it's more of a warm than sizzling take on the F-Pace's sporty formula. 

The front suspension is double wishbones, the rear is multi-link Integral Link, stepless shock absorbers are installed around the entire perimeter. The tricky shocks are a three-tube design with external hydraulic valves capable of fine-tuning response on the fly. 

Ride comfort, even in the hardest "sport" setting, is excellent, despite Goodyear Eagle F255 medium profile 55/1 tires wrapped around the big stock 19-inch rims.

The R Sport wears 19-inch alloy wheels.

Electric power steering with variable ratio rack and pinion and good direction conveying a good road feel without any major bumps or bumps.

The combination of well-weighted steering, well-thought-out bodywork, and a raucous exhaust sound makes it an enjoyable back-road driving partner, most likely when family driving duties take a back seat (or not?).

Drive balance defaults to 90 percent of torque to the rear axle for a traditional rear-wheel drive feel, with up to 100 percent going to the rear wheels at full acceleration on dry surfaces. But the all-wheel drive system constantly monitors the level of traction and, as necessary, transfers traction to the front axle.

In fact, Jaguar claims the system can go from 100 percent rear displacement to 50/50 torque split in 165 milliseconds. 

The best setting for city driving is the engine and transmission in Sport mode (sharper throttle response with crisper shift patterns) with the suspension in Comfort mode. 

The brakes are 325mm ventilated discs all around that provide strong, progressive stopping power. 

While we haven't driven off-road, those who enjoy doing it should be aware that the car's approach angle is 18.7 degrees, the exit angle is 19.1 degrees, and the ramp angle is 17.3 degrees. the maximum fording depth is 500 mm, and the ground clearance is 161 mm.

Speaking of general notes, the Touch Pro media system is easy to use, although it does get a little buggy when you already have your smartphone connected and you restart the car, which sometimes requires you to reconnect the device for (in this case). case) Apple CarPlay to start.

Ergonomics are good despite the relatively large number of buttons (or maybe because of it), and the sporty front seats feel as good as they look, even on long journeys. 

Verdict

Great looks, useful practicality and balanced dynamics help the Jaguar F-Pace R Sport 25T stand proudly in a hotly contested segment. It combines classic Jaguar sophistication and driving pleasure with contemporary design. But we wish there were some active safety technology options included, the ownership package is far behind the pace, and the standard features column is missing some expected items.