Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 77

I

t was only fi ve years ago that
Jaguar decided it needed a
competitor in the premium
compact SUV segment, where
models including the Audi Q3,
BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque
were boosting their brands’ sales.
Getting the E-Pace to market
as quickly as possible was
a priority for the latecomer,
according to vehicle line director,
Alan Volkaerts.
For this reason, it uses
technology already developed
for other models in the Jaguar
Land Rover portfolio.
D8 won’t mean anything to
potential customers, but inside
JLR it’s the codename for the
set of building blocks used to
make both the Range Rover
Evoque and newer Land Rover
Discovery Sport. The E-Pace is
built on the same foundations.
Jaguar was able to create a
version of D8 that’s a little larger
than Evoque but substantially
smaller than the Discovery
Sport yet the E-Pace inherited
their chassis components —

suspension, steering, brakes and

more — and body structure basics.

Volkaerts admits choosing the

pressed-steel D8 platform is the

chief reason E-Pace is hundreds

of kilos heavier than obvious

rivals. Speed to market was a

higher priority than low weight.

One obvious result is that the

hefty Jaguar uses more fuel than,

for example, equivalent versions

of the BMW X1.

But the E-Pace is the fi rst

Jaguar powered entirely by JLR’s

latest Ingenium engines. These

turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol and

diesel fours were designed for

high power and low emissions.

There are fi ve Ingeniums in

the new E-Pace. The two petrol-

burners punch out 183kW and

221kW — more than the class

average. The diesels deliver

110kW, 132kW and 177kW. All

come teamed with a nine-speed

automatic and all-wheel drive.

From here, it gets complicated.

E-Pace comes in plain and

R-Dynamic styles, the latter

adding sporty visuals for extra

cost. With fi ve drivetrains, this

already totals 10 choices. But

each is also available in up to

four increasingly luxurious trim

grades: basic, S, SE and HSE.

The result is a huge price span,

from $47,750 for a basic E-Pace

with the 110kW diesel, up to

$82,339 for an R-Dynamic HSE

with the 221kW petrol engine.

SE grade, with the 183kW

turbop etrol, looks like a value

sweet spot at $61,950.

The interior, which draws

on the F-Type sports car for

inspiration, is more appealing

than other Jaguar sedans

and SUVs. Rear seat room is

suffi cient for tall adults and the

cargo compartment is big.

Centrepiece of the good-

looking instrument panel is a

wide touch screen that’s easy to

use. There are plenty of points,

both 12-volt sockets and USBs, to

recharge devices on the move.

While the steering of the

E-Pace is feel-free, the Jaguar is

agile for an SUV.

But its cornering pace comes

at a cost. Its fi rm suspension

jiggles and sometimes jolts on

rougher surfaces. Acceleration

from the most powerful petrol

and diesel engines — the only

versions Jaguar brought to the

international launch — is strong.

But the automatic sometimes

dithers over which of its many

gears to select.

Overall, the E-Pace is an

attractive premium compact

SUV, blending style with

practicality and driving pleasure.

That said, like most Jaguars,

it’s overpriced compared with

rivals, especially at the top end

of the range, and underdone

in some areas too, notably

infotainment. Volvo’s XC40 is

the standout buy in this class.

By John Carey

JAGUAR E-PACE FROM $47,750

THINGS WE LIKE

 Willing, frugal engines

 Elegant interior design

 Sporty handling

 Big cargo compartment

 Reasonable rear seat space

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 Firm suspension means the ride

isn’t supple

 Dithery automatic

 Too many expensive options

SPEX (P250 SE)

 Made in England

 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

nine-speed automatic/all-wheel

drive

 183kW of power at

5500rpm/365Nm of torque from

1200-4500rpm

 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds (claimed)

 6.6L/100km highway; 9.5L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO2

emissions are 174gkm

 Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

 Standard: Six airbags, stability

control, automatic emergency

braking, lane keep assist, blind

spot monitoring, adaptive cruise,

360 degree cameras, 10-inch

touchscreen, Bluetooth, navigation,

voice control (phone and audio

only) leather upholstery, dual zone

air, LED headlights, 19-inch alloys,

power tailgate

 Redbook future values: 3yr: 51%;

5yr: 37%

Safety

ANCAP

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

compare with ...

Audi Q3, BMW X1, Mercedes GLA,

Mini Countryman, Range Rover

Evoque, Subaru XV, Volvo XC40

STARS

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