2021 Jaguar F-PACE Review

　　

2021 Jaguar F-Pace Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The 2021 Jaguar F-Pace is larger than the typical small SUV but not quite as large as midsize SUVs. In terms of price, however, it's more in line with the midsize class. We've been fans of the F-Pace since it debuted in 2017, particularly for its sleek style and sporty driving dynamics. Unfortunately, it also had plenty of drawbacks, including some disappointing cabin materials and a glitch-plagued infotainment system.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Jaguar F-PACE P250 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$195/mo  for F-PACE P250

　　F-PACE P250

　　P250 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $49,995 MSRPP250 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $53,895 MSRPP340 S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $59,395 MSRPP400 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $65,200 MSRPSVR 4dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $84,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Encouragingly, the 2021 F-Pace had had a significant refresh. It has updated front and rear styling and a significant interior makeover. The cabin materials are noticeably improved, and the infotainment system is all-new. Under the hood, the F-Pace gains a new turbocharged six-cylinder engine that's a little more powerful and fuel-efficient than last year's supercharged engine. Jaguar also retuned the suspension to provide a more comfortable ride quality.

　　Overall the F-Pace is a likeable luxury SUV and holds particular appeal if you want something that's sized between typical small and midsize SUVs. But it also has a few drawbacks that keep it from being truly great. Check out our test team's full Expert Rating to learn more.

　　

What's it like to live with?

For more information on the Jaguar F-Pace of this generation, read about our experiences from a full year of living with a 2017 Jaguar F-Pace 35t Prestige. We cover everything from in-car tech to fuel efficiency. The F-Pace's performance and style won many of us over, but we all took issue with its ride comfort, price and infotainment system. The 2021 F-Pace has a number of improvements compared to that model, but many of our observations still apply.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the F-PACE drive? The F-Pace has historically skewed more toward performance than comfort.

　　For the latest F-Pace update, Jag altered the suspension to provide more ride comfort. That comfort unfortunately comes at the expense of handling agility. The F-Pace is composed around turns but it does little to excite. But we're fans of the steering and the brakes. The steering effort is tuned very nicely and gives you some feedback from the road, which lends a more connected feel. The brakes feel rock solid, and it's easy to stop smoothly.

　　Our test F-Pace had the turbocharged P340 six-cylinder engine. Accelerating to 60 mph from a standstill took 6 seconds, which is eight-tenths of a second off the previous supercharged V6-powered F-Pace we tested. Other six-cylinder-powered small luxury SUVs, such as the Audi SQ5 and Porsche Macan, are considerably quicker.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the F-PACE? Comfort is an area in which the latest F-Pace makes great gains over the 2017-2020 F-Pace. The previous car's flinty ride made daily driving more of a chore than it should've been. This F-Pace rides smoother, though it's still not super cushy.

　　The optional performance seats in our test car looked like they belong in a sports car. They are highly adjustable and wonderfully padded and supportive. The only small knock against them is the lack of a thigh cushion extension for longer-legged drivers. The climate control system is a complicated mess of dials, which you push and pull to access different functions, and unresponsive touch-sensitive buttons. Manufacturers are often looking for new ways to reduce the number of buttons in their vehicles, but we know this is not the answer.

　　The F-Pace does a good job of keeping exterior noises out of the cabin, but we couldn't help but notice the creaking and squeaking of things inside our test vehicle as we leaned on an armrest or pulled on a door handle. Sure, these aren't noises that would interfere with a conversation, but they shouldn't be present in a car of this class and price.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The latest F-Pace's interior looks pretty nice. The control interface, though, could be a lot better. The touch-sensitive buttons don't always work, and the infotainment menu layout isn't particularly intuitive.

　　Interior space is a high point. In particular, there's more rear legroom than you'll find in other small luxury SUVs. It's pretty easy to get the driving position you prefer too. But when adjusting the steering wheel in our test F-Pace, we noticed an oddly crude steering column adjustment mechanism that we can't ignore at this price. Visibility is decent, though not as good as in some others in the class. The surround-view camera system is standard and provides nearly every camera angle you could want.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Technology was a particularly weak area for the 2017-2020 F-Pace. This model improves on that with a much nicer native navigation system, a decent Meridian audio system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and lots of charging options throughout the cabin for passenger devices.

　　The advanced driver aid suite comes standard and is fairly comprehensive with the exception of adaptive cruise control, which is a pricey add-on. We used to think Jaguar's driving aids were top of the class, but other systems have improved to the point that these systems are now just OK. The adaptive cruise is sometimes slow to react to things, and steering assist is pretty ineffective at keeping you within your lane if you start to wander.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The F-Pace has an impressively large cargo area with 33.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The rear seats are split in a 40/20/40 configuration and provide some nice flexibility if you're dealing with car seats and long cargo. Child safety seat anchors are also easy to access and don't require that you remove the rear cargo cover to install a forward-facing seat.

　　If towing capacity is important to you, the F-Pace will be even more appealing. It boasts a maximum tow capacity of 5,291 pounds, which is more than you'll typically see in this class.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Among its peers equipped with their respective upgraded engines, the F-Pace is more efficient than average. It gets an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in combined driving, which is 1-2 mpg better than most. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, we saw an average of 24.3 mpg, which indicates to us those EPA estimates are achievable.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the F-PACE a good value? The short answer is "no." The F-Pace is one of most expensive models in the class, and despite the long list of standard features, it just doesn't feel like you're getting your money's worth. Squeaking interior panels pose questions about long-term build quality as well, even if the interior appointments and materials used reflect quality.

　　The basic warranty and powertrain coverage lasts for five years/60,000 miles, and Jaguar also offers roadside assistance and scheduled maintenance for five years/60,000 miles, which does add some value.

　　

Wildcard

8.5/10

　　The latest Jaguar F-Pace is a comfortable and fuel-efficient daily commuter that's also enjoyable to drive. We also love the styling. The F-Pace is instantly recognizable as a Jag, and the design doesn't feel forced.

　　

Which F-PACE does zzdcar recommend?

One of the Jaguar F-Pace's greatest assets is in the way it drives. For that reason, we suggest stepping up to at least the F-Pace S with the P340 six-cylinder engine. It's noticeably more powerful than the base P250 four-cylinder and is only slightly less fuel efficient.

　　

2021 Jaguar F-PACE models

The 2021 Jaguar F-Pace is a five-passenger luxury SUV, available in four trim levels: Base, S, R-Dynamic S and SVR. These trim levels are mostly aligned with the four engine choices. Feature highlights include:

　　Base F-Pace

　　The base model F-Pace is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (246 horsepower, 269 lb-ft of torque) that Jaguar labels the P250. It's paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. It comes standard with:

　　Heated, power-folding mirrors Auto-dimming rearview and driver-side mirrors Interior ambient lighting Panoramic sunroof Power-adjustable and heated front seats Simulated leather upholstery 11.4-inch touchscreen 13-speaker Meridian audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Wireless charging pad with signal booster Remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app Advanced safety and driver assistants: Frontal collision mitigation  (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Front and rear parking sensors  (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Lane keeping assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Automatic high beams Driver attention monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) F-Pace S

　　The F-Pace S comes standard with the P250 engine, but you can also opt for the P340 turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (335 hp, 354 lb-ft). You also get:

　　Powered liftgate Leather upholstery Upgraded infotainment system with internet access and over-the-air updates Traffic sign reader Selectable drive modes and adaptive dampers (P340 only)R-Dynamic S

　　The R-Dynamic S is also powered by the six-cylinder engine, but with increased output (395 hp, 405 lb-ft). Added features include:

　　Sporty exterior body elements Interior R-Dynamic styling flourishes Selectable drive modes Adaptive suspension dampers (enhances ride comfort and handling)SVR

　　The top-performing SVR F-Pace goes all-in with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 (550 hp, 516 lb-ft). It also turns up the luxury and convenience quotient with:

　　Unique exterior body elements 21-inch wheels 14-way heated and cooled front sport seats Faux suede and leather upholstery Digital instrument panel Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) 17-speaker Meridian surround-sound system Hands-free liftgate Heated windshield Cooled glovebox Wi-Fi hotspot Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

　　

2021 F-PACE Highlights

Type: SVRSUVSUV

　　Trim: P250P250 SP340 SP400 R-Dynamic SSVRP250

　　

Base MSRP	$49,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$195/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	31.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles