2021 Jaguar F-TYPE Review

　　

2021 Jaguar F-Type Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　For 2021, Jaguar has updated its brash and stylish coupe with a significantly restyled front end and a subtle update to the taillights and rear fascia. On the inside, there's a reconfigurable digital gauge cluster display that replaces the previous analog gauges. We're a little disappointed that Jaguar has discontinued the previous top-dog SVR trim level, but thankfully its raucous 575-horsepower engine lives on in the 2021 R trim. Jaguar says it also applied the SVR's specific rear suspension design and tires to the 2021 F-Type.

　　Another big selling point for the F-Type is its range of models. The P300, powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, is a pretty affordable way to get a sharp-looking luxury sports car. But we're less impressed with the F-Type's all-around performance and daily livability, especially against rivals such as the BMW 8 Series, Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911. For our in-depth take, check out our full 2021 F-Type Expert Review.

　　What's it like to live with the F-Type?

　　For more information on the Jaguar F-Type of this generation, read about our experiences from a full year of living with a 2019 Jaguar F-Type SVR. We almost unanimously loved this F-Type for its brash engine and rapid straight-line performance. Even though the SVR has been discontinued for 2021, the R offers the same horsepower as the SVR, as well as various little improvements to the interior.

　　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.

　　Average

　　7.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the F-TYPE drive? Some cars are more than the sum of their parts, but the refreshed Jaguar F-Type isn't one of them. On paper, the F-Type R, which is what we tested, seems great. But somehow it falls apart when pushed. The F-Type gets upset by midcorner bumps and corners less flat than we expect from a car in this class. Despite the all-wheel-drive system, it's hard to figure out just when to get on the gas when powering out of a corner. It's capable, but it feels disconnected from the road.

　　Raw acceleration is decent. At zzdcar' test track, our F-Type R ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. That's undeniably quick but a bit off the pace of rival luxury sports cars. The F-Type R features all-wheel drive, so there's no issue putting the power down.

　　The story isn't so bad when driving around town. Despite offering a comical amount of power, the F-Type is relatively smooth and easy to drive. The transmission shifts quickly, and the engine stop-start system works unobtrusively. Our biggest complaint: the brakes. The pedal is a bit uneven, making coming to a smooth stop a bit difficult until you spend some time behind the wheel.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the F-TYPE? The F-Type R is fitted with sport seats that, while thin on padding, offer a good bit of adjustment and decent support for your back, thighs and lumbar area. There's good lateral support, a boon for spirited driving, but not so much that the seats feel restricting. The seat ventilation feature works well and keeps the thin seats from feeling swampy in hot weather.

　　On the downside, the F-Type's ride quality is just too stiff, even in its softest comfort setting. It never seems to relax, even when you're cruising on relatively smooth pavement. There's significant road noise too. Plus, the noise we used to like — the crackles and pops from the V8's exhaust — has been largely banished. Boo.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The F-Type's interior is average for the class. There's enough room in the F-Type for most drivers not to feel cramped. There's a decent range of adjustment for both the seats and the steering wheel, meaning it's fairly easy to find a good driving position. That said, taller drivers might find the seat won't go low enough.

　　Most of the controls are well placed, with dedicated knobs and buttons for the climate control system. Jaguar's infotainment system is fine, but it's nothing exceptional and it's far off the class leaders. The menus are mostly logical, but we found some of the radio adjustments a bit frustrating. Visibility is hampered by the F-Type's sleek lines. The windshield is fairly large, but the back glass is narrow and blocked by the active spoiler at highway speeds.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? In-car tech has always been one of Jaguar's weakest areas, and the F-Type is no exception. We found just about everything to be frustrating, from the quality of the optional audio system to the lack of available driver aids. We had issues connecting our phones both over Bluetooth and through a USB port. This isn't the only time we've had problems like this in a Jaguar product, so the problem seems to be fundamental rather than limited to our test car.

　　When it all works, it's fine. The quality of the audio system is pretty good over USB (but terrible over Bluetooth). The infotainment system looks dated, but it's well organized. The Jag's advanced driver aids work fine, but you won't find as many of them as you will on some rival sports cars. Our tester had the optional blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert, which help counteract the F-Type's poor rear visibility.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The F-Type's cargo area is one of the largest in the class and opens up even further with the cargo cover removed. It's not particularly tall, but it's wide and deep enough to fit some carry-on luggage or a decent number of grocery bags.

　　Storage up front isn't quite as good. The door pockets are small, as are the glovebox and center console. There's no good place to put your phone, and a small storage net between the seats isn't good for much more than a pair of sunglasses. The two cupholders are shallow but easy to reach.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The V8-powered Jaguar F-Type R gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined (16 city/24 highway). On our 115-mile mixed driving evaluation route, we managed a respectable 20.3 mpg given this V8's prodigious power. The V6-powered F-Type gets even better fuel economy, at 22 mpg combined (19 city/27 highway).

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the F-TYPE a good value? We were pretty pleased with the F-Type's build quality and fit and finish. The interior design, despite being a few years old, holds up well. Most of the major touchpoints feel nice. There were no paint issues, squeaks or rattles on our test car. It's not quite on the level of the Porsche 911, but you definitely see where the money has gone.

　　It's a relatively decent value too. The F-Type includes lots of standard equipment, and options go for less than what other automakers command on their luxury sports cars. One of the biggest benefits is the F-Type's warranty and ownership experience. The five-year/60,000-mile basic and powertrain warranties are well above average. Additionally, Jaguar offers five years/60,000 miles of roadside assistance and scheduled maintenance. No one else comes close to matching the latter.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　When the F-Type debuted in 2014, it was one of the loudest and most stylish cars on the road. The whine and burble from the supercharged V8 were aural delights, but this refreshed model seems to have lost all its character. The exhaust note just isn't as sweet. And while the V8 provides plenty of sauce for powering away from traffic lights, the F-Type otherwise isn't as sharp or engaging as we expect it to be.

　　Still, it's a handsome car that looks special and gets attention in parking lots and on the street. The revised front and rear styling keeps the F-Type looking fresh without straying too far away from the basic form.

　　

Which F-TYPE does zzdcar recommend?

The 2021 Jaguar F-Type is best experienced with a supercharged V8 engine so we'd emphatically recommend the top-of-the-range R trim. The V8 has the power to match the looks of the F-Type, and the interior is appointed in high-quality leather. This is what owning a Jaguar is all about.

　　

2021 Jaguar F-TYPE models

The 2021 Jaguar F-Type is a two-door coupe or convertible available in three trim levels: P300, P380 and R. Each trim features its own engine, but all F-Types use an eight-speed automatic transmission. Significant features for the trim levels include:

　　P300

　　Attractive and well equipped with:

　　Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (296 hp, 295 lb-ft) Rear-wheel drive 18-inch wheels LED head- and taillights Leather and faux suede seating surfaces Digital gauge cluster Power-adjustable seats with memory settings 10-inch touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility 380-watt audio system Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane keeping assist (steers the F-Type back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)P300 First Edition

　　Limited to 2021 model year and dresses up the P300 with:

　　Contrasting black roof Gray exterior trim Special 20-inch wheels Aluminum shift paddles Performance seats with additional lateral support Upgraded leather seating surfacesP380

　　Adds more performance and style with:

　　Supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine (380 hp, 339 lb-ft) All-wheel drive 20-inch wheels Larger-diameter front and rear brakes Active exhaust with center-mounted tailpipes Gloss black exterior trim Unique exterior and interior badgingR

　　Tops the range with power, performance and interior features, such as:

　　Supercharged 5.0-liter V8 (575 hp, 516 lb-ft) Active exhaust with four tailpipes Adaptive suspension Unique 20-inch wheels Electronic differential with torque vectoring (for enhanced handling when applying power) Even larger brakes with red brake calipers More aggressive front-end styling Keyless entry Upgraded leather interior Performance seatsNotable options for all F-Type trims include:

　　Climate Pack (heated steering wheel, heated windshield and dual-zone climate control) Ventilated front seats Blind-spot monitoring Premium Meridian sound system

　　

2021 F-TYPE Highlights

Type: CoupeConvertibleRCoupe

　　Trim: P300P300 First EditionP380 R-DynamicRP300

　　

Base MSRP	$61,600
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$181/month
Seating	2 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles