Right off the top, I’ll admit that I’m a “car guy” so I’m usually not much into the latest SUV to fill a niche in an automotive brand’s line-up. My opinion, however, began to change after I laid eyes on the all-new 2018 Jaguar E-PACE during a recent new model launch event at Jaguar Land Rover Cary (listen to our Zero to 60 podcast coverage here). If you’re a car person like me, this is an SUV that you could see yourself in too and here’s why.

 

 

As customers and invited guests took in the smooth, flowing lines and arched rear shoulders of the E-PACE, I was first knocked out by its subtle, yet enticing exterior color. It was an upgrade option called Yulong White. Under the bright lights of the showroom, it actually glowed a bit from the tiny metallic flakes beneath its clear coat, giving it a light gray appearance. This was an example of the E-PACE R-Dynamic SE P300 AWD model. Talk to Jaguar Land Rover General Manager Marty Stapleton and he’ll tell you that this new SUV from the leaping cat company is much more than just a baby version of their larger, mid-size F-PACE.

 

 

For starters, the new E-PACE is about a foot shorter and a few hundred pounds heavier than the larger F-PACE due to its use of steel in the body rather than aluminum. Like the F-PACE but unlike most other crossovers, E-PACE is not built on a car platform; it is a true SUV and is actually built on the Evoque luxury performance foundation shared from stable mate, Land Rover. You’ve got to give it two thumbs up for that fact alone.

 

 

Next to impress are the details and, for Jaguar, the new E-PACE likes to reinforce those details through its “DNA of a sports car” edict with a standard active All Wheel Drive system to handle its punchy, turbocharged aluminum 2.0 Liter power plant. Even in standard form, it has plenty of power and usable torque to get you through most any situation. Both the standard 246 HP and optional high output 296 HP engine are mated to a smooth and efficient 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters at the helm if you select the R-Dynamic. Another really cool feature, as Marty explained to me, is found in Jaguar’s active AWD. This system can place up to 100% of its available torque to the rear wheels and then, as needed, to either of the individual wheels for better traction and control in a variety of situations. To quote a fictional British movie spy from the 1990s, “yeah baby!”

 

 

Now, just about any new SUV in today’s market needs to offer some amount of useful utility. As a witness on this opening night, I can attest that if you are looking for a spirited, compact size luxury performance SUV that doesn’t blend in at the clubhouse then, yes, there is plenty of room in the boot. Load your big cooler, a picnic basket or a set of golf clubs, (even with the rear seat upright) and they’ll fit, after all it’s 4.2 feet wide. Once you lower the back seat, you open up an even more spacious load floor giving you a whopping 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s only about 10 cubic feet less than the longer wheelbase F-PACE. Want more storage? Between the front seats there’s a deep center console opening with multiple USB ports and a 12-volt plug that will come in handy on your next “glamping” adventure.

 

 

So, you can see now why the “car guy” in me may just need to become an “SUV guy” too or else I would miss out on how Jaguar has given us an exciting, capable and unique compact SUV. You wouldn’t want the car person in you to miss out either, would you? So give it a look. E-PACE is a sweetly styled, yet subtly aggressive compact package that’s perfect for couples or active lifestyle types. It’s a great way to introduce newcomers to the brand by offering British styling and engineering performance like only a heritage marque such as Jaguar could manage.

 

 

Like a fine-tailored suit, you will want to schedule a personal appointment with the staff at Jaguar Land Rover Cary so you can try the new E-PACE on for size and tailor it to your own personal tastes. Make an appointment today at Jaguar Land Rover Cary.

 

Written by Mark Arsen for Leithcars.com

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