Used 2020 Jaguar F-PACE

#12 in Best Small Luxury SUVs of 2020

The 2020 Jaguar F-Pace is a compact-luxury SUV that debuted a few years ago as the British brand’s first crossover SUV. While Jaguar is best known for making sleek, fast sedans and sport cars, it has been able to meld those traits into the F-Pace while also adding the utility and practicality inherent in an SUV.

The F-Pace is one of the newest choices in a field that is crowded with better-known and more established rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Acura RDX. That is stiff competition, but the F-Pace stands out with alluring design and standard all-wheel drive.

Jag has also wasted little time in creating a high-performance model, called the F-Pace SVR. The Jag’s premium cachet also comes with a premium price.

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The F-Pace is an SUV, yes, but it’s also a proper Jaguar. By that we mean that although it has the enhanced ride height, visibility and added practicality of a utility vehicle, it also boasts the agile handling and snappy acceleration expected from a brand named after one of the world’s quickest cats.

Just how quick you like your Jag depends on which engine you choose and, consequently, the depth of your pockets. While even the base 25t model with its 247 horsepower will be fast enough for most people, if it were our money we’d spend a few thousand extra and get the 30t variant with nearly 300 horsepower.

Even more thrills can be had with the F-Pace S and its supercharged V6, but the price increases dramatically. If only the most powerful variant will do, the high-performance F-Pace SVR packs a serious wallop with its 550-horsepower supercharged V8, but at over $80,000 it’s a commitment.

Regardless of what engine you choose, we’ve found the F-Pace to be a well-balanced and composed SUV with a ride that errs on the side of sportiness. Its agile and athletic handling comes at the cost of a stiffer suspension compared to, say, a Lexus NX. Compared to the smaller Jaguar E-Pace, we favor the F-Pace because of its roomier interior and more composed highway manners.

All Jaguar F-Pace models have a 2-row/5-passenger cabin. Though classified as a compact SUV, this Jaguar has respectable space for both people and gear. Aside from some plastic bits, most of the F-Pace’s interior materials are of good quality and hide some nice surprises. For example, instead of a traditional transmission lever, there is a round dial that rises from the central console between driver and passenger (SVR models have a traditional lever).

Infotainment functions are controlled and displayed via a 10-inch touch screen. Although we’ve found the screen can lag at times, we do like that there are also physical buttons below to adjust common operations like temperature, fan speed and audio volume. The standard power tailgate opens to reveal a wide opening and a generous 33.5 cubic feet of trunk space that increases to 63.5 when the rear seats are folded.

The F-Pace has many alluring aspects, but one of its strongest points is design. Few luxury SUVs blend dynamic looks and real-world practicality as well as the Jaguar F-Pace. As with its sedan and 2-door sports-car siblings, the F-Pace touts rounded edges, chiseled lines and muscles in all the right places.

We’re also fans of the gently tapered roof that finishes with a built-in spoiler. A panoramic roof is standard, and wheels range in size from 18 to 21 inches.

The high-powered SVR gets unique aesthetics such as hood and side vents, quad tailpipes and unique rear diffuser.

ACTIVITY KEY
Adrenaline junkies, outdoor adventurers or those who simply want to ditch their car key will dig this feature. What looks like a wristband is actually a waterproof, shockproof device that allows access to the vehicle while leaving the traditional key safely locked in the car.

JAGUAR ELITE CARE
Jaguar has taken steps to bolster confidence in its vehicles, and one way is with this warranty. It covers new Jaguars for five years or 60,000 miles, and also grants complimentary maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for the same period.

A base 2020 Jaguar F-Pace 25t comes quite well equipped with 10-way-power front seats, power tailgate, panoramic roof, 40/20/40-split fold rear seats and a 380-watt premium audio system made by Meridian. For 2020, the 10-inch infotainment system now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

The F-Pace’s standard safety features include automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance, plus front and rear parking sensors.

The new F-Pace Checkered Flag model builds on the 25t by adding a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 20-inch wheels, gloss-black roof rails and darkened exterior aesthetics.

All new Jag F-Pace models come with a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty and complimentary maintenance.

Stepping up to the F-Pace 30t gains the more recommendable 296-horsepower engine and adds 19-inch wheels, driver-seat memory, auto-dimming rearview mirror/power-folding side mirrors and universal garage remote.

The F-Pace S gets an even more powerful, 380-horsepower supercharged V6, 18-way-power front seats, fog lights, 20-inch wheels and adaptive driving dynamics mode.

The top-dog, $80,000-plus F-Pace SVR gets a 550-horsepower supercharged V8, high-performance hardware, and accouterments that are optional on other models such as heated and ventilated front seats.

Options vary by trims and include heated steering wheel, keyless entry, Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, adaptive damping suspension, power-recline rear seats, and hands-free tailgate.

Active safety and driver-assist options include blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, high-speed emergency braking and 360-degree camera. For the audio faithful, a higher-grade Meridian system is available, plus a CD/DVD player.

The 2020 F-Pace offers a choice of three engines and four power outputs. Standard is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 247 horsepower, called the 25t model. That’s good enough, but not exceptional.

We prefer the 30t model, which tunes that engine to make 296 horsepower. If you crave even more, a supercharged V6 making a potent 380 horsepower can be had in the F-Pace S. And as mentioned, the new F-Pace SVR packs a supercharged V8 making 550 horsepower. That’s 45 more ponies than Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio Quadrifoglio, its closest competitor.

As mentioned previously, the F-Pace’s formerly available diesel engine has been dropped. All F-Pace models are all-wheel drive (AWD) and use a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. Of note, the AWD system is rear-biased, making the F-Pace behave more like a sportier, rear-drive car.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
247 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
269 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/27 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
296 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/27 mpg

3.0-liter supercharged V6
380 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/23 mpg

5.0-liter supercharged V8
550 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
502 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/21 mpg