The new Jaguar E-Pace Estate is the compact version of the F Pace. It handles well, looks fantastic and it starts out with a relatively low purchase price for the entry-level model.
As a bonus, it’s actually even more upmarket inside than its siblings.
Jaguar started manufacturing motorcycles just after World War I, they have an interesting history. Read more of Jaguar’s story in our brief history of the quintessential British car manufacturer.
OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our 2018 Jaguar E-Pace Estate review.
Overview of the Jaguar E-Pace Estate
On the Road
Being based on the Land Rover Discovery Sport means the E-Pace was always going to be pretty nifty to drive. It’s not quite as light as we’d hoped (despite being composed mainly of aluminium) and it is heavier than most of its rivals.
That said, it’s still entertaining and fairly agile, and the amount of body control really surprised us. For such a large car, it keeps things in check well. An all-wheel-drive system, meanwhile, arms the car with plenty of grip, while an optional Configurable Dynamics package lets you modify the transmission, steering and throttle via a menu on the touchscreen.
It’s worth expanding on the four-wheel-drive system for a moment because there are two types you can choose from. The entry-level model is front wheel drive only, but for the rest of the range, you can pick between a conventional Haldex-based system and an Active DriveLine system. The latter is arguably more sophisticated and shares its rear differential with the Ford Focus RS and the Range Rover Evoque.
Jaguar haven’t added an all-new suspension setup to the E-Pace but they have tweaked certain aspects of it so that it’s model specific. For example, this car gets anti-roll bars, stiff bushes and a compact rear axle. These result in a car that’s agile and sharp, but which is also on the firm side.
Still, it comes with adaptive dampers as an optional extra.
All models also get the brand’s Drive Control system as standard. Drivers can switch between four different driving modes, which range from Normal to Ice and Snow.
In terms of its engines, there are two petrols to choose from. A P250 model develops 249bhp and covers the 0-62 sprint in just 6.6 seconds.
If you want to go faster, you’ll want to check out the P300 model that can motor its way from rest to 62mph in 5.9 seconds. It feels almost like a hot hatch but, owing to its weight, it can never accelerate with the same surge of power as, say, a VW Golf R.
It sounds great, however.
Jaguar E-Pace Estate Interior, Design and Build
The cockpit is pleasingly driver-focused and has the look and feel of a racy hot hatch. It’s almost identical to the F Type in its layout, which means you get a clean and tidy dashboard.
A central touchscreen meanwhile, takes care of most of the functions, but Jaguar have stressed their desire to keep some physical controls. As a result, you can still operate the likes of air conditioning by hand.
The dashboard wraps around you, and a central grab handle helps to divide it between the driver and their passenger.
Overall, this is an upmarket cabin that’s rich with high-quality materials. However, a firm ride means that it’s not the most comfortable. If comfort is your priority, you’ll need to specify the small wheels – and these hardly suit the car.
Is the Jaguar E-Pace practical? For a luxurious performance car, it doesn’t do too badly on this front at all. It might not look all that big but in this case, looks are definitely deceiving. Four adults will be able to sit in comfort, no matter how tall they are, and both leg and headroom is good.
The panoramic roof will limit rear headroom if you select it, but other than that everyone should be just fine.
Storage solutions are fantastic and include lots of cubbies and a gigantic central storage cubby, while the boot measures 577-litres. It’s one of the biggest in the class by a mile when all the seats are up. Frustratingly, it’s one of the smallest in this class when you fold the rear seats, and measures just 1,234-litres.
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Equipment and Safety of the Jaguar E-Pace Diesel Estate
Standard kit is good across the range with the entry-level model getting a rearview camera, a 10” Touch Pro infotainment system, 17” alloys, a heated windscreen, LED headlights, and front and rear parking seats.
Next up is the S trim which nets you bigger 18” alloys, electric adjustment for the front seats, sat-nav and leather upholstery.
The SE model, adds 19” alloys and adaptive cruise control, while the range-topping HSE model comes with a TFT display, 18-way adjustable front seats and Windsor leather upholstery.
In terms of how safe the car is, it enjoys a 5-star safety rating. Its standard safety kit includes lane keeping assistance, front and rear parking sensors, and driver tiredness monitoring.
Blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are available on higher spec models.
Costs of the Jaguar E-Pace Estate
Prices for the new car start at £28,500 and rise to £50,710. For more information on our leasing deals, you can check out our page here.
In terms of its running costs, the E-Pace is put at a bit of a disadvantage because all the petrol engines come with four-wheel-drive as standard. Both the P200 and P250 are as economical as each other, returning as much as 34.4mpg on a good day. They also emit 186g/km of CO2 and have a BiK rating of 33%.
The bigger P300 is hardly any more expensive to run. It manages returns of 33.2mpg at best and emits 194g/km. That qualifies it for a BiK rating of 35%.
Pros and Cons of the Jaguar E-Pace Estate
Pros:
Competent all-rounder
It doesn’t massively excel in any one area but it does make for a satisfying all-rounder.
Stylish
A short bonnet helps the E-Pace’s very attractive silhouette.
Good size
It’s essentially a smaller version of the popular F Pace and will appeal to families who don’t need something too big.
Cons:
Hit and miss boot
When all the seats are up, it’s one of the biggest in this class. However, its total capacity is down on its rivals.
Weak infotainment system
It’s slow and not as modern or as intuitive as rivals.
Jaguar E-Pace Estate vs BMW X1 vs Audi Q3
Let’s see how the car fares against its rivals in the comparison section of our 2018 Jaguar E-Pace Estate review.
Jaguar E-Pace Estate vs BMW X1
The new BMW X1 isn’t quite as sexy as the E-Pace, but it’s a big, commanding car that has plenty of road presence.
Despite its size, the X1 is also really good to drive. It shares its platform with the MINI Hatchback – and it drives almost the same. It’s fast, agile and capable.
The steering is nice and precise, body lean is kept to a minimum and all models come paired up with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. If you want, you can specify your car with an 8-speed auto ‘box instead.
In terms of its engines, there’s a lot to choose from, with BMW recently adding a new 1.5-litre engine to the petrol range. This is a front-wheel-drive only model and it has a 0-62 time of 9.6 seconds.
If you step up to the 2.0-litre petrol engine, your X1 will benefit from four-wheel-drive. This power plant develops 189bhp and has a 0-62 time of 7.4 seconds. When you consider how big this car is, those are quick times.
Running costs? The 1.5-litre petrol engine returns as much as 51.4mpg economy on a good day and emits 132g/km of CO2. The bigger 2.0-litre petrol engine, meanwhile, is good for returns of 44.1mpg at best if you specify four-wheel-drive. Stick with front wheel drive and it can manage 48.2mpg.
Inside, the X1 maintains BMWs high standards when it comes to top class cabins. The interior is rich in quality and it’s logically laid out. Visibility is fantastic, the ride is better than the E-Pace, and the dashboard is modern and easy to live with.
A 6” infotainment screen is standard on all models, as is the brand’s excellent iDrive system.
Is the BMW X1 practical? Head and legroom is good for all, including those in the back, while storage solutions are good. They include four door bins and a decent-sized glovebox. Sliding rear seats are optional and they free up more space for your stuff.
The boot, meanwhile, measures 505-litres. That’s smaller than the Jaguar but good for this class. Fold the rear seats and it extends to 1,550-litres.
Price:
BMW – £27,625 – £36,255
Jaguar E-Pace Estate vs Audi Q3
The new Audi Q3 is another smart looking car that’s good to drive – and which is going to make your decision very hard!
It’s fun, agile and feels powerful enough to cope with family life on the road. Body lean is well resisted, there’s plenty of grip on offer but if we had to make a choice, we’d say both the Jag and the BMW will appeal to enthusiasts more.
In terms of its engines, a smooth 1.4-litre petrol unit kicks things off. It has a 0-62 time of 9.2 seconds if you stick to the manual ‘box and 8.9 seconds if you specify the automatic.
A bigger 2.0-litre petrol engine comes with four-wheel-drive as standard and has a 0-62 time of 7.6 seconds.
If you need to go even faster than that, you’ll need to take a look at the high-performance RS Q3 model. It develops a whopping 335bhp and can whizz you from a standstill to 62mph in just 4.8 seconds.
Running costs? The 1.4-litre petrol engine is the most frugal and can return as much as 51.4mpg economy on a good day. It also emits just 127g/km of CO2.
The 2.0-litre petrol engine is a lot bigger and comes with four-wheel drive as standard, and this has an adverse effect on its costs. It returns 42.2mpg at best and emits a rather high 152g/km.
Inside, we can always trust Audi to deliver an exceptional cabin and that’s what they’ve done here. Fit and finish is first class, the quality of the materials used is high, and there are plenty of soft-touch plastics to enjoy.
Insulation is good, with engine, road and wind noise all well suppressed. If we have one complaint, it’s that Audi aren’t using the latest gen VA Group tech. This means that it doesn’t feel quite as modern as some of its rivals.
Is the Audi Q3 practical? It’s actually not that much bigger than the Volkswagen Golf but it uses its space better and is overall more usable. For one thing, a high roofline means that headroom is good all round, while for another storage space is excellent.
Four adults also have more than enough legroom and the boot measures a respectable 420-litres. That’s a lot smaller than the Jag but it’s still reasonable for this class. Moreover, when you fold the rear seats you can extend it to 1,324-litres.
Verdict of our 2018 Jaguar E-Pace Estate Review
This is a stylish, premium compact large family car that’s based on the impressive Land Rover Discovery Sport. It’s got power, it’s safe and it accommodates people well. Its boot is also one of the biggest in this class, and overall the luxurious, performative Jaguar E-Pace Estate is a winner.
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