A Presence Hidden Behind Land Rover

An SUV from Jaguar—just about a decade ago, such a model was unimaginable.

At that time, when Ford was the 'parent company,' Jaguar's lineup, including the S-Type and X-Type, which were supposed to be market-ready launches, struggled without achieving the desired results. Concurrently, the flagship sedan, the XJ series, placed excessive emphasis on its history and tradition. Despite employing cutting-edge aluminum construction, its design, which failed to showcase this advanced technology externally, remained conservative and reactive, leading to a lack of presence.

Ultimately, without a single hit product, and with Ian Callum having moved from Aston Martin,Ian Callumthe newly unveiled XK, the first work by Callum as the company's Design Director, was the only model generating anticipation and attention.

Thus, about ten years ago, this brand was in a state where 'just surviving was a struggle,' let alone introducing an SUV.

The difficulty in imagining a 'Jaguar SUV' was also due to the fact that Jaguar had a 'close relationship with Land Rover,' experts in 4WD vehicles.

In fact, when I directly asked the aforementioned Ian Callum about five or six years ago, 'Are you interested in a Jaguar-branded SUV in the future?', his response was, 'We have Land Rover, don't we!'

At the time, I somewhat accepted his reasoning, but the concept model,C-X17was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Considering that the production version, the F-Pace, faithfully reproduces the image of the C-X17, it is clear that Callum's comment indicated that a Jaguar SUV was already in the works, even if it couldn't be announced.

Performance Crossover

Ironically, after separating from Ford and escaping its difficulties, Jaguar has entered a 'harvest season' with new models in various categories, such as theF-TYPEand the newXE, and the newXF. The F-Pace, Jaguar's first SUV launched amidst this success, is expected to captivate many with its appearance alone.

The international press drive was held in Montenegro, a location that could be described as 'opposite the heel of the Italian peninsula across the Adriatic Sea.' Under the clear sky, the F-Pace's styling, in all three available body colors, was immediately striking for its stylishness and sportiness.

Particularly, the 'First Edition' model, in a vibrant blue reminiscent of the C-X17 concept, equipped with 22-inch wheels (!), limited to 2,000 units worldwide (50 of which are allocated to Japan), exuded an overwhelming presence without being overly aggressive, its sleek sportiness being remarkably attractive.

Jaguar describes this model as a 'Performance Crossover,' and indeed, it's understandable why they wouldn't want to simply call it an 'SUV.'

The front fascia and taillights, which share design motifs with the pure sports model F-TYPE that inspired its name, strongly convey Jaguar's latest design language. Inside, the large rotary dial for the AT selector that rises from the center console upon ignition exemplifies the latest Jaguar interior style.

The F-Pace's packaging also supports the sales pitch of being 'Jaguar's most practical sports car,' offering ample cabin space for four adults and a generous luggage compartment.

While the driver's seat is positioned higher than in other Jaguars, ingress and egress are not compromised. Despite being an SUV, the seating position, with legs slightly extended forward, is distinctly different from Land Rover vehicles.

Comfort Level Unmatched Even Among Jaguars

The first model driven was the aforementioned First Edition, equipped with the 3-liter V6 supercharged engine, producing up to 380ps, inherited from the F-TYPE, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 'S' grade shares this powertrain, and the blue color, named 'Siam Blue,' is exclusive to this model.

However, given the focus on faithfully reproducing the concept model's image, my initial impression before starting was, 'The ride might be a bit harsh.' I couldn't shake the doubt that the 22-inch wheels, while stylish, might be too large.

But as soon as I started driving, I realized my concerns were unfounded. The unsprung weight felt surprisingly light. While the suspension settings felt slightly firm, the ride was supple, without any impression of the wheels being too large. Furthermore, the road noise from the tires was significantly quieter than I had anticipated, leading to an overall comfort level that I would describe as 'top-tier, even among Jaguars'—a truly surprising realization.

The vehicle weight for this model, according to European specifications, is 1,861 kg. With the aforementioned powertrain, the 0-100 km/h acceleration time is announced at approximately 5.5 seconds. While not quite matching the F-TYPE, this is undeniably a speed level comparable to a first-class sports car. With its all-wheel-drive system, there are naturally no complaints about traction.

On tight winding roads, the vehicle's width of over 1.9 meters was noticeable at times. However, when actually driving it, I felt it was 'smaller than it appears,' not only due to good visibility but also the agile handling. The all-wheel-drive system is primarily set up to distribute more engine torque to the rear wheels.

In any case, the driving experience—fast, comfortable, and brimming with sporty character—was convincingly 'a Jaguar SUV.' To put it bluntly, the Porsche Macan, which has long held the title of 'sports car among SUVs,' now faces a formidable rival.

A Jaguar SUV Like No Other

Switching from the First Edition to the '20d R-Sport,' equipped with the new generation diesel engine already found in the XE and XF models available in Japan, revealed another facet of the F-Pace's appeal.

The turbocharged 2-liter diesel unit produces a maximum output of 180ps, a significant reduction of 200ps compared to the First Edition. However, in practice, especially in urban driving, it offers considerable power thanks to its maximum torque of 430Nm, available from a more commonly used 1,750rpm.

There's a slight initial feeling of weight when starting off. However, once past that point, the agility of its movement is beyond reproach.

The handling agility is on par with, if not superior to, the First Edition, likely due to the lighter front end weight of this four-cylinder model. While the characteristic diesel engine sound is audible, the cabin remains commendably quiet.

In essence, this model also delivers a thoroughly sporty and comfortable experience, embodying the 'Jaguar SUV like no other' ethos.

Undeniably, Jaguar is a newcomer in the SUV segment.

However, precisely because it started from a blank slate, the F-Pace seems to exude a sense of freedom and confidence, as if they have successfully completed their ideal model.

Jaguar F-Pace First Edition | Jaguar F-Pace First Edition
Body Dimensions | Length 4,731 x Width 1,936 x Height 1,652 mm
Wheelbase | 2,874 mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,641 / 1,654 mm
Weight | 1,861 kg
Engine | 2,995cc V6 Supercharged
Bore x Stroke | 84.5 x 89.0 mm
Compression Ratio | 10.5
Max. Output | 280 kW (380 ps) / 6,500 rpm
Max. Torque | 450 Nm / 4,500 rpm
Transmission | 8-speed AT
Drivetrain | 4WD
Suspension Front/Rear | Double Wishbone / Integral Link
0-100 km/h Acceleration | 5.5 seconds
Top Speed | 250 km/h
Min. Turning Radius | 5.9 meters
Ground Clearance | 213 mm
Fuel Economy (EU Combined) | 8.9 ℓ/100km (approx. 11.2 km/ℓ)
CO2 Emissions | 209 g/km
Trunk Capacity | 650 liters
Seating Capacity | 5 persons
Price | 11,890,000 yen


Jaguar F-Pace 2.0d R-Sport | Jaguar F-Pace 2.0d R-Sport
Jaguar F-Pace 2.0d R-Sport | Jaguar F-Pace 2.0d R-Sport
Body Dimensions | Length 4,731 x Width 1,936 x Height 1,652 mm
Wheelbase | 2,874 mm
Tread Front/Rear | 1,641 / 1,654 mm
Weight | 1,775 kg
Engine | 1,999cc Inline 4-cylinder Turbocharged Diesel
Bore x Stroke | 83.0 x 92.4 mm
Compression Ratio | 15.5
Max. Output | 132 kW (180 ps) / 4,000 rpm
Max. Torque | 430 Nm / 1,750-2,500 rpm
Transmission | 8-speed AT
Drivetrain | 4WD
Suspension Front/Rear | Double Wishbone / Integral Link
0-100 km/h Acceleration | 8.7 seconds
Top Speed | 208 km/h
Min. Turning Radius | 5.9 meters
Ground Clearance | 213 mm
Fuel Economy (EU Combined) | 5.3 ℓ/100km (approx. 18.9 km/ℓ)
CO2 Emissions | 139 g/km
Trunk Capacity | 650 liters
Seating Capacity | 5 persons
Price | 7,280,000 yen

*Except for price, values are for European specifications.