After just 20 days of owning a 2019 Jaguar F-Pace 25t, I’ve gathered enough insights to share a comprehensive review. Coming from a Land Rover Discovery Sport, the switch to the F-Pace has been a notable upgrade, and here are my initial thoughts, covering both the positives and negatives.
Initial Impressions: Velar vs. F-Pace
My car search began with the Range Rover Velar, drawn in by its modern styling and advanced technology. The Velar’s sleek design initially appealed to me, projecting a futuristic vibe. However, upon seeing the Jaguar F-Pace, my perspective shifted. While the Velar appeared sophisticated and cutting-edge, the F-Pace exuded a warmth and allure that the Velar lacked. It was a matter of personal preference: did I want a vehicle that felt inviting and engaging, or one that seemed somewhat detached and technologically focused? The F-Pace’s “sexy” and approachable design ultimately won me over, making the Velar seem almost cold in comparison. This subjective observation was a key factor in my decision, highlighting the emotional connection a driver seeks with their vehicle.
Driving Dynamics and Handling: A World Apart from Discovery Sport
The driving and handling of the F-Pace are immediately striking, especially when compared to my previous Land Rover Discovery Sport. The Discovery Sport, with its truck-like characteristics, now feels like a distant memory. Its handling and ride were noticeably less refined. I had grown accustomed to its demeanor until rough roads exposed its shortcomings – the clattering, bouncing, and overall feeling of instability. This roughness manifested in numerous squeaks and rattles that multiple dealership visits failed to resolve.
Alt text: Jaguar F-Pace silver SUV driving on a paved road showcasing its sleek side profile.
In contrast, the F-Pace boasts a vault-like solidity and exceptional sound insulation. While road noise and steering feedback are still present, maintaining driver engagement, there’s a newfound serenity that elevates the driving experience. The fatigue I experienced with the Discovery Sport is absent in the F-Pace. Despite its actual dimensions, the F-Pace feels substantial, solid, and spacious. It projects a commanding presence on the road, contributing to a confident driving experience. The steering is perfectly weighted, providing excellent road feedback without being overly aggressive, striking a balance between sporty responsiveness and comfortable cruising. My F-Pace is equipped with 19-inch rims, which I believe offer the ideal balance between ride comfort and handling precision, avoiding the extremes of overly small or excessively large wheel sizes that can compromise ride quality.
Drivetrain Performance: Ingenium Engine vs. Ford Powerplant
Initially, I had reservations about opting for the 25t engine, concerned about potential underperformance. Again, drawing from my experience with the Discovery Sport, the engine difference is stark. The Discovery Sport’s Ford-sourced engine suffered from turbo lag and erratic power delivery. Mastering smooth acceleration required a delicate pedal technique to avoid either turbo lag or sudden bursts of power. Merging into traffic or performing quick maneuvers often felt unpredictable and risky.
Alt text: Close-up of a Jaguar Ingenium engine highlighting its modern design and engineering.
The Jaguar Ingenium engine in the F-Pace is a significant improvement. It effectively addresses turbo lag, delivering power smoothly and responsively when needed. It provides ample power for daily driving, making commutes and occasional spirited drives enjoyable. However, I have noticed a transmission issue that needs addressing. There’s a noticeable “slip” sensation before the transmission engages, particularly under moderate acceleration. This manifests as a slight jumping or skipping feeling in the gas pedal. This issue seems absent under heavy acceleration, but it’s a concern that warrants a dealership visit.
Headlight Performance: Adaptive LED and Night Driving
My F-Pace features adaptive LED headlights, and they are by far the best headlights I’ve experienced in any vehicle. Living in an area with frequent deer crossings, headlight performance is crucial for safety. These headlights provide excellent road coverage, especially illuminating the roadside edges effectively, significantly improving nighttime visibility and reducing the risk of wildlife collisions. The automatic high beam assist further enhances confidence during night drives.
Alt text: Jaguar F-Pace LED headlights illuminating a dark road at night, demonstrating their wide beam and clarity.
However, the sensitivity of the auto-dimming feature has become a source of frustration. Despite the system dimming the lights for oncoming traffic, I frequently receive headlight flashes from other drivers who believe my high beams are still active. This necessitates flashing them back to demonstrate that the high beams are indeed off, which then deactivates the auto high beams, requiring manual reactivation. While the headlight performance itself is exceptional, the overly sensitive auto-dimming system is a significant annoyance.
Sound System and ICTP: Meridian and Infotainment Quirks
The 825W Meridian sound system in my F-Pace has been a disappointment. Surprisingly, the standard sound system in my previous Discovery Sport seemed superior. Despite adjusting various settings, the Meridian system’s audio imaging feels unnatural. Instead of an immersive, all-around sound, the music seems to originate from a concentrated point above the touchscreen, creating a disorienting and somewhat headache-inducing listening experience. Stereo mode widens the soundstage but results in a muddy and less defined audio quality. The need to constantly adjust bass and treble settings for different songs further detracts from the enjoyment. Consequently, I often prefer to keep the sound system off.
Alt text: Jaguar F-Pace interior showcasing the central touchscreen display and dashboard design.
Furthermore, the InControl Touch Pro (ICTP) infotainment system has exhibited a couple of minor glitches. My preferred settings for the speedometer/tachometer display have reset themselves on two occasions. Also, the touchscreen has occasionally displayed the Jaguar logo at startup and then gone completely blank. Restarting the vehicle resolves this, but such issues are unexpected in a 2019 model. Another minor irritation is the inability to use Apple CarPlay when using remote start. Despite assurances from the dealership about software updates addressing this, CarPlay remains unavailable after remote start, displaying a “not available” message.
Conclusion: A Promising Start with Minor Setbacks
Overall, my initial 20 days with the Jaguar F-Pace 25t have been largely positive. The driving dynamics, handling, and engine performance are significant improvements over my previous vehicle. The adaptive LED headlights are outstanding for night driving safety. However, the Meridian sound system is underwhelming, and the ICTP system has shown minor glitches. The transmission slip issue is a concern that requires further investigation. Despite these drawbacks, the F-Pace offers a compelling blend of style, performance, and driving pleasure, making it a strong contender in the luxury SUV market. Further ownership will reveal more about its long-term reliability and overall satisfaction.
