[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jaguar-e-pace-review\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jaguar-e-pace-review\/","headline":"Jaguar E-Pace review","name":"Jaguar E-Pace review","description":"Does Jaguar’s compact SUV reprise the triumphs of its big bro or does the E-Pace get an E-plus? We\u2019ve scoured the first reviews to find out\u2026 Jaguar has gone from offering no SUVs to having two in as many years and the E-Pace is the smaller and younger sibling of the F-Pace – a World Car of the Year winner and the fastest-selling Jaguar ever. So no pressure then. \u201cAnother smash hit\u201d Awarding it four out of five stars, Auto […]","datePublished":"2018-05-22","dateModified":"2018-12-05","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Jaguar-E-Pace-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Jaguar-E-Pace-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jaguar-e-pace-review\/","about":["BLOG","Jaguar","LATEST CAR NEWS","Sports, Performance & Prestige Cars"],"wordCount":641,"keywords":["jaguar","Jaguar E-Pace","SUV"],"articleBody":"Does Jaguar’s compact SUV reprise the triumphs of its big bro or does the E-Pace get an E-plus? We\u2019ve scoured the first reviews to find out\u2026Jaguar has gone from offering no SUVs to having two in as many years and the E-Pace is the smaller and younger sibling of the F-Pace – a World Car of the Year winner and the fastest-selling Jaguar ever. So no pressure then.\u201cAnother smash hit\u201dAwarding it four out of five stars, Auto Express (AE) fully expects the E-Pace to be \u201canother smash hit for Jaguar\u201d and hailed it as a \u201cgreat blend of agility and comfort with decent cruising refinement and impressive practicality\u201d, not to mention \u201cfun to drive – exactly how a Jaguar should be\u201d.So that\u2019s a positive start, but AE did find flaws in the baby Jag, criticising the infotainment as not nearly as convincing as the rest of the car. Certain variants, such as the HSE, also seemed too pricey for a car of this size and if a more affordable version was available, AE admitted it may have dished out a fifth and final star.How does it drive?Driving the D180 E-Pace (a mid-spec 178bhp two-litre Ingenium diesel on 20-inch wheels), AE was impressed by the car\u2019s hushed nature, with the engine sitting happily at just below 2,000rpm during a motorway cruise.However, pressing the throttle a tad more resulted in tyre roar and wind rush around the side mirrors. This led AE to suggest that an SE model on 19-inch rims would be a sweeter compromise.NaysayersBehind the wheel of the P300 HSE E-Pace, Evo\u2019s Antony Ingram dished out possibly the E-Pace\u2019s weakest rating of 2.5 stars. While he praised the car\u2019s steering response, grip and balance, he dissed the cabin as \u201cdrab\u201d before laying into the \u201cdreary engine and inevitable ubiquity\u201d.In fact, Antony took major issue with Jaguar\u2019s money-chasing, writing \u201c[the E-Pace] is sure to sell well, but those buyers will not be getting a class-leading vehicle. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) already has a full lineup of SUVs on offer through the Land Rover brand itself [but] Jaguar wants a slice of that growing pie too\u201d.The four-pot Ingenium petrol engine didn\u2019t do it for the Evo man either, who deemed the unit as \u201cincongruous\u201d, writing: \u201cThe F-type just about gets away with it, thanks to a deep and fruity exhaust note masking an almost absence of engine noise, [but] there\u2019s no such luck for the E-Pace, which reverts to the same flat delivery and tuneless drone you get in any other car with this engine.\u201d Ouch!HandsomeWith such a scathing account from the usually polite and mild-mannered Ingram, you\u2019d expect Top Gear (TG) to tear the E-Pace to pieces – however, the car received one of its strongest scores here (8\/10).\u201cIt\u2019s the most handsome, best-handling car in its class and Jag\u2019s best interior, aside from the XJ,\u201d TG reported, with its \u2018against\u2019 section consisting of a price gripe and a criticism of the car\u2019s firm ride.Elsewhere, Carwow praised the E-Pace\u2019s smart looks, reasonable practicality and self-driving tech, but felt it wasn\u2019t as fun to drive as it could\u2019ve been, while the interior wasn\u2019t premium enough to warrant the asking price.RatingsAutocar – 3.5 starsTop Gear – 8\/10Evo – 2.5 starsCarwow – 6\/10Auto Express – 4 starsVerdictDoes Jaguar have another World Car of the Year on its hands? No. This year\u2019s awards have already come and gone without a single longlist nomination for Jaguar and the reviews outline why.Yes, the E-Pace will sell by the lorryload, but reading these reviews, you can\u2019t help feel that Jaguar has missed an opportunity here.So what do you think of the E-Pace? Let us know by leaving a comment below!\u00a0"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Jaguar E-Pace review","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jaguar-e-pace-review\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]