Tito-car brand no more: The F-Pace shows Jaguar is in tune with the times

Rightly or wrongly, we’ve always thought about Jaguar cars as designed for the older, more mature segment of car buyers. Despite its deliberate transformation into a more dynamic, modern, and chic luxury brand in the last few decades, Jaguar has yet to outgrow this stigma with its cars. 

So when it decided to enter the fast-growing SUV segment in 2016, the F-Pace was supposed to be its ticket to bite into the then-growing pie. SUVs are highly sought-after vehicles among all car brands, and with the F-Pace, it could now play catch up with other luxury brands that have had success with their crossovers and SUVs.

Most sport utility vehicles nowadays are designed to combine the versatility and ruggedness of a truck with the dynamism and comfort of a sedan. Crossovers like the Jaguar F-PACE are a  direct derivative of this engineering objective. But being a luxury brand, Jaguar has taken the crossover genre a bit further in terms of fit, finish, build quality, and performance.

Stunning looks

As an evolution of the original 2015 design, the 2022 Jaguar F-Pace is a more refined and elegant version of its authentic self. The exterior is a simplified rendition with new 3D grillework with the Jaguar emblem as its centerpiece. Singular side grilles with pass-through air venting make the front end more menacing and functional. The F-Pace affirms that there is beauty in subtraction.

While the headlamp housings retain the outer shape, the revised F-Pace adopts the new signature double-J graphic lighting, which Jaguar claims will become its signature look for future models. Look more closely, and you’ll also find laser-etched monograms on the LED headlights.  

On the side, the fender accent now features the Jaguar Leaper logo finished in gloss black. 

The rear retains its sexiness, but this time it comes across as more toned, as if the car went to the gym. You know the brand has a rich motorsport heritage when it calls its rear lamp design Double-chicane. And the bottom half of the rear bumper is now tapered with new angular exhaust vents that blend well with the new shape. All these design enhancements have made the whole back end look more integrated and well-thought-of. Sexy, voluptuous, and curvy are just a few more adjectives that go well with this description.

Like its sportscar stablemates, the Jaguar F-Pace radiates not only performance but also style. Its presence elicits awe, from its sensual curves and sportscar-like profile to its combination of black accents and the blacked-out emblems in the R Dynamic package. Even the 20-inch wheels wrapped in 255/50/R20 Pirelli P Zeros provide a delicate balance between comfort and performance. 

And with the red brake calipers on all four corners, you can say this SUV knows a thing or two about blending sport and fashion. The F-Pace definitely has got the styling game going. 

Lounge-like accommodations

Pursuing the less is more aesthetic inside, the 2022 Jaguar F-Pace introduces a wholesale change not only with the design of its interiors but also with its functionality and finish. 

Comparing it to the 2016 year model, today’s F-Pace is like an all-new SUV inside. Jaguar designers introduced a new dashboard shape, steering wheel, simplified buttons and control surfaces, and a larger and updated 11.4-inch touchscreen panel with Pivi Pro. 

I like luxury brands' attention to detail in the cabin. And Jaguar is no exception in this regard.  Stitching all around the dash panels, seats, and door sidings makes all the difference in perceived quality. The bright aluminum accents on the steering wheel, instrument cluster surrounds, and the center console beat traditional piano black finishes every time.

Textured knobs and dials make every manipulation of the control a satisfying tactile experience. Even the tiny callback to Jaguar Coventry printed on the center console just underneath the touchscreen reminds you of the brand’s heritage.

The driving experience has changed from the original F-Pace release six years ago. Now the controls are more modern, the interactivity and responsiveness of the controls have also improved. The infotainment system looks more sophisticated with the new default colors and thinner fonts, which is matched by its slick operation. While the air conditioning dials need some getting used to with their dual functions, it is not a real deal-breaker. It only takes some seat time to get to know the controls better.  

And with seats like those in the F-Pace, one wouldn’t mind spending hours just chilling inside. The red leather is as bold as a luxury sport SUV can get. Sometimes you forget you’re sitting in a taller, more practical SUV with the fine finish and stitching of the seats. The Jaguar Leaper logos are embossed on the headrests to remind you from time to time that this is not your average SUV. 

To top off the executive lounge experience, the F-Pace comes with a 13-speaker Meridian sound system, and it is just an SQ-lover’s dream. The vocals are clear, crisp, and distinct, while the instruments individually stand out with each song. But the bass distinguishes the whole experience, and you can hear and feel it crawl from the back of the car to the front. Even Blackpink’s Pink Venom never sounded as smooth and cool as it did in the F-Pace. 

Indeed the Active Road Noise Cancellation feature that comes with this F-Pace had a lot to do with the quality of music that reached my ears. Jaguar’s system uses sensors on each wheel to monitor vibrations from the road. It then produces an opposite-phase sound wave that is played on the speakers to remove the harsh noises from the cabin. So, in the end, all you hear is musical fidelity as the artists have intended them to sound. Neat trick!

Combined with the soft, cozy sofa-like seats, ambient interior lighting, and the uncovered panoramic moonroof, the Jaguar F-Pace can be the music lover’s ideal SUV.

Savoring each moment behind the wheel

As a driver, you feel the space on your side of the cabin has been well laid out. Imagine a Grand Tourer or a sports car from Jaguar’s lineup. It all feels familiar. Cozy but not tight, airy but not loose. The padded leather surfaces from the center console to the doors wrap around you neatly. Everything essential is within reach. The drive selector lever is fat and chunky but easy to wrap your hands around. 

The steering wheel is a callback to the brand's luxury leanings with its mix of perforated leather inside and a smooth finish on the outside. The capacitive touch surfaces on the steering wheel spokes need extra prodding to engage. While they look clean, these flat buttons’ functionality is a step back from actual physical buttons that depress.

The electric power steering makes turning the tiller light enough for driving in tight spaces and weighted sufficiently for a more stable, less fidgety drive on highways. And, of course, what would a sport SUV be without the muscle its engine can produce? 

The mechanicals shine

This particular example of the Jaguar F-Pace is motivated by a 2.0-Liter D200 turbo-diesel inline-four. It produces 199 PS of power and 430 Nm of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The only drawback to F-Pace’s driving experience would be the start-stop system which I would manually turn off every time I start the car, and it just drives better without it.

But with the level of refinement in the F-Pace, mashing the throttle won’t necessarily push you down into your seat. Instead, it will accelerate effortlessly and smoothly—minimal engine noise, no grunting, just forward motion that happens at your prodding. You won’t even hear the diesel engine inside the cabin. It seems Jaguar has managed to weed out any hint of harshness from this SUV and instead trades in a sublime driving experience befitting a luxury marque. 

The F-Pace’s chassis is reportedly 80% made of aluminum. It also has a composite tailgate, aluminum front double-wishbones, and rear multi-link suspension components to reduce weight. The Jaguar F-Pace took a lot of inspiration and bits and pieces from the XF sedan and F-Type coupe to retain positive handling on bends. 

So, on smooth surfaces, the F-Pace delivers a comfortable ride and obeys directional changes. Body roll isn’t a problem partly due to the thinner sidewalls of the 20-inch tires. But the trade-off with this wheel setup is a firmer ride over bumps and potholes. 

Globally, SUVs have been dominating sales charts for the better part of two decades. They perform admirably as daily drivers, benefitting from additional ground clearance and interior space versatility. They even have similar appointments and features as sedans. 

This particular F-Pace, an R Dynamic S D200 fresh off the dealership stocks, costs ₱ 6,090,000. But Jaguar Philippines says incoming stocks due next year will be the lower Sport D200 variant and will have a higher sticker price of ₱6,190,000. Granted, at this price, it is not for everyone. And rightfully so. Such is the price of exclusivity, which Jaguar has no qualms about keeping.

Not all SUVs are created equal. And Jaguar has shown that it can make an SUV that celebrates its storied history as a sports car and luxury car maker while still satisfying the needs of SUV buyers and catering to the whims of the market. With the F-Pace, Jaguar took the product paradigm even higher and bolder.