The 2017 Jaguar F-PACE: Beauty and Brains

The 2017 Jaguar F-PACE: Beauty and Brains

By Megan Busch

I’m not a girl who knows a ton about cars. I’ve driven Jeeps all my life (as has my mother), and I really haven’t veered off that track—ever. So, I’ve teamed up with the group at Baker Motor Company to try new things, namely cars outside my norm. A few times each month, I’ll be driving one of Baker’s cars and letting you know what I think. This isn’t going to be a series of Car and Driver or Motor Trend reviews. It’s just a girl sharing her honest opinion about some nifty vehicles.

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This week, I sat behind the wheel of my very first Jaguar—the F-PACE. As I drove, I found myself thinking two things. First, how do I pronounce Jaguar anyway—like I would pronounce the animal name or like the British voiceover who annunciates the u in the brand’s iconic television commercials? Second, what makes this F-PACE different from the INFINITI QX60 that I just drove two weeks ago? If I were deciding between the two, what features would really make me choose the Jaguar over the INFINITI or vice versa?

The SUVs are really both solid options. After driving for a while, I found that the Jaguar attracted more double-takes from passersby. The brand has made a name for itself in American culture, and the fierce cat adorning the grille immediately reveals the luxury of the vehicle. The F-PACE was sharp and precise in its movements, sporty in its demeanor, and reminiscent of a sports car. However, it didn’t seem like a purchase purely for fun (perhaps how some would consider the F-TYPE or another coupe). The F-PACE is practical. It’s able to seat additional passengers, tote anything from groceries to a SUP board, and roam through Charleston’s downtown streets with agility (even when there is a little flooding). The F-PACE excels at creating a luxurious driving environment, while still incorporating practical elements needed for a convenient commute or a long road trip.

Street Smarts

For those of you following my reviews (of the Porsche 718 Boxster and the INFINITI QX60), you know that I drive a Jeep SUV. It’s a very basic vehicle with not many bells and whistles. Compared to the F-PACE, its lack of intelligence is highly pronounced. If both cars took the GRE, my Cherokee would fall under the tenth percentile, while the Jaguar would be headed to Harvard for a doctoral program in engineering. The car is technologically advanced to provide impressive ease of use for the driver, even down to the single-finger touch capabilities of the rear hatch.

Its techy features function to keep drivers safe. I primarily loved the blind-spot monitor. Even if I couldn’t see a car in a neighboring lane, the F-PACE could. Like most drivers, I’ve tried to change lanes before, only to jerk my car back into my own lane because an unseen car was perched in my blind spot. The F-PACE eliminated this danger for me.

The SUV’s technology also works to keep drivers’ wallets happy. In Eco Mode, the F-PACE shuts off at stoplights and stop signs to conserve fuel. This actually scared me a little at first. I had never driven a car with fuel-saving capabilities, and it’s always a little intimidating to hop inside a brand new (not cheap) car. I’m going to be honest, I thought I broke it when I stopped at my first red light and the engine shut off; thankfully, I didn’t. Eco Mode did take a little while to grow accustomed to. It felt like I had to wait on the car to restart once the light turned green. However, when I considered the gas-pump savings stemming from this feature, it really wasn’t so bad, and I would probably drive in Eco Mode most often if I owned the F-PACE.

Finally, the technology works to entertain at the highest level. This particular model really had all the functions I would want in a car through the InControl Touch Pro multimedia system—GPS with satellite imaging, Bluetooth technology, voice control, a backup camera, and wi-fi. Given that I’m used to playing the old-fashioned radio (which the F-PACE has, too, of course), this entertainment package did not disappoint.

Elegant Interior Design

The design of the F-PACE is just as smart as its technology. I couldn’t get over how soft the leather was. To add a bit of pizzazz, the model I drove included lime green stitching that provided the perfect pop of color. The steering wheel felt good in my hands, and upscale Ash Burl Satin Veneer woodgrain trim surrounded Jaguar’s new, easy-to-use rotary gear shifter. To put it in perspective, the interior is not equivalent to the yoga pants you threw on last Saturday morning, but more like the leather jacket you purchased in London that is beautiful, classy, and in-style forever.

Drawing Conclusions

So I started this post with two questions. I’m still unsure about how to properly pronounce Jaguar, and I still don’t know whether I would choose to purchase the F-PACE over the INFINITI QX60. There is roughly a $9,000 price difference between the two SUVs I drove, so of course budget would come into play during such a decision.

The F-PACE felt modern and unexpected in design, whereas the QX60 seemed to have a more traditional look (although still utterly trumping the style of my own Jeep). Both have excellent entertainment and safety features—it simply comes down to which system you interact with better. The QX60 had an extra row of seats in the back, convenient for toting children. The F-PACE lacks this additional row, but it has a sportier style (and can still seat several children for a carpool ride). Perhaps this decision hinges on two things: your personal preferences and the brand you trust most. However, I’m fairly sure that the best way to decide is to sit behind the wheel of both. After all, test drives exist to simplify these important choices.

About This 2017 Jaguar F-PACE 35t R-Sport

Price: $66,293

Fuel Economy: 18mpg in the City, 23mpg on the Highway

Exterior: Dark Sapphire Metallic

Interior: Oyster with Lime Stitching and Taurus Leather Seat Trim

Features:

3.0L V6 Supercharged Engine

Automatic Transmission

Gloss Black Roof Rails

Heated Rear Seats

Technology Package

Convenience Package

20” Templar Twin 5-Spoke Wheels

Woodgrain Interior Trim

To test drive the 2017 Jaguar F-PACE, stop by Baker Motor Company’s Jaguar West Ashley located at 1511 Savannah Highway.