The Jaguar E-PACE has eight models in the range with six different engine variants including both petrol and diesel options. As I study the Specification and Price Guide brochure trying to figure out where the E-PACE S P300 that I drove recently fits into this matrix one thing becomes very obvious, you can spend a lot of time and money configuring your perfect E-PACE.
Here the ‘P’ stands for petrol and the ‘300’ designates the greatest engine power output at 221kW and 400Nm between 1,500-4,500rpm. The ‘S’ designates the second lowest model with prices starting at $64,020 plus on-road costs. My E-PACE had been given an up-spec with numerous optional extra boxes ticked and it was $89,940 plus on-roads.
This is my second time around driving an E-PACE and I liked it even more than the first time I drove one. This may have had something to do with the combination of the Siena Tan Windsor Leather seats ($4,490 option), Yulong White paint ($1,370 option) and the F-TYPE inspired dash that took me back to the very special Jaguar F-TYPE SVR I drove last year.
The E-PACE has a sporty feel inside and out and the driving dynamics are good with very little engine and road noise in the cabin. The all-wheel drive P300 will accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 6.4 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 243km/h. The official combined fuel economy is 8 litres/100km and I achieved 11.4 litres/100km for the week I spent with P300 and this is actually slightly less than the P250 I tested last year.
Even though the ‘S’ misses out on configurable suspension it does not detract from the SUV as the standard set up hits the sweet spot between a firm but comfortable ride. My E-PACE had configurable driving dynamics ($680 option) so in Dynamic drive mode I could adjust the engine, steering and gear shift between ‘dynamic’ and ‘normal’.
The driving position in the E-PACE is great and you have a lovely leather steering wheel (mine was also heated part of the Cold Climate Pack option $1,220) with many controls located on the wheel, but the ‘S’ doesn’t get wheel mounted paddle gear shifters for the 9-speed automatic gearbox. I also had the optional head-up display ($1,630) and this could be adjusted for brightness, position and content, something that is not offered on all cars with head-up display.
I really liked the optional 18-way adjustable and heated front seats ($1,310) have three memory positions making it easy to get that perfect seating position sorted. One thing I didn’t like about the cabin design was the silver plastic around the gear shifter as it reflected the sun into my eyes.
At first glance the centre console appears not to have any cup holders and only a non-slip area for your phone to sit on. But if you lift up the arm rest you can remove this shelf to reveal two cup/drink holders one deep and one shallow depending on your beverage of choice.
Or you can remove the entire cup holder moulding to reveal a large storage cubby big enough to fit your handbag in. You can charge your phone here via the two USB ports or 12V outlet. There is more storage in the door pockets that extend along almost the entire length of the door.
The 10” Touch Pro infotainment system allows you to use pinch-to-zoom gestures to control your maps, media and vehicle settings. This can be combined with optional InControl Apps technology ($420) so that your vehicle-optimised apps on your Apple or Android smartphone can be controlled through E‑PACE’s Touchscreen, including your contacts, calendar and music player.
The system has voice control for media and phone, but like the previous E-PACE I drove this did not work well as I expected it to. The screen also displays the surround camera system ($220 option) for making getting into those tight parking spaces easier.
The rear occupants are well looked after with enough leg room for adults, heated rear seats, three USB outlets and rear air vents with speed control only. The centre armrest folds down between the rear seats and has two drink holders plus a shallow storage cubby for some of the things your children bring in the car with them. There are two ISOFIX/three rear tether child car seat anchor points.
The boot of the E-PACE is not big and only fits in the weekly shop and if you had a pram you would have to pack the shopping on top of it to fit everything in. The boot does have a light, four tie down points, two hooks and a 12V outlet though and a space saver spare tyre underneath. The rear seats have a 60/40 folding mechanism if you do need to carry larger items in your E-PACE.
The weekly shop. 
This particular Jaguar had almost 10,000km on the odometer so it gave me the opportunity to see how the E-PACE was ‘aging’. This one had no scratches on the plastics around the centre console, but the Light Oyster Morzine headlining had dirty finger marks on it and if this were my SUV I would spec it with black headlining to avoid this.
This E-PACE was fitted with the Drive Pack ($1,020 option) that includes Blind Spot Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and High-speed Emergency Braking. This was needed because I noticed a blind spot over my left shoulder when I was trying to change lanes.
Passive safety measures on all E-PACE models include front airbags, with passenger seat occupant detector, front side airbags and full length side window curtain airbags. The entire current E-PACE range has an ANCAP safety rating of 5-stars. One safety feature that is different to all the other cars I have reviewed was the lock button for stopping the windows from being put down by passengers also engaged the child lock on the rear doors.
The warranty period on all Jaguars is three years/100,000kms and this also includes Jaguar Roadside Assistance, who will come to your aid even if you become bogged or broken down on roads that only four-wheel drives can drive on.
The Jaguar E-PACE is a great looking compact SUV that has sporty looks and driving dynamics. The options for personalisation are many so you can configure one to suit your exacting needs and wants. Check out the on-line configurator to spec you perfect E-PACE and share it with us by tagging @drivenwomenmag or visit you preferred Jaguar Retailer to see the entire E-PACE range for yourself.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great looking compact SUV | Expensive when you start ticking options |
| Excellent finishes and features | Small boot |
| Sporty driving dynamics | Only a three year warranty |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.