Jaguar E-Pace HSE R-Dynamic P300 2018 review

Very nicely. It’s fairly smooth and rides over the road like a car much bigger than it actually is - it’s higher than some of the other small SUVs which can still feel quite low, so it gives you that height perspective we all crave in our cars at the moment. It also means it kind of bounces over bumps, and makes for a fun ride if you like that kind of thing.

It’s not particularly quick off the mark - you couldn’t call it zippy. (image credit: Dean McCartney)

There’s a 2.0-litre engine which gives you enough power to get up hills and zoom around town, but it’s not particularly quick off the mark - you couldn’t call it zippy. Still, once it gets going, it gets you there and I had no issues with the driving this week.

Ease of parking is paramount and the size of this car makes parking relatively easy compared to a larger SUV. There’s a good reverse parking camera and also a 360 degree camera gives you a view from the top of the car so you know where you are compared to things like walls around you.

It does have a larger than average turning circle for a small SUV - 11.4m is more on par with a mid-size SUV and this can make U-turns a bit trickier. 

Hear that sound? It’s the ringing bell of a successful design. The E-Pace looks pretty swish, the outside is sporty with curved lines and a cool grille in the front. It’s a high car, too, and almost looks like it’s about to take off. I think it’s one of the better looking SUVs on the road. The winning stroke is the Jaguar logo on the back  - for once I felt like the back of the car looked as good as the front.

Inside is where you’ll get the real luxury. There is an abundance of creamy leather on the seats and on the steering wheel - everything is smooth to touch and for this price, it had better be. The dash is covered in a decent leather-look fabric and continues the luxe vibe. The steering wheel is a lovely shape and feels good under the hands which I always thinks makes a positive difference to everyday driving.

There’s a smooth, matt black finish around the centre console which is a big point of difference relative to the shiny finish of other cars in this price range. I quite like it, it’s chic and less likely to show fingerprints, which kind of takes the gloss off high-gloss.

You can option heated/cooling seats ($1870), the leather packages can cost upwards of $8000 and the panoramic roof, which was so big while we were filming I could see the sky and the trees while I was taking a selfie (natch), will set you back $2160. But gosh, it all looks so good! 

Compared to cars like the Q2 and the X2 which have gone for a cool, funky interior, the Jaguar E Pace still reeks luxury, which is a good thing - if I’m buying a Jag I want it to feel like a Jag. 

The front has a good amount of storage, with two cupholders in the centre (one large, one small, so you will fit large Keep Cups in there) and they are removable if you don’t need them and instead want to make the already decent-sized centre storage bin bigger. There’s a spot in the front to throw keys and a phone, and bottle holders in each door with a spot that’s also been designed to fit a phone.

In the back there are two cupholders in the centre armrest, and there are also air vents for rear passengers which is good to see in a small SUV. 

The boot can be opened with a swing of your foot under the back of the car, but only if you’ve opted for keyless entry which is an extra $950. Otherwise you can do it from the key and there is a button on the boot to close it. I always find these features incredibly helpful because for some reason I am always overloaded with… stuff. Just so much… stuff! I’m not quite sure where it said in the non-existent parent manual that we’d have so much stuff. 

As far as media technology goes, Jaguar has gone with its own in-house system over Apple CarPlay. There’s a 10.0-inch multimedia screen with Bluetooth connectivity and you’ll be able to listen to Spotify and make phone calls etc.

The sat nav works well and is easy to use, but there is no voice-control for the Australian market. (image credit: Dean McCartney)

But I know there will be some people complaining that there is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, however, I feel like I don’t want to use the same technology in a car in this price range as they use in a Ford/Holden/Hyundai, which all use CarPlay and Android Auto. If I’m in a Jaguar I would like Jaguar-specific technology. If only this technology was a teensy bit better. 

The sat nav works well and is easy to use, but there is no voice-control for the Australian market, which is a great feature when you’re driving, so you will miss out on that. 

The sound system is fab and you can pump up the volume (pun intended) every time you’re in the car alone and want to release some pent-up steam. 

The Jaguar E-Pace HSE P300 R Dynamic comes in at $83,733 - before extras and on-road costs. But it is top of the range and there are other options in the range which are much less (the entry-point is $47,750). Fuel consumption for the P300 is 8.0 litres/100km which is a bit higher than average for a small SUV. 

There’s a three-year/100,000km warranty which includes paint and an anti-corrosion cover.