2018 Jaguar F-PACE Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Crossovers usually aim for a combination of comfort, convenience, and cargo capacity, but the British have added elegance to the mix with...

Crossovers usually aim for a combination of comfort, convenience, and cargo capacity, but the British have added elegance to the mix with the 2018 Jaguar F-PACE. The silhouette is, somehow, flawless—a subtly sculpted yet aggressive front, graceful accent lines along the bottom of the doors, and a silky narrowing of the windows as they move toward a jaunty rear spoiler. Its rear end lifts just enough to complete the look but not too much to be audacious. It is, in other words, a typically gorgeous Jaguar.

The F-PACE is more than just a pretty face, however. It rides and handles like a sports sedan, and with three engine options, the consumer can choose between fuel efficiency and high-end performance.

Though introduced just last year, the F-PACE receives a few notable changes for 2018. A new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder (I4) engine has been added to the powertrain lineup, along with the existing 4-cylinder diesel and supercharged V6. There’s also a new trim at the top of the F-PACE food chain—the Portfolio—that comes with Windsor leather seats, a head-up display, and all the goodies from three different option packages. Two new safety technologies are also available—Forward Traffic Detection, a camera- and radar-based alert system, and Forward Vehicle Guidance, which uses 360-degree cameras to offer steering-angle overlays on the dash feed for parking assistance.

The two returning engine choices for the 2018 F-PACE are a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine that delivers 180 hp and 318 lb-ft of torque and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6, good for 340 or 380 hp (depending on the trim) and 332 lb-ft. The 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 is new for 2018 and produces 247 hp and 269 lb-ft. Engine choice varies with trim level, but all F-PACEs come equipped with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system and an 8-speed automatic transmission. Fuel-economy numbers have not been released for the 2018 model, but the 2017 diesel got 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, while the 2017 V6 came in at 18, 23, and 20. The new turbo I4 should fit somewhere in between those figures, which ought to stay the same for 2018.

Whatever engine you choose, the F-PACE will handle the horsepower with aplomb. It hugs the road around curves, with precise steering, a smooth transmission, and torque that’s just a light touch away. Opting for the larger 22-inch wheels compromises some of that handling and makes for a noisy cabin, so reviewers recommend sticking with the smaller 18- or 19-inchers. As for speed, the F-PACE S trim (which gets 380 hp out of the V6) can go from 0-to-60 mph in 5.1 seconds. This luxury crossover isn’t really meant for off-roading, but it can handle snow, dirt, or wet grass—thanks to some helpful electronic driving aids—and tow up to 5,290 pounds when properly equipped.

The F-PACE offers more cargo space than you’ll find in most of its competitors, with 33.5 cubic feet of room behind the 40/20/40-split rear seats and 63.5 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Not only are the rear seats highly configurable, they offer enough room to comfortably seat 3 adults. The F-PACE sits fairly low for a crossover, which means great sight lines for the driver, although it doesn’t have that “above the road” feel some buyers want in an SUV.

There are six trim options for the F-PACE: base, Premium, Prestige, R-Sport, S, and Portfolio. The base trim starts at $42,065, and features include LED taillights, keyless ignition, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, power front seats, Jaguar’s InControl Touch infotainment system, an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and an 11-speaker Meridian sound system. The Premium trims starts at $44,775 and adds a reversing camera, power-folding and auto-dimming side mirrors, and more package options.

The F-PACE Prestige trim starts at $49,125 and builds on the Premium trim’s equipment with keyless entry, leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory settings, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and voice controls. The R-Sport costs $54,175 and comes with 20-inch wheels, fog lights, and special R-Sport bumpers and styling elements. The S trim begins at $59,775 and gets that extra 40 hp from the V6 as well as an adaptive suspension, an extra drive mode, and unique body styling. Finally, the new Portfolio trim has an MSRP of $63,200 and comes equipped with luxuries like a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, 4-zone climate control, a head-up display, and a power tailgate.

Safety features across the F-PACE lineup include a full array of air bags, traction and stability control, and a long list of optional driver-assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning.