Pretoria - Jaguar’s new compact E-Pace SUV, sometimes playfully referred to even by the maker as its ‘cub’, has arrived in South Africa with a bewildering line-up of no less than 38 variants.
But before you reach for the headache powders, it’s all quite logical - so let’s unpack the E-Pace line-up, or should that be ‘litter’ - after all, what else can you call three dozen little Jaguars?
It starts with engines - a choice of two-litre turbopetrol or turbodiesel Ingenium fours, in two or three different states of tune. The oil-burner comes in 110kW, 132kW and 177kW formats, while the sparker is set up for either 184kW or 221kW - the latter good for 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 243km/h; this kitten has claws.
Each drives all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the top models are also available with Active Driveline - an intelligent torque-biasing system that, according to Jaguar, combines rear-wheel drive dynamics with the traction of all-wheel drive.
Then you have to choose between the standard and sportier R-Dynamic body styles, and four levels of interior trim - Base, S, SE, or HSE.
But even the Base spec includes a 25cm Touch Pro customisable infotainment display with voice control, front and rear parking sensors with rear-view camera, LED headlights, up to four 12-volt charging points, five USB ports and a 4G and 4G Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices.
Optional extras include a 30cm digital instrument panel, head up display, a choice of two Meridian premium sound systems and a wearable ‘activity key’ - a waterproof wrist strap that lets you lock the main key in the car while you go riding or running.
So, what’s it like to drive?
Jesse Adams drove the top 177kW diesel and 221kW petrol models on a variety of terrain, including some rocky trails and slithering tarmac roads, at the international media launch on the French island of Corsica.
“The E-Pace works surprisingly well off-road,” he wrote, “maybe even better than the Evoque on which it’s based. Dirt busting abilities will be limited by wheel size and tyre profile, but even with big 20 inchers (sizes range from 17 to 21) on our test cars the SUV managed to clamber up some fairly tough obstacles without scraping undercarriage or shiny bodywork.”
“Out on the road it cruised along in much the same way as its semi-sporting SUV competition; the two engines were both up to the task of pulling around the heavy body (almost two tons in the diesel), and both made tasty grumbles under acceleration, even if most of it was produced electronically through the speakers.”
“Some of the tarred portions of the test route involved actual World Rally Championship special stages, but here the E-Pace faltered somewhat under pressure. There’s plenty of grip, and it flick-flacks hairpin bends with impressive agility, but there’s zero feel and feedback from the steering. The nine-speed gearbox also battled with the huge speed variances, and was often flustered with the spread of ratios it has to juggle.
“The E-Pace is better suited,” he concluded, “to family-friendly urban life, with occasional jaunts in the bush. Either way it’s a worthy contender in a seriously tough category.”
PRICES
Jaguar E-Pace
2.0 diesel D150 (110kW) BaseR601 5782.0 diesel D150 (110kW) SR662 9782.0 diesel D150 (110kW) SER701 3782.0 diesel D150 (110kW) HSER737 9782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) BaseR622 5782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) SR683 9782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) SER722 9782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) HSER758 9782.0 diesel D240 (177kW) SR739 8882.0 diesel D240 (177kW) SER778 8882.0 diesel D240 (177kW) HSER814 8882.0 petrol P250 (184kW) BaseR673 9562.0 petrol P250 (184kW) SR735 3562.0 petrol P250 (184kW) SER774 3562.0 petrol P250 (184kW) HSER810 3562.0 petrol P300 (221kW) SR790 3542.0 petrol P300 (221kW) SER829 3542.0 petrol P300 (221kW) HSER865 354
Jaguar E-Pace R Dynamic
2.0 diesel D150 (110kW) BaseR635 5782.0 diesel D150 (110kW) SR696 9782.0 diesel D150 (110kW) SER735 9782.0 diesel D150 (110kW) HSER771 9782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) BaseR656 5782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) SR717 9782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) SER756 9782.0 diesel D180 (132kW) HSER792 9782.0 diesel D240 (177kW) SR773 8882.0 diesel D240 (177kW) SER812 8882.0 diesel D240 (177kW) HSER848 8882.0 petrol P250 (184kW) BaseR707 9562.0 petrol P250 (184kW) SR769 3562.0 petrol P250 (184kW) SER808 3562.0 petrol P250 (184kW) HSER844 3562.0 petrol P300 (221kW) SR824 3542.0 petrol P300 (221kW) SER852 3542.0 petrol P300 (221kW) HSER899 354
Jaguar E-Pace First Edition
2.0 diesel D180 (132kW) R-Dynamic SE First Edition R854 6782.0 petrol P250 (184kW) R-Dynamic SE First EditionR901 856
These include emissions tax, a five year or 100 000km warranty and a five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan.