Jaguar F-Pace test drive: make sure to check these features out!

Martin Pretorius

To be honest, the Jaguar F-Pace is such a brilliant car that it doesn’t need much embellishment to be alluring: it’s really pretty inside and out, and it’s a lot of fun to drive as well. But even with all that built-in excellence, Jaguar couldn’t resist adding some cool gadgets and features to set their baby apart. We take a look at some of the nifty features available for the F-Pace.

That monstrous V6 turbodiesel

While there are a host of less-expensive four-cylinder variants on offer in the F-Pace, in both petrol- and diesel flavours, the fun really begins with the “30d” variant. However, that innocuous nameplate simply doesn’t do justice to the awesome powerplant you’ll find under the bonnet.

With a 3.0-litre displacement and a twin-turbo setup, you’d be quite correct to assume that it packs a mean punch, and you wouldn’t be wrong at all. The 221 kW on offer at 4 000 r/min is impressive in itself, but the real headline number is the abundance of torque it produces. When its 700 Nm arrives at 1 500 r/min, the sensation is akin to having a hippo sit down on your lap, as it compresses you into the seat back and catapults you towards the horizon.

The 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6 in the “35t” derivatives is potent as well, with 280 kW on tap, but it lacks a full 250 Nm when compared to the diesel - and that torque is what really makes the F-Pace come alive. The best bit? The least-expensive “30d Pure” just slips in under the R1-million barrier!

There’s something for extreme speed freaks as well

Should the two potent 3.0-litre engines on offer still not quite hit your power-hungry spot, you could opt for the F-Pace SVR. The range-topping variant, it packs a 405 kW/680 Nm punch, thanks to its bellowing 5.0-litre supercharged V8. Derived from the nuclear reactor in the Jaguar XJR575, it produces only slightly less power in this application.

This wild engine turns the F-Pace into a road-burner of note: the 0 – 100 km/h dash takes only 4.3 seconds, before running on to a top speed of 283 km/h. Jaguar’s SVO (Special Vehicle Operations) division has tweaked the suspension and brakes to handle this massive power bump, and it features the bespoke trim pieces you’d expect in a car with a list price just on the far side R1.5-million.

Navigation Pro with Meridian Surround Sound System

Ticking this option box (R41 600) will get you a host of nice-to-have upgrades. The audio system grows to a 17-speaker, 825-Watt arrangement, satellite navigation gets added to the larger, crisper central touch screen, and the standard analog dashboard is upgraded to fully-digital specification. If you’re buying a car of this calibre, you might as well go all-out and make the most of the infotainment system as well, right?

Activity Key

This R 4 600 option is a bit unusual, because it removes the need to carry the key fob around. Instead, you’ll receive a waterproof, shock-proof armband, which takes control over the F-Pace’s locking- and security functions. This means that you’ll be free to go swimming or mountain-climbing or sky-diving or whatever active people do, without worrying about losing your car key. 

Meanwhile, you can leave the key inside the car without fear of anyone driving away in your pride and joy – if it’s locked with the activity key, the car is fully immobilised and as secure as the standard security installation allows.

Driver Assist Pack

Yet another extremely useful option, the R 28 100 Driver Assist Pack adds a package of semi-autonomous driving features and extra safety kit. Included are adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance, blind spot assistance, a surround camera system, parking assistance, and rear cross-traffic alert. 

This pricetag isn’t actually too preposterous for such a comprehensive driving assistance- and safety suite, and we’d recommend that anyone considering an F-Pace adds this to their car’s equipment. 

Adaptive Dynamics

This option pack (R17 900) is standard on the F-Pace “S” variants, and tailors the damper rates and stability control programming to the road surface on which the car is driving. It’s also able to maximise grip on slippery surfaces, thanks to its clever torque-distribution management abilities.

Driving the F-Pace on varying road surfaces will quickly show up the cleverness of this system. Not only does it help to isolate road shocks from the cabin, but it makes the suspension noticeably firmer and more controlled at speed or during emergency situations. This level of adaptability really makes the asking price worthwhile.

These are but a few of the available or standard toys you’d find when test-driving a Jaguar F-Pace. Go take it for a spin, and you’ll be sure to discover even more as the kilometres roll by. And, if you stick to the sensible side when you order your new F-Pace, it won’t even need to break the bank...