The F-Pace was Jaguar's best-selling Jaguar until the smaller E-Pace appeared on the scene. With its svelte, sexy styling, dynamic handling and oodles of cabin space, the F-Pace is a great all-rounder and resonates with both male and female buyers. Available with a V6 and V8 petrol, as well as two-litre turbo petrol- and diesel-engines in various states of tune, perhaps you've been wondering which powerplant to opt for.
Related: The cat dons hiking boots - Jaguar F-Pace first drive impression (July 2016)
And the most affordable F-PACE is...
Most diesel SUVs tend to be pricey, and are usually closer in price to the flagship model of the range than they are to the entry-level model. In the F-Pace line-up, it's the other way around: The least expensive model is indeed the F-Pace 20d AWD Pure (with a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, and 132 kW / 430Nm), priced at R 869 572. And it's not just the most affordable by a small margin: There is quite a big price difference between this model and the 25t Pure (petrol) model, which is priced at R939 184.
Let's take a look at the rest of the line-up:
| Model & output | Price | Average fuel economy (litres per 100 km) |
0-100 km/h in seconds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20d AWD Pure (132kW/430N) | R 869 572 | 5.3 | 8.7 | |
| 25t Pure (185kW/365Nm) | R 939 184 | 7.1 | 6.8 | |
| 25d AWD Pure (177kW/500Nm) | R 960 104 | 5.8 | 7.2 | |
| 25t AWD Pure | R 969 750 | 7.4 | 6.8 | |
| 30t AWD Pure (221kW/400Nm) | R 985 602 | 7.7 | 6.0 | |
| 20d AWD R-Sport | R 1 004 272 | 5.3 | 8.7 | |
| 30d AWD Pure (221kW/700Nm) | R 1 043 232 | 6.0 | 6.2 | |
|
25t R-Sport |
R 1 072 784 | 7.1 | 6.8 | |
|
25d AWD R-Sport |
R 1 093 604 | 5.8 | 7.2 | |
|
25t AWD R-Sport |
R 1 103 250 | 7.4 | 6.8 | |
|
30t AWD R-Sport |
R 1 119 202 | 7.7 | 6.0 | |
|
30d AWD R-Sport |
R 1 176 732 | 6.0 | 6.2 | |
|
30d AWD S
|
R 1 244 832 | 6.0 | 6.2 | |
|
35t AWD S (V6, 280kW/450Nm) |
R 1 352 532 | 8.9 | 5.5 | |
|
SVR (V8, 405kW/680 Nm) |
R 1 576 926 | 11.9 | 4.3 |
A point to remember...
The average fuel consumption figures above look much better than they do in real life. The 20d engine in the F-Pace we tested four years ago, was not nearly as light on diesel as these figures suggest. When we try and estimate more realistic, day-to-day fuel consumption, we usually add at least 2 litres to the average litres per 100 km total.
Related: Work hard, play harder: Luxe living with the Jaguar F-Pace (Dec. 2016)
So, there's quite a bit to choose from, but the F-Pace gets decidedly more expensive as the engine grows in size. You should also bear in mind that Jaguar offers a myriad of expensive optional extras, and you'll probably want to spend some money on a few luxuries as well.
Before you decide on petrol or diesel, ask yourself these questions first:
- Will I be driving in the city, mostly?
If short trips to schools, supermarkets, and short commutes in general make up a large part of your daily driving life, then rather go for petrol.
- Will I do a lot of driving on the motorway, and/or long distance driving?
Opt for the diesel. You'll save quite a bit on fuel.
- Am I planning on driving this car for a very long time?
Larger diesel engines have a longer, happier life than smaller diesel engines. Should you want to drive the F-Pace for the next 10 years, opting for the bigger diesel would probably be better; however, a two-litre diesel engine isn't what we'd call small (like the 1.5 in the Duster or the 1.2 in the Mahindra KUV100), so going for the entry-level diesel model in the F-Pace won't be a mistake. If I had to pick an engine, and money was no object, the 30d would be the most sensible choice for me.
Video review: Jaguar F-Pace 30d AWD Sport (July 2017)
F-Pace reliability
According to reliability survey results, owners of F-Pace SUVs mostly don't complain about mechanical issues; most niggles have been with the infotainment system and/or electrical problems. A third of F-Pace owners, however, reported at least one fault in the first year of purchase, according to the UK's 2019 Driver Power survey. This is the UK's most in-depth annual car customer satisfaction survey, and because the Jag is British, we thought a survey conducted on its home soil would prove the most relevant. The Jaguar F-Pace was ranked 40th of the top 100 UK models.
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