Jaguar E-Pace Review 2024

The Jaguar E-Pace is a stylish small SUV that now shares a platform with the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque. It's been given quite a heavy mid-life facelift to make it more competitive against cars like the BMW X2, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40 – but is it enough to justify its high price tag? Read on for our full Jaguar E-Pace review to find out more.

One of the most significant updates in 2021 for theJaguar E-Pace was the addition of a new flagship plug-in hybrid model badged the Jaguar E-Pace P300e. This combines a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine with a 108PS electric motor on the rear axle and a 15kWh battery, giving it an electric range of up to 38 miles.

The PHEV is also the quickest Jaguar E-Pace in the range, although it doesn't feel quite as sprightly as its combined 309PS and 6.5 second 0-62mph time suggests. It's a sportier choice than a Volvo XC40, though, with sharp steering and a relatively firm suspension setup.

If you're not ready to splash a serious amount of money on a plug-in hybrid, you can still buy a Jaguar E-Pace with a conventional petrol or diesel engine 2.0-litre units. All come with automatic gearboxes and four-wheel drive. You can also have the P160 model that uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine with, you've guessed it, 160PS and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The P160 sticks with front-wheel drive, however.

Every Jaguar E-Pace model is now badged R-Dynamic, which comes with desirable tech and some snazzy exterior highlights. You can also opt for one of the option packs (S, SE Black and HSE Black) allowing you to pick and choose desirable features.

The cabin has a clean, uncluttered design although – on pre-facelift models (that's those sold before 2021) – it wasn't quite up to the standard you'd expect for a premium SUV.

A new infotainment system was added to the E-Pace in 2021. With its 11.4-inch touchscreen display, this is much better than the older 10-inch system, which wasn't the most user-friendly. The later system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too, allowing you access to your phone's apps through the car's media display.

The latest updates mean the Jaguar E-Pace is easier to recommend than before, although we still think a Volvo XC40 does the whole 'non-German small SUV' thing better. You may also wish to look at the Lexus UX – which is also sold as an electric vehicle and is likely to be more dependable on the reliability front than the Jaguar E-Pace.

Looking for a second opinion? Check out heycar's review of the Jaguar E-Pace here.

For an SUV, the Jaguar E-Pace actually feels quite small and claustrophobic inside. It's meant to give off a sporty vibe, like an F-Type, but the cabin just feels a bit dark and unpleasant compared to, say, a Volvo XC40. That's surprising as you do actually sit fairly high up compared to alternatives like the BMW X1 and X2.

There's a reasonable amount of room up front and plenty of storage for your odds and ends. Things aren't so great in the back, where legroom isn't particularly generous and three adults sat side-by-side will be rubbing shoulders.

Jaguar says the E-Pace can carry up to 494 litres of luggage, or 1170 with the back seats folded down. The E-Pace's boot actually has less useable space than most rivals, while the high lip means it's not all that accessible.

Of course, if you need more space, you can drop the rear seats easily enough. The latest models split 40:20:40, leaving an almost-flat surface when dropped. That's very useful if you plan to carry big objects.

Your perception of the Jaguar E-Pace's interior might depend on your expectations. We jumped into it after driving the bigger, pricier F-Pace and it felt noticeably downmarket by comparison. You might expect that to be the case, but the Volvo XC40 doesn't feel like a budget XC60; nor does the Mercedes GLA feel like a pound-shop GLC. We reckon the Range Rover Evoque has a better finish, too.

If you're trading up from a mainstream competitor like the Skoda Karoq, though, you might find the E-Pace's interior to be more than plush enough. You'll find plenty of soft-touch leather swathed around the cabin, while the plastic (although a bit too widespread) feels soft to touch.

If you want the latest technology, the Pivi Pro media system is standard on all E-Pace models and is leagues ahead of the old system. It uses an 11.4-inch display featuring sharp graphics and lightning quick responses. Smartphone integration in the form of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, too - so you can stream your Spotify soundtrack or navigate using Waze without having to use your phone.

Whichever E-Pace you choose, you'll get an interactive driver display in place of analogue dials behind the steering wheel. Just like the premium media system, this is brilliant, with sharp, clear graphics displaying everything you could possibly need. For the ultimate in in-car entertainment, look for a model with the premium Meridian sound system., which means skipping the base S trim.

You could never accuse Jaguar of not offering sufficient choice to E-Pace customers. All four engines are available with any of the three trims available. Least pricey for upfront costs as a way into E-Pace ownership is the P160 petrol model with its 1.5-litre engine and front-wheel drive. An R-Dynamic S costs from £42,605, with the SE Black and HSE Black versions starting at £45,185 and £47,425, respectively.

To move up the petrol scale, you come to the P250 with its 2.0-litre engine, with an S costing from £45,310 and an SE Black from £47,890. The HSE Black model has a showroom price of £50,130.

Switching to the diesel-powered D200 model of E-Pace, you’ll pay from £43,125 for the S, while the SE Black is £45,705 and the HSE Black begins at £48,305.

Moving power sources again, we come to the P300e plug-in hybrid model, with the S starting at £49,440. The SE Black gets out of the blocks at £52,020 and the HSE Black goes from £54,260.

You can soon increase these figures with the various options on offer from Jaguar, but the company also offers a number of finance deals to lessen the blow with monthly payments in place of an all up-front price.

A three-year old E-Pace with diesel engine and front-wheel drive, with 45,000 miles on the clock, will set you back around £22,000 in R-Dynamic trim.

The Jaguar E-Pace isn't particularly competitive in the running costs stakes. Four-wheel-drive, automatic gearboxes and petrol power aren't a great combination for running costs – with even the relatively sensible P160 model managing a combined figure of only 35.8mpg. The P250 offers a best of 32.7mpg.

For those driving longer distances on a routine basis, the D200 turbodiesel will make more sense as it can provide an official combined figure of up to 44.5mpg in the R-Dynamic S model.

The 197mpg best figure of the P300e sounds almost unbelievable. Just like all plug-in hybrids, it's heavily dependent on how it's driven. It can travel for up to 38 miles under electric power alone – which is impressive, and far enough to cover a short commute or the school run. Keep it topped up with electricity and it'll barely use any fuel at all.

Fuel costs aside, the Jaguar E-Pace will also makes demands on your wallet when it comes to VED, or road tax as it's more commonly known. With carbon dioxide emissions for the petrol and diesel models sitting anywhere from 166- to 200g/km, you'll be looking at first year road tax of between £645 and £1565 depending on the model you pick. At least the P300e hybrid does its bit to lessen the blow with emissions of 32-33g/km, meaning road tax of £10 in the first year and £180 for each year after that.

The Jaguar E-Pace is marketed as a sporty choice in the world of small premium SUVs. In truth, though, it's quite big and heavy, which means it simply isn't as agile as something like a BMW X2. You'll notice it leaning quite a lot on twisty roads, although the communicative steering will give you the confidence to press on. Most models feature four-wheel drive, so there's plenty of grip on offer. That's a good thing if you regularly drive in rural areas or live somewhere that gets hit hard by sub-zero temperatures.

All E-Pace models we've driven have been fitted with fairly bulky alloy wheels, and that's not a great thing for ride quality. You'll notice bumps in the road, and even the optional adaptive suspension doesn't seem to make a huge difference. If comfort's a priority, look at the Volvo XC40 instead.

Rearwards visibility is pretty poor but, that aside, the E-Pace is perfectly easy to drive around town. It's much smaller than the F-Pace, so slotting it into tight parking spaces doesn't pose too much of an issue. All models come with a reversing camera, as well as parking sensors front and back.

The E-Pace engine line-up features the usual mix of 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. All use an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with Jaguar ditching the manual option some time ago. The P160 and P250 petrol models feature mild hybrid assistance, while the P300e is a full plug-in hybrid.

Diesels might be out of fashion but we rate it in the E-Pace for a mix of gruntiness and economy. The D200 happily covers a lot of motorway miles and can tow a caravan; its 204PS output (and 430Nm of torque) means it'll cover 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds – brisk enough for a car like this.

Then there's the E-Pace P300e plug-in hybrid. This uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor, and it's the quickest of the lot. It'll transition smoothly between petrol and electric power, surging to 62mph in as little as 6.5 seconds when required. It's great for building up speed on motorway slip roads or making the most of overtaking opportunities.

As you'd expect from a premium SUV like the E-Pace, the baby Jag's loaded with kit intended to prevent a crash. There's an emergency braking system as standard across the range (ready to apply the brakes if it detects an impending collision), while Lane Keep Assist will nudge your steering if you start to stray from your lane. There's a whole host of airbags, while Isofix points on the outer rear seats helps with fitting child seats.

Buy one with the S specification pack and you'll get Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Speed Limiter, while the SE Black adds Blind Spot Assist, and Rear Traffic and Collision Monitors. Every E-Pace comes with adaptive cruise control, too.

When Euro NCAP crash tested the Jaguar E-Pace in 2017, it was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating. This includes an impressive 86 per cent score for adult occupants, and 87 per cent for children.

Thanks to its hefty weight and four-wheel drive as standard across most of the range, the Jaguar E-Pace makes a decent tow car. The D200 can tow the most, with an official braked towing capacity of up to 2000kg. The P250 can lug up to 1800kg, while the P300e is rated to tow up to 1600kg. Jaguar does not quote any figures for the front-wheel drive P160.

Choose the Jaguar E-Pace in R-Dynamic S trim and you get a good spread of standard equipment. This includes 18-inch alloy wheels, heated and folding door mirrors, high beam assist, heated windscreen, automatic wipers, and a powered tailgate. On the inside, you’ll find climate control, leather upholstery and front sports seats that are heated and have electric adjustment. There’s also adaptive cruise control, and an 11.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with online data pack included in the price. The infotainment works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s wireless phone charging.

Head to the mid=spec R-Dynamic SE Black and you get the Black Exterior pack for the trim details, as well as 19-inch wheels, Premium LED headlights with directional indicators, and a panoramic glass roof. Keyless entry is part of this trim, and so too is a Meridian Sound System. More safety tech is included with the SE Black, encompassing Blind Spot Assist, Rear Collision Monitor, and Rear Traffic Monitor.

At the head of the E-Pace pack is the R-Dynamic HSE Black that has 20-inch alloy wheels and configurable cabin lighting. It also comes with Ebony Windsor leather trim and suedecloth headlining, heated rear seats, and 16-way electrically adjusted front seats with memory function.

Jaguar offers a wealth of optional extras, so you can improve the spec of a lower trim model or personalise the car to your heart’s desire.