2018 Jaguar F-Pace Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

After its 2017 debut, Jaguar's F-Pace has been garnering quite a bit of attention. Drivers and car enthusiasts have applauded the F-Pace for its versatility and fun personality. The 2018 Jaguar F-Pace is on track to match the outgoing model's sales and keeps a lot of the things that people like about the 2017 lineup. This vehicle is indeed quite luxurious and doubles over as a spunky daily driver.

What's New for 2018?

The 2018 Jaguar F-Pace adds a third engine option to its lineup with the introduction of the turbocharged 4-cylinder on the base model. Later in the model year, Jaguar will release a new version of the supercharged V6 engine. Additionally, Jaguar has added Forward Vehicle Guidance and Forward Traffic Detection as new driver aids.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Jaguar F-Pace – The Pros

1. The Supercharged V6 Engine

The current supercharged 3.0-L V6 engine garners a hefty 340 hp (380 hp if you buy the S trim) and 332 lb-ft of torque. This powerful engine will be replaced midway through the model year by a new engine that will get 296 hp. While we won't know how the new engine will perform until it has been around for a little while, the supercharged V6 is definitely an option you should consider getting while it is still available.

2. The Diesel Engine Option

Looking for more fuel efficiency? Give the diesel engine a try. This 2.0-L engine returns 29 mpg combined and gets 180 hp and 318 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough to get the 2018 Jaguar F-Pace up-to-speed.

3. Plenty of Cargo Space

Unlike some of its competitors in the luxury crossover sedan segment, the 2018 Jaguar F-Pace has more than enough cargo space. In fact, its 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space is one of the best in this class. This amount of space can be maximized when you fold the rear seats down, allowing you to tote bulky items or a sizeable amount of groceries around.

4. Swift Acceleration

If you feel the need for speed, the 2018 Jaguar F-Pace can get you going in a hurry. On the supercharged V6 with 380 hp, you can get from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 5.4 seconds. This is one of the quickest times a vehicle in this segment has posted so far.

5. Impeccable Braking

With a stopping distance of just 102 from 60 mph, it is safe to say that the F-Pace has some of the most impressive braking abilities, period. The elongated brake pedal has just enough of a firmness to it to feel comfortable for daily drivers.

6. Extremely Comfortable Seats

The Jaguar F-Pace does not just look cool, it feels fantastic to sit in its seats. All of the seats are well-bolstered, and there is plenty of lumbar and lateral support to provide comfort to those with bad backs and hips. The rear seats are placed at a great angle and are equally as comfortable as the front seats.

7. Easy-to-Use Climate Control

You can change the climate control settings with actual, physical knobs in the 2018 Jaguar F-Pace. While this might not seem like a smart high-tech option, it is far better than having to try to figure out climate controls on a bulky and inefficient touchscreen interface.

8. LATCH Anchors Are Very Accessible

If you have young children, you will appreciate the fact that the LATCH anchors for child seats in the rear seats are all easy to access and use. The vehicle has three top-tether anchors that can be found on the rear of the seats and four anchors on the edge of the rear seat's cushion.

9. Huge Towing Capacity

The F-Pace has quite an impressive towing capacity for a vehicle in its class. The max towing capacity is a hefty 5,290 pounds, besting both the Porsche Macan, the BMW X3, and the Audi Q5. It will be difficult to find another luxury crossover SUV that offers this big of a towing capacity.

10. Interior Space

The cabin is remarkably spacious and bests quite a few of its competitors in this area. There is plenty of head, leg, shoulder, and hip room up front. Even rear-seat passengers will find that they have plenty of wiggle room.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Jaguar F-Pace – The Cons

1. Cheap-Looking Interior Materials

It is difficult to claim that the interior looks to be made of the same high-quality materials as what you get in a Porsche. Some of the padding feels pretty thin for a luxury vehicle, and the surfaces lack finesse.

2. Poor Ride Quality

Ride quality on the F-Pace, especially with bigger wheels equipped. Although the suspension also could be rather stiff, the 22-inch wheels don't seem to help matters. The adjustable suspension on the F-Pace S trim does not even improve the vehicle's overall ride quality as one might expect. This vehicle just doesn't seem meant for even mildly rugged terrain.

3. A Noisy Cabin

The cabin isn't necessarily loud when speeding along the highway, but it isn't exactly as silent as some of the other luxury vehicles in its class. There is some engine noise that seeps in, and you will hear a bit of noise coming in from the road.

4. The Infotainment System

The Jaguar F-Pace's infotainment system is by far one of the least impressive aspects of the vehicle. The system is clunky at best, often struggling to respond in a timely fashion to given commands. Smartphone app integration is inconsistent and often screws up the order in which songs are to be played. Voice command only seems to work with Bluetooth and music.

How it stacks up to the competition:

2018 Jaguar F-Pace vs. 2018 Porsche Macan

The 2018 Porsche Macan has multiple engine choices, all of which provide a speedy acceleration and overall athletic performance. The vehicle is easy to customize with its long list of available options. However, there isn't a ton of rear seat or cargo space, and for the hefty price tag that comes even on the base trim, it might not be worth it for some drivers.

2018 Jaguar F-Pace vs. 2018 Audi Q5

The 2018 Audi Q5 looks every bit the luxury vehicle, putting the F-Pace's interior to shame. It comes loaded with a ton of standard features and provides a relaxed and refined ride quality. The biggest drawback is that the Q5 has a slightly bigger price tag than other vehicles in its class.

Conclusion

Overall, the 2018 Jaguar F-Pace is a capable daily driver for those living in the city or suburbs. Although its ride quality and infotainment system lack refinement, Jaguar will likely be looking to improve upon these things in forthcoming model years. The 2018 model, however, is a zippy and comfortable vehicle.