Jaguar , creator of some of history ’s most august race cars , style ikon , and symbols of opulence , has bitten the slug and progress not one , buttwocompletely young vehicle for segment in which it ’s never been competitive – and in which it neverseriouslytried , either . charge head - first into the introduction - level sumptuousness market for both sedans and crossovers , the 2017 JaguarF - PACE crossover– Jag’sfirst - everSUV – and theXE sedanrepresent an affordable way for buyer to get into Jaguar .
It ’s an enormous investing for any companionship to develop one new vehicle … to do two simultaneously , especially for a society of Jaguar ’s size , is beyond huge . Add to that the critical market space at interest : the stain is now square up against the BMW 3 - Series , Mercedes C - Class , Audi A3 , and Cadillac ATS with the XE , and the Audi Q5 , Mercedes GL300 , and BMW X3 with the F - PACE . That makes this brace of vehicle the undivided most important one - two poke Jaguar has launch in at least 20 age , if not since its inception .
I go to Aspen , Colorado to see if the XE ’s emotional side would show while being test on the wholesale , unfamiliar countryside , and if Jaguar ’s first - ever SUV was up to sniff .
Jeff Jablanksy/Thrillist
Jaguar got its first SUV right on its very first try
Somewhere , the racing engineers who demonstrate Jaguar ’s reputation on the course are cry at the thought of a first - ever Jaguar crossover … or are they ? call up , this is the company that sour the traditionally boring , workaday hatchback into theever - so - iconic E - Type , generally deem one of the sexiest figure of all time , include by none other than Enzo Ferrari . Jaguar has repeatedly played the role of groundbreaker , thrust the automotive market to adopt stronger design and push the envelope . Whether you pronounce it Jag - war , Jag - conducting wire ( Ed Note : Please do n’t ! ) , or Jag - you - err , you do it Jag as a brand that delights the senses and overachieves in unexpected ways . The F - PACE might be the most unexpected agency yet , barging into the luxury crossing over market with plenty of panache .
After waiting almost a 10 since the break of the day of the luxury SUV roaring before dip its toe in the water , Jaguar learned from other automakers ' success and failures . It ’s no surprise the F - PACE is great to drive , with quick steering , strong brake system , and a gutsy carrying out from its supercharged 340hp V-6 railway locomotive . you’re able to order a quick , maze - ier , 380hp version of the V-6 , but 340hp is enough . Even at Colorado altitude , the supercharged engine failed to run out of grunt while passing or accelerating .
When you ’re not hustling it up a mountain , the F - PACE looks at plate among the trappings of all right opulence and style . The wedge - shaped design stand out among a mathematical group of competitors that essentially all front like they ’re modeled after the Porsche Cayenne . From a understructure price of $ 43,385 ( before name and address fee ) , the F - PACE outdoes BMW ’s X3 in terms of how much fun you have while aim it , meet the Mercedes - Benz GL300 for ride comfortableness , and comes knocking on the aging Audi Q5 ’s hold on driving kinetics . You ’ll desire to spend all day driving it . It ’s a certain sign that Jaguar can do a hell of a lot more than build sexy sport cars and posh limousines .
There are high expectations for the new XE sedan
Few instant in life cause your pump to race as quickly as the sparks and fireworks you experience behind the rack of the unconventional and beguilingF - Type roadster . It ’s wide believed to be the aphrodisiac machine currently made – a passion that has become a life history force for the Jaguar brand . Is it too gamy an expectation to hope that a little bit of the F - Type might creep into another good example in the lineup ? Jag ’s counting on the 2017 XE to bring that seductive , nonrational appeal to the low-priced end of the luxury sedan spectrum .
In the top - of - the - line XE 35 t , with the supercharged 340hp V6 ( which is not shared with the F - Type ) , the razor - effect sound between gearshifts go directly to the individual . On top of that , it set out an EPA - measure 30mpg on the highway . Whereas the slow - acting XE diesel motor proved a letdown during tight passing maneuvers ( do yourself a party favour and get the supercharged 6 , eh ? ) , the firm - feel , smooth - ride shape pay off it . The XE ’s chassis act unflappable on the rolling mint roads , irrespective of what was under the lens hood . It ’s that good , especially for a car pop at $ 35,895 .
It ’s good enough that the most Jaguar - esque characteristic of the XE is the elbow room it drives . The break is tune up to lay waste material to highway and make back roads fun . As for the outside , the styling is supposed to connect it visually to the larger XF and largest XJ saloon , and it ’s a job well done on that front . The only problem here is that the XJ in its current form will soon celebrate its eighth natal day , making the XE seem untimely old .
Jeff Jablansky/Thrillist
On the inside, it’s hit and miss
The interior of both vehicles is pureNew Jaguar , dominated by a fundamental infotainment screen and stubby control condition display . Jaguar clearly focused on the task of make the number one wood happy , so the steering wheel palpate wondrously chunky and buttery soft on both . You might never get used to using thecircular rotary shifter , though , and both fomite employ it to less - than - impressive effect .
The styler on the F - PACE inside ( project ) by choice lead against the caryopsis of smoke - lounge chic … but they may have run low too far . There ’s more piano black credit card trim than should be considered acceptable for a luxury product , and there ’s not a tasteful alternative to the smirch - inducing smuggled surfaces . There are definitely some issues of fit and finish on key touch - pieces , too , like the badly - meet trim that line the center console .
While there ’s nothing quite wrong with the XE ’s interior , it does n’t feel unyieldinglyspecial , either . The legal community for sumptuosity auto interiors is sky high , even at this point . The XE falls light and feels cold in terms of pattern and grain , even if the primed and finishing are lightyears onward ofthe old XJ , which attend as the paterfamilias of all modern Jaguar sedan . Technophiles will be pleased , though , with touchscreen controls , a wandering Wi - Fi hot spot , customizable splashboard dominance , and a superb navigation scheme .
Jeff Jablanksy/Thrillist
The $40,000 question: are they worth it?
We ’re experience in an epoch whereMINIcan make botha convertibleand a sedan , and even Porsche puts out sedans and sport utility vehicle to avail subsidise next generations of theiconic 911 . Whyshouldn’tJaguar leap into the crossover game with the F - PACE and into the small sedan battles with the XE . The real question is , do they live up to the ballyhoo ?
When consider outside the context of its direct competitor , the XE is a wild time value , an excellent performing artist , and a stylish comrade . Something about it , however , fail to enliven my aroused side . The XE felt moderately disconnected , almost German by compare to its , um , German competition .
After just a few transactions of driving the F - PACE , it was vindicated that Jaguar had design a winning SUV . It ’s an even good proffer than its bodied cousin , Land Rover ’s late launchedDiscovery Sport . Jaguar ’s endeavor is simply cool and more imaginative in slaying .
Jeff Jablanksy/Thrillist
The most important takeaway is that the F - PACE is proof of construct that Jaguar can build damn fine SUV . There ’s no abnegate that the F - PACE is a solid performer and cool option . It ’s definitelynota poseur .
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Jeff Jablanksy/Thrillist
Jeff Jablanksy/Thrillist
Jeff Jablanksy/Thrillist
