The 2018 E-Pace small SUV is Jaguar’s future, but old problems remain

Small, all-wheel-drive and, most of all, an SUV, the ★★ 2018 Jaguar E-Pace Launch Edition is an avatar of the British brand’s future. Unfortunately, my test vehicle held echoes of Jag’s past in poor connectivity and a couple of potential drivability issues.

The E-Pace compact SUV fits into Jag’s model line below the pricier midsize F-Pace, which is 13.2 inches longer and offers more powerful engines.

Jag sales suffered for years as the brand clung to its history of rear-drive luxury sedans in defiance of consumer desires. The E-Pace and F-Pace are the new face of the company.

The F-Pace rocketed to the top of Jaguar sales when it debuted in 2016. On the rising tide of SUVs sales, the smaller E-Pace is likely to become the brand’s No. 2 seller and attract new buyers.

Jag capitalizes on the idea of a baby cat with a nifty lighted logo that shows the silhouettes of a grown jaguar and its cub. The logo projects on the sidewalk when you walk up to the E-Pace with the key fob, a Disney-esque “Jungle Book” touch that just misses being too cute for its own good.

Behind the Wheel

2018 Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD First Edition

All-wheel-drive, five-passenger compact luxury SUV

Price as tested: $53,550 (excluding destination charge)

Rating: ★★ (Out of four stars)

Reasons to buy: Looks; room; easy to park

Shortcomings: Smartphone integration, voice recognition, shift quality, check-engine warning.

How much?

E-Pace prices start at $38,600. All E-Paces sold in the U.S. have all-wheel drive, though a front-wheel-drive model is offered in other countries. A nine-speed automatic transmission and 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine are standard. The engine produces 249 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque in the base P250 model trim and 296 hp 295 lb-ft in the P300.

P300 prices start at $47,250.

I tested a loaded 249-hp E-Pace P250 AWD First Edition. Features on that special-edition model included 20-inch wheels; power tailgate; adaptive cruise control; blind spot alert; leather upholstery; 380-watt Meridian audio: LED head, tail and running lights; automatic high beams; heated front seats and steering wheel; two-zone climate control; metal pedals; Bluetooth and USB connectivity; navigation; voice recognition; and 10-inch touch screen.

My test vehicle stickered at $53,550. All prices exclude destination charges.

The E-Pace competes with similar-size luxury SUVs like the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Infiniti QX30; Land Rover Evoque; Mercedes GLA 250; Volvo XC40 and the upcoming Cadillac XT4.

The E-Pace’s base price is comparable to other models, but its features and technology struggle to keep pace with the competition.

Competitive base prices

(Excluding destination charges)

(Automatic transmission, all-wheel drive models)

Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD: $38,600

Audi Q3 2.0T Premium Plus Quattro: $36,000

BMW X1 xDrive 28i: $35,900

Infiniti QX30 Premium AWD: $37,700

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: $41,400

Mercedes GLA 250 4Matic: $35,400

Volvo XC40 T5 AWD Momentum: $35,200

Source: Autotrader

Outstanding features

The E-Pace looks like a scaled-down version of the popular F-Pace. The looks, badge and color of my bright red test vehicle consistently drew admiring attention.

The interior is comfortable, if less lavish than bigger, more expensive Jags. There’s plenty of room for four to travel in comfort, and five to well, travel. The center console and map pockets provide plenty of storage.

Behind the rear seat, there’s plenty of cargo space and an optional, gesture-controlled power tailgate.

Black leather covers the seats and most interior surfaces. The controls and gauges are simple, easy to use and read. The interior is quiet at highway speeds and on rough surfaces.

The E-Pace has a smooth ride, responsive steering and good handling. Power is fine when driving around town, though I experienced some drivability issues on the highway.

Competitive EPA fuel economy ratings

(Automatic transmission, all-wheel drive models)

All models use premium gasoline

Jaguar E-Pace P250 AWD: 21 mpg city/28 highway/24 combined.

Audi Q3 2.0T Premium Plus Quattro: 20/28/23.

BMW X1 xDrive 28i: 22/31/25.

Infiniti QX30 Premium AWD: 21/30/25.

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: 22/29/25.

Mercedes GLA 250 4Matic: 23/31/26.

Volvo XC40 T5 AWD Momentum: 23/31/26.

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov

Fuel economy, power

My 249-hp E-Pace scored 21 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway and 24 combined in EPA tests. It, and all the competitors I’ve named, needs premium gasoline to get its rated power and fuel economy.

The key 24 mpg combined figure falls near the middle of a tightly grouped competitive set that all rate 23-26 mpg. The Audi Q3 comes in at 23 mpg. The BMW X1, X2, Infiniti QX30 and Land Rover Evoque scored 25, while the GLA 250 and XC40 hit 26 mpg.

The E-Pace’s 249 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque tops the output of all the competitors. The E-Pace is heavier than the others, but its weight-to-power ratio — a comparison of pounds of curb weight to horsepower in which lower figures are better — is lower than all the other vehicles but the XC40.

The downside

Jaguar’s voice recognition and smartphone integration are poor. The system repeatedly failed to understand simple commands to call people from my contacts list and dial numbers. The E-Pace does not offer CarPlay, Android Auto or another app to facilitate the use of smartphone navigation and other features.

The E-Pace’s engine response and performance were fine driving on surface streets, but there were drivability issues during and after a highway drive.

During the drive, the E-Pace first couldn’t maintain speeds around 70 mph on mild uphill grades using adaptive cruise control. It also didn’t respond when I disabled cruise and used the accelerator. The transmission appeared unable to downshift to speed up.

That problem disappeared when I left the highway and was driving at lower speeds on twisting county roads, but I experienced mild, rubber band-like surging, almost as if power were being briefly interrupted.

Neither problem recurred when I drove home, but the “check engine” warning lit and remained on for the whole drive, and when I started the E-Pace again later. The vehicle’s being evaluated by a dealer, but there’s no word on what happened as I write.

Specifications as tested

Engine: 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder.

Power: 249 hp @ 1,200-4,500 hp rpm; 269 lb-ft of torque @ 1,200-4,500 rpm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 105.6 inches

Length: 173 inches

Width: 78.1 inches 

Height: 64.1 inches

Curb Weight: 3,871 lbs.

Where assembled: Graz, Austria

Verdict

The 2018 Jaguar E-Pace brings Jaguar style to a new segment of the market. People who want a small, sporty luxury SUV will enjoy it, as long as they don’t have high expectations for voice recognition and smartphone connectivity, and the drivetrain issues I experienced aren’t repeated.

Key features on vehicle tested

Standard equipment: Antilock brakes; stability control; emergency brake assist; alarm and immobilizer; front seat side air bags; curtain air bags; automatic wipers; backup camera; parking sensors; Bluetooth compatible; USB port, auxiliary input; dual-zone climate control; power sun roof; power front seats; memory for driver settings; heated front seats; leather seats; adaptive cruise control; blind spot alert; power tailgate with gesture control; navigation; 380-watt Meridian audio; touch screen; push button start; remote start; SiriusXM satellite radio, HD radio; WiFi hotspot

Options: None.

Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com or 313-222-6731. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan.