The Jaguar E-Pace Is The Tardis Tech-Feast That Will Dominate All Compact SUVs

Here are the first pictures of the all-new and extremely pretty Jaguar E-Pace. Before anyone says it, it’s not an electric version of the F-Pace. It’s a little brother to that car, but you’d never know it from the outrageous kit list and tardis-like interior space.

It’s less than 4.4 metres long, or just a few centimetres longer than a Ford Focus. Styled to look as much like an SUV version of the F-Type as possible, it more or less blows any and all other compact SUVs out of the water for looks. On big wheels, anyway - sizes will range from 17-inch sadness to the 21-inch monsters that you can see in some of the pics. Kerbs will not be your friends.

There’s a vast amount to talk about (the press release is over 9000 words) so we’ll distil it down to the bits you really want to know. Technology has taken a massive leap forward with a new, more expansive and detailed head-up display that can display two-thirds more data than most others, plus a very clever Active Driveline; an optional four-wheel drive system that typically biases towards the rear and that even works as a sort of drift mode on low-grip surfaces. It can also send up to 100 per cent of the rear axle’s torque to either wheel, if it needs to, and put more juice to the outside rear tyre if it starts to detect understeer. That’s barely scratching the surface, to be fair; we smell a more detailed analysis coming soon…

There are two engines at launch, in a total of five states of tune. All from the ultra-modern Ingenium family, the range starts with the low-emission 148bhp diesel, which, on the shopping trolley casters that pass for 17-inch wheels, will let you off with 124g/km. It’s a manual and front-wheel drive car only. The next step is a 177bhp diesel with a little more torque, which is yours with manual or ZF nine-speed automatic transmissions. The former hits 62mph in 9.9 seconds; the latter 9.3. Cleverly, the automatic transmission senses whether you’re hooning around bends and is programmed not to shift up if it thinks it’s the wrong time, i.e. just before the apex, which is what a lot of automatics seem to enjoy doing.

If you’re thinking the acceleration sounds a bit slow, it’s because the E-Pace is no featherweight. Despite aluminium body panels that save dozens of kilograms versus older steel equivalents, the front-wheel drive car is still a minimum of 1700kg, and the heaviest model easily tops 1900kg once you add a 75kg driver. A 236bhp diesel is a useful antidote, hitting the 62mph benchmark in 7.4 seconds. There are also 245bhp and 296bhp versions of a turbocharged petrol engine, which uses a single twin-scroll turbo and Continuously Variable Valve Lift. These two are auto-only and will launch to 62mph in 7.0 and 6.4 seconds.

The interior space is pretty amazing. Jaguar has used the same Integral Link rear suspension design already seen in the F-Pace and Land Rover Discovery Sport, which liberates ridiculous boot space. The E-Pace is a definite five-seater, but behind the second row is a cavernous 577 litres of space, plus 93 litres more beneath the floor if you forego a spare wheel. Overall that’s 60 litres more than you get in a Skoda Octavia estate, but the E-Pace is over 19cm shorter. The cabin has a selection of big storage bins and bays, plus two official places to put smartphones.

Key trinkets to entertain the heaving masses include a 4G-linked WiFi hotspot that up to eight devices can link to and stream from, if you can stomach the eventual data bills. You can spec up to five USB ports and four 12-volt sockets to make sure your eight devices are kept charged.

Prices will start from around £28,000, but be prepared to pay well into the £30,000s for the one you really want. There’s loads more to tell, so expect to hear more on the E-Pace soon.