Video Review: The F-Pace Crossover Keeps Its Jaguar DNA

Jaguar has produced beautiful sedans, coupes and convertibles over the years. The F-Pace is the first crossover from the formidable team of Jaguar’s design director, Ian Callum. Its largely aluminum skin is a fetching compilation of curves that somehow manages to evoke the F-Type coupe, a machine with no prayer of carrying a family.

Because Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata, it might have made sense for Jag engineers to walk across the hall and borrow the architecture from the Land Rover Evoque or Range Rover Sport. Didn’t happen.

Underpinning the F-Pace is the aluminum-intensive platform found beneath Jaguar’s XE and XF sedans. It has an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, which normally sends nearly all power to the rear tires (although 90 percent can automatically and seamlessly be sent up front). Brake torque vectoring helps vehicle control.

Jag purists may grumble about adding a sport utility vehicle, but don’t forget the excellent business decision it was for Porsche. In August, even with sales of the Jaguar XF sedan up 50 percent from a year ago, F-Pace outsold it 3-to-1 to become the brand’s sales leader.

The 3-liter motor comes in two flavors, with 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque motivating the R-Sport model I tested or an additional 40 horsepower when tuned for the S model. Jag claims 0-to-60 sprints in 5.4 seconds with the R-Sport and 5.1 seconds with the S.

On recommended premium petrol, I saw 19 miles per gallon against the E.P.A.’s rating of 18 city and 23 highway. Surely, better mileage can be eked out of the not-yet-rated 2-liter turbo diesel with 180 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque.

There are drive modes like eco and dynamic, and also Low Traction Launch, which helps F-Pace pull away confidently on sheets of ice. Throttle response is far better than the glacial lag on its cousin, the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Jaguar pits the F-Pace against the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Porsche Macan. While the Jag doesn’t display the deftness of Macan in the twisties, F-Pace is among the most compelling crossovers an enthusiast can toss into a turn.

It’s roomier and more comfortable than the Porsche, too. The cargo capacity of the F-Pace is best in class, a first for Jaguar, and nearly as useful as the larger Lexus RX 350’s trunk.

The sleek urbane design might give the impression that dirt roads are best avoided. Not so. A full 8.4 inches of ground clearance and finishing school at Land Rover proving grounds give the Pace moderate off-road prowess and a claimed ability to ford nearly 21 inches of water. Ring me if you decide to try this yourself. I’d love to watch.

The attractive cabin that wraps around those up front does not have Land Rover-grade materials. But few vehicles do. The F-Pace does come with a standard panoramic glass roof that is sure to impress passengers in the fairly roomy back seat.

All sorts of modern tech can be stuffed into this car: auto braking with pedestrian detection; adaptive cruise control that follows the car ahead to a full stop before resuming; and semiautonomous parking.

The $400 Activity Key that looks like a Fitbit is a waterproof RFID chip. It allows runners and swimmers without pockets to stash the regular proximity key in the car — normally a very bad idea. Holding the Activity Key to the logo on the trunk locks the car and — this is important — deactivates the proximity key until you return.

I’ve always liked Jaguar’s InControl touch screen user interface. The Touch Pro version puts a larger display in the center console and gives you the ability to customize the LCD gauge screen. I would prefer, though, for the window controls to be down near the armrest rather than way up on top of the doorsill.

F-Pace begins at $41,985 for the diesel model. My R-Sport tester with the $3,200 Technology Package with the punchy 825-watt Meridian sound system retails for $63,000.

Svelte style and engaging performance tap the brain’s emotions. A 5-year 60,000 warranty (including scheduled maintenance) helps to assure the rational side. Jaguar is among the last of the premium brands to get a crossover. F-Pace was worth the wait.