2024 Jaguar F-PACE

This year, the F-Pace heads into more exclusive territory by ditching its erstwhile entry-level model and starting with something pricier. Perhaps Jaguar thinks the rightful place of the F-Pace is somewhere just below Bentley, full of high-class Britishness at the cost of a king’s ransom.

That would be all well and good if the Jaguar marque was incredibly popular. In the United States, it struggles to sell 1,000 units a month. Its cause is not aided by the fact that the F-Pace launched for the 2017 model year. Perhaps its time has come and gone. And perhaps it’s always been too bloody expensive.

For those buyers who have been saving up all these years to acquire a new F-Pace, they can still look forward to having an extremely pleasant luxury SUV. Just not anywhere near the cutting edge.

The infotainment system has been updated to include wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration, Alexa compatibility, and voice-controlled navigation. The model range has also been streamlined, with the R-Dynamic S variant becoming the base model.

Most rivals start out much cheaper than the F-Pace. For example, the Lexus NX with all-wheel drive is priced from $42K. The NX’s optional 275-hp engine only pushes the price to $44K.

Looking at comparable models with similar drivetrains to the base F-Pace, the Acura RDX, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Genesis GV70, and Volvo XC60 are also in the mid-40s. We’re looking at the high 40s for the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

The Porsche Macan starts at $61K yet will enjoy stronger resale values than the F-Pace. Competition also comes from Jaguar’s sister company in the shape of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar, an even pricier proposition at $61.5K.

Before buying a new F-Pace SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are better than those of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio but below those of every other contender.

A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine provides the most affordable new F-Pace with an adequate 246 horsepower. Should anyone want to sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in their luxury compact SUV, this version of the F-Pace will take 6.9 seconds. Not especially swift. The base Porsche Macan (with 261 hp) is virtually a second quicker, as is the 248-hp BMW X3.

There’s something special about how the F-Pace drives, though, that might sway buyers. Even though the X3 and Macan are both wonderful, not too firm yet still precise, we’ve found that the F-Pace has a flowing, sinewy feel to its ride quality and how it shimmies around corners. That’s a particular Jaguar trait. It’s always comfortable but never sloppy. And we’ve always liked the way Jaguar’s driver assistance features come in — gently, as if the system knows you’re usually a good driver but could just use a little help on this occasion.

Luxury buyers may not be impressed by the merely adequate base drivetrain in the F-Pace, though, and might want to check out the 395-hp alternative with a 6-cylinder engine which can hit 60 mph in 5.1 seconds (still not as fast as comparable Macan and X3 rivals). Or there’s the insanely powerful and expensive SVR F-Pace: 542 hp, zero-to-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Incidentally, the X3 M is a tenth quicker and is cheaper by more than $16,000.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of compact luxury SUVs, including the F-Pace.

Fuel Economy

The 4-cylinder setup in the 2024 F-Pace achieves 24 combined mpg (22 city, 27 highway). That’s as good as the comparable X3 with all-wheel drive and three miles per gallon better than the Macan equivalent.

The 6-cylinder drivetrain returns 21 combined mpg (19 city, 25 highway), and the V8-powered SVR manages 17 combined mpg (15 city, 21 highway).

Jaguar keeps things simple yet classy inside the F-Pace, with nice materials set into pleasing shapes. Perforated leather upholstery is standard, and we’ve found the seats to be comfortable. The standard front seats are heated and 12-way power-adjustable.

We also like the space. The F-Pace is one of the wider luxury compact SUVs, so there’s plenty of shoulder room and hip room to go with the usual metrics. For example, there’s 37 inches of rear legroom. We’ve sat in the back and found that an adult male of average size has no cause for complaint. The luggage area behind the rear seats is remarkable at 32.1 cubic feet. Fold them down (easily done with release levers) and there’s a massive 70.4 cubic feet. That’s more than the midsize BMW X5.

We thought the F-Pace looked good when it first came out. It pulled off the difficult trick of being practical and spacious inside without looking boxy on the outside. The F-Pace has the kind of sleekness we usually associate with Jaguar vehicles. That was then, however, and not much has changed in the meantime. In today’s luxury compact SUV world, the F-Pace might even be described as looking a bit tired. Jaguar is supposed to be shaking things up soon with more all-electric vehicles. Let’s see how those pan out.

All-wheel drive
Standard across the 2024 F-Pace range, it’s always reassuring to have — in the wet and the dry.

Aluminum body
Lighter than steel, aluminum helps keep the center of gravity low, despite the raised driving position. The benefits come in the sedan-like handling and stability. But it’s more difficult to manufacture things with, so this invisible (and possibly imperceptible) asset is a tough sell.

Infotainment system
Upgraded this year, Jaguar says the user interface has also been improved. The system includes an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, wireless phone integration, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

Meridian audio systems
Meridian is a well-known and well-respected British audio company. Jaguar fits these as standard in the F-Pace.

Digital instrument cluster
Another standard feature in the F-Pace luxury SUV, upping the tech levels and helping put to rest the old preconception of Jaguars being made for tweed-clad gentlemen.

Powered tailgate
This is also standard in the 2024 F-Pace and a welcome convenience feature.

The base drivetrain, known as P250, consists of a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 246 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. This goes to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission, an arrangement that goes into every F-Pace.

The P400 setup employs a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid system to smooth out the fuel-saving engine stop/restart function. Output is 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.

The high-performance SVR version has a P550 drivetrain, using a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 to develop 542 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. This out-muscles the BMW X3 M and Porsche Macan GTS.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Jaguar’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first. Free scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance are also included for the same terms. This is generous for the class, especially compared with European rivals.

Safety Ratings

The F-Pace has not been crash-tested by any independent agencies in the United States. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assistance.