2021 Jaguar F-PACE

As one of Jaguar’s top-selling models, the F-Pace serves as an unofficial ambassador for the brand’s lineup as a whole. Its rather dramatic 2021-model-year makeover coincides with an effort by Jaguar (and sister brand Land Rover) to significantly overhaul its product offerings in an attempt to adjust to changing customer tastes. Consequently, the list of updates to the 2021 F-Pace reads like what you’d expect from a complete redesign, rather than a mere mid-cycle refresh. To give you an idea of how dramatically Jaguar is streamlining its offerings, consider this: In 2020, Jaguar sold 12 variants of the F-Pace. Starting in ’21, that drops to five: P250, P250 S, P340 S, P400 R-Dynamic S and the top-dog SVR. We say the 2021 model year, but thanks to COVID and the resulting supply disruptions, the timelines went a bit wonky. In just a few weeks, Jaguar will have 2022 models hitting showrooms. With the exception of the SVR, each model in the F-Pace lineup is named for its approximate power figure (in PS, because it has to be a little quirky for the American audience, right?). P250 models come with a turbocharged four-cylinder making 246 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. The P340 and P400 R-Dynamic S utilize Jaguar Land Rover’s new 3.0-liter, 48V mild-hybrid inline-six. The P340 offers 335 hp and 354 lb-ft, while the P400 R-Dynamic S packs 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The SVR gets a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 550 horses and 514 lb-ft. All engines are coupled to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and rear-biased all-wheel-drive system. Unlike Jaguar’s sedans and coupes, its crossovers aren’t offered in RWD form. While the F-Pace received a handful of styling tweaks for 2021, the most noteworthy changes are inside. Just about everything in the cabin is new or updated, from the dash to the center console and even the steering wheel. The new design is more angular, with horizontal lines replacing some of the sweeping curves found in the 2020 edition. At the center of all this is JLR’s updated Pivi Pro infotainment system, which is much prettier, snappier and easier to use than the one it replaces. Speaking of replacements, Jaguar chucked the F-Pace’s rotary gear selector in favor of a more conventional shift knob – a welcome reversion, and one that is happening throughout the JLR portfolio. Elsewhere, the interior looks clean, sharp and upscale, but we’d shop short of calling it characterful. Jaguar says its designers aim for British quirk, but despite some of the detail work, such as the upholstery-matching texture on the Pivi Pro control knobs, the hide-away drive mode selector, and the embossed “Leaper” on the headrests, there’s not much here that says “this is a Jaguar” the way the opulence of the GLC’s interior says “Mercedes-Benz” or the XC60’s spartan Swedish-ness oozes “Volvo.” We’d put it on par with BMW in terms of both design and material choices – nice, for sure, but not a knockout. Jaguar put us in …
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