Birmingham, Mich. – Jaguar has stayed away from sedans, which makes good business sense. With the fall of XJ and CAR, the company’s lineup remains as tight as in recent memory. That’s okay, the F-Pace plays a lot of roles. This is the most practical and best-selling Jaguar, and in the SVR version, it embodies modern muscle. intersection. In fact, it’s a legit hot stick.
This is our first chance to get behind the wheel of the SVR since it was updated for the 2021 model year alongside the rest of the lineup. F-Pace . lineup. In short: the slightly torquier powertrain, brake and reinforced suspension, the cabin has Jaguar’s Pivi Pro infotainment system and the front end has been tweaked with new headlights and bodywork. It’s subtle. Driving the F-Pace SVR is anything but.
The product of Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) program, the SVR is a series of visceral experiences, some raw and adrenaline-inducing, some of them surprisingly calm. In Sport mode, Jaguar shifts gears faster for more acceleration and the full exhaust roar is displayed. In Eco or Comfort mode, things get colder, but I still often monitor the exhaust system in action, which can be turned off and on with a button near the gear lever.
The supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is old-fashioned, fierce, and one of the reasons you bought this Jaguar. With 550 horsepower and 516 pound-feet, it’s firmly in the upper class among performance-oriented SUVs, and the 3.8-second to 60 mph sprint is impressive for a compact crossover. larger size in the segment.
While the V8 is rapidly disappearing, Jaguar hasn’t used it as much as American or German luxury brands throughout its 100-year history – often omitting between six and 12 cylinders – depending on the each vehicle and time period. Driving the supercharged eight-cylinder F-Pace SVR was to experience the overwhelming power of Jaguar’s 2010s crankshaft to the V8, before the brand switched to electric cars at the end of the decade.
It’s best to live in the present in the F-Pace SVR. On a spacious Saturday morning, I turned on Sport Mode, cracked the windows to let out the air, and hit the road for a day trip to visit family on the other side of town. As the snow disappeared on this warm late winter morning, I made the most of the fleeting opportunity to push the F-Pace a bit, by speeding and accelerating enthusiastically into gaps on the highway. Depressed, I returned to cruising speed as my passengers fell asleep. He’s 4 years old and it’s time for a nap.
Now, the F-Pace SVR shows its stuff as a comfortable family car. It’s relatively high off the ground and has decent ground clearance, so I felt a sense of traditional SUV safety from the driver’s seat. There is a good view and even the threshold is at a nice level. I can lean on my elbows, break windows, and catch some early spring breeze. The steering provides good feedback and the brakes provide strong stopping power after a little pedaling. However, the SVR is not a handler of the class, because Mercedes GLC 63 and Audi SQ5 more buttoned-down during energetic driving.
Thanks in large part to the sound and performance of its V8 engine, the F-Pace SVR has an elegant beauty everywhere. Jaguar engineers could try to make it a little more civilized, but why? The SVR model strikes the right balance between the rawness of SRT and the more technical approach of AMG. It’s a good place to land.
The F-Pace I tested had an MSRP of $84,600. Options include a climate package ($2,110), bright yellow paint (a $4,550 upgrade from the SVO paint palette), 22-inch black wheels in gray ($1,200), and leather seats ($1,150). They raise the sticker to $97,379 — it feels worth it — and Jaguar takes an interesting place in the competition. Perhaps its most natural rival is Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Both have raw power and European styling but are held back by mid-range infotainment systems. They are superior to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S and BMW X3 USA Competition, although the Germans offer more complete treatments for luxury shoppers. The Macan The Turbo offers less horsepower but has perhaps best-in-class drivability and handling. Buyers can also consider Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography with the same powertrain and platform as the F-Pace SVR. Is one Land Roverit feels more like an SUV in contrast to the Jag’s almost wagon-like feel.
All of this means that the F-Pace SVR and its passionate driving personality can be an affordable choice for enthusiasts looking for power and style. It’s a stretch to say Jag is a “poor” man Aston Martin DBX due to the gap in the quality of the materials, this is reflected in their prices. But the SVR has more power – for half the price – and I’ve never driven a Jaguar and had someone Not be impressed.
The F-Pace cuts a striking silhouette in the SVR trim. Those 22 inches fill the wheel wells, and the SUV has an almost chopped effect. It’s not ’49 Mercury, but the greenhouse creates a low view. There are prominent air vents in the precious panels, pop-up red brake calipers and elegant headlights and taillights. In an era when many brands use a more expressive style with excessive creases and lights, Jaguar has taken the appropriate precautions for its flagship SUV. In addition to this dazzling yellow color, it’s elegant. The inside is more similar, and my SVR’s black and gray composition with ambient lighting and attractive trim is sporty yet business-like. The Meridian speakers sound good and look crisp with two of them mounted prominently above the sliding doors. It’s decorated to impress and still has plenty of room for a car seat.
So yes, the F-Pace SVR is a versatile SUV, an ideal choice for enthusiasts – especially UK car fans – who have a lot of travel needs. people and furniture. Jaguar isn’t the first to fit a jumbo V8 engine into an SUV and mount it for driving duty, but this late-stage passenger car is one of the most memorable.
2022 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Design Walk-Around
