The Jaguar E-Pace gets a facelift

Words by Farhan Shah

While it might have a mild-hybrid system, the E in the Jaguar E-Pace doesn’t stand for electric. For fully electric, four-wheeled big cats, you’ll want the i-Pace. The E-Pace is Jaguar’s entry-level SUV.

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First launched in 2018, the car has had a facelift for a more environmentally conscious generation, hence the engineers have included an 80kW electric rear axle drive motor. Unlike hybrid vehicles, its mild-hybrid compatriots cannot operate solely on their batteries. The car’s engine and motor must work together to propel it forward.

The E-Pace’s fuel efficiency is still good without sacrificing power, which is probably why Jaguar can fit a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that still puts out 158bhp. There’s also more than enough torque (260 Nm) for city driving and occasional, F1-style overtaking manoeuvres.

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The interior has transformed. Most of Jaguar’s new cars now come with its revelatory Pivi Pro and, in my opinion, the best in-car infotainment system in the market right now. You can access almost everything with just two taps on the screen and its interface mimics that of a smartphone. If your kids are digitally savvy, I imagine they could navigate it easily. With the E-Pace, you get an 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen with HD resolution.

Buttons and dials have a beautiful, tactile feel now, thanks to knurled details and soft trim. Everything is thoughtfully designed around the driver; nothing important ever feels just out of reach. The headrests also feature a gorgeous embossed Jaguar Leaper. It’s a minor detail, but things like this add up to an automotive package that’s bigger than the sum of its parts. Jaguar’s design director, Julian Thompson, sums it up well: “The overall result is a more grown-up feel for the compact performance SUV.”