The 2024 Jaguar F-Pace P250 R-Dynamic S Is A Sadly Underrated Premium SUV

Summary

• The Jaguar F-Pace P250 is always fun to drive, offers class competitive cargo space, and boasts a strong towing rating.
• Unfortunately, the lackluster engine sounds, slower acceleration compared to some rivals, and finicky infotainment system are pitfalls.
• Despite being often overlooked, the 2024 Jaguar F-Pace is a good choice for those seeking a stylish, well-built, and agile compact SUV.

Back when the Jaguar F-Pace was still just in its infancy – circa 2017- I had written a full review centered around the fact that it was one of the rare crossovers to drive like a sports car. Back then, that was a big deal, until, well, pretty much everyone ended up cracking the code of making SUVs handle well.

Today, the premium compact crossover space is loaded with solid entries, from the surprisingly great Acura RDX, to the consistently excellent BMW X3. For those looking for even more spice, there’s the Porsche Macan, a vehicle that seems to do no wrong. Consumers have a lot of choice in this space.

Unfortunately, no matter how good the Jaguar F-Pace continued to be during its lifecycle, consumers sadly don’t seem to care for it. During a good year, Jaguar will sell a little more than 10,000 of them in the US and Canada combined, a meager figure next to the 85,000 Q5s Audi shipped last year. Curious to find out why it’s so overlooked, I took the F-Pace out for a week’s drive in its economy spec P250 R-Dynamic S trim. From where I was sitting, I couldn’t see why someone would choose not to buy this over one of its rivals.

The Jaguar F-Pace pictured here is a press vehicle that belongs to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Canada. It was delivered clean and with a full tank of gas. I assumed all fuel costs while I had it in my possession. For detailed insight into testing procedures and data collection, please review
our methodology policy
.

2024 Jaguar F-Pace P250 First Impressions

If the Jaguar F-Type is one of the sexiest sports cars of the modern era, then it would only make sense that the F-Pace be the sexiest crossover of its segment, right? I’m not sure if it’s possible to qualify a crossover as sexy given how its utilitarian shape compromises sensual design, but this is without questions a very pretty SUV.

My tester’s Carpathian gray (a $1,500 option) treatment with black wheels didn’t do it justice in the road salt-infested jungle that is Canada in late January. The F-Pace looks considerably better when wearing a brighter hue. In this dark shade, it’s hard to see the details in its swoopy body, like the myriad of air intakes up front to help its turbocharged powerplant breathe better, or the quintessential Jaguar logo aft of the front fender.

The F-Pace never screams “look at me”, but rather seduces through a typically subtle British demeanor; elegant, refined and adequately sporty, constantly appearing like it’s ready to pounce. Because, you know, it’s a Jaguar. This is arguably one of Ian Callum‘s best creations.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

I’m glad I was able to get some seat time behind the wheel of the least powerful version. A V8-powered F-Pace SVR is indeed a ton of fun, and while not as snarly, the turbocharged straight-six option still offers class-competitive performance. But I’ve always been a sucker for base trims. I believe that if a car impresses even at its most affordable trim level, then it’s bound to be a very good car.

In this case, we’re talking about a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s good for a humble 246 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. It’s absolutely nothing to set your hair on fire, yielding a very casual 6.9-second 0-60 mph time. This engine is mated to an eight-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission. All F-Paces sold in the U.S. and Canada come standard with all-wheel drive.

So, does the F-Pace P250 impress? It does in its intended purpose, meaning that if you understand that you’re committing to the least-powerful engine choice, you’re not going to be disappointed by its lack of power. In P250 form, the F-Pace may be slow, but it hasn’t lost its agility and desire to be sporty.

Set the vehicle in its most agressive Dynamic setting, and its gears shift fast, its steering is quick to react, and its chassis never disappoints in the corners. The small engine also creates a sensation of lightness on the front end. So, while never a blistering machine of straight line performance, the F-Pace is direct, nimble, rock solid and, above all, always fun to drive.

I was, however, immensely disappointed by the sound of this engine. It never sounds like anything exciting, rather like a vacuum cleaner, sucking in air each time you stomp the throttle. Those four-cylinder sounds also sort of ruin the otherwise premium experience.

Performance Specifications

2024 Jaguar F-Pace P250 Fuel Economy

Where the P250 truly shines is in its frugality at the pump. During a seriously cold week with the F-Pace, 900 miles, and when ambient temperatures reached -7 degrees Farenheit, I still managed to record a 22.8 MPG fuel consumption average. Nothing extraordinary, granted, but also totally acceptable considering the conditions in which I was driving it. Official EPA figures below suggest it could do even better in warmer climate.

Interior Design And Comfort

Some may argue that the reason they bought German over British (although Jaguar is now Indian-owned) is because German products are generally better put together and better finished inside. The F-Pace’s beautiful interior would render this argument obsolete. Build quality has nothing to envy its main European rivals, while the materials used are on par with what you’d expect from a premium vehicle of this price bracket.

My test unit was adorned with the Mars red Windsor leather interior, a beautiful combination that added both refinement and sportiness to this SUV’s cabin. The $800 option also unlocks true performance seats that both look great and hold you firmly in place during spirited driving. Although their heating features are annoyingly and, worryingly, very loud.

Everything looks the business in an F-Pace, from the brushed aluminum scattered on some touchpoints, to the clever use of leather and veneer on the dashboard. This is a great place to spend some time.

The F-Pace also does a bang-up job of being a compact SUV. Rear leg and head clearance are ample, even for tall passengers sitting behind another tall passenger. Installing the baby’s seat (my son has migrated from the shell to the larger, harder to install car seat) was done with ease thanks to easily accessible hook points and a good amount of space to move around.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Jaguar brought significant updates to the F-Pace’s technology during the 2021 facelift, notably through the integration of an upgraded 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It’s a considerable improvement over the old, laggy and confusing layout. Jaguar simplified this system, so it’s easier to comprehend and quicker to react.

It does certain things very well, like quickly connecting wirelessly to Android Auto (in my case) or allowing you to independently change the car’s settings, like suspension damping or the transmission’s behavior. But it’s still a cluttered system, one that’s also hard to memorize, with icons at times too small to truly understand what they do.

Luckily, Jaguar doesn’t cram everything inside this system. Audio controls can be operated via the center console through a physical volume knob. Large, circular physical dials allow you to operate climate control features. The fact that you need to press one of those knobs to access the heated/cooling seat functions is a bit of a gimmick, but once you’ve figured it out, it’s all rather seamless in operation.

Cargo And Storage Space

The F-Pace continues to show its relevance in the premium compact SUV space through its class-competitive cargo space. Official numbers are displayed in the table below. For reference, when its rear seats are folded flat, the F-Pace offers more total cargo space than a BMW X3 and an Acura RDX. Even when that seat is secured back into place, this Britt out-cargos its main German and Japanese rivals.

How The 2024 Jaguar F-Pace P250 Compares To Its Competition

The F-Pace faces a serious lineup of solid contenders. The premium compact crossover category is an extremely lucrative one for carmakers, which is why pretty much every premium brand offers one in its lineup. And the spread is large. On the U.S. side, there’s the Cadillac XT5, the Lincoln Corsair, and the Buick Envision.

The Japanese have the Acura RDX, the Infiniti QX50, and the Lexus NX, while the Germans come in hot with the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Porsche Macan. Even the Italians and the South-Koreans are at it with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Maserati Grecale, and the overachieving Genesis GV70. Meanwhile, Volvo is hanging on tight with its XC60.

But since the BMW X3 is a force to be reckoned with in this segment, a sales leader, but also a genuinely all-around good product, I felt it’s the one the F-Pace has to beat if it wants to attract more buyers to its showroom. Let’s compare both.

2024 Jaguar F-Pace P250 vs 2024 BMW X3 xDrive30i

We’ve already established that the F-Pace is a more practical SUV than the X3. In base form, the P250 will also tow more than its main German rival (5,291 lb versus 4,400 lb). However, Jaguar will ask you for more of your dollars from the get-go. The starting MSRP on the F-Pace P250 is $57,000, compared to $48,900 for an X3 xDrive30i. BMW will even sell you a rear-wheel drive X3 for $46,900.

One would argue that BMW’s optional packages are more expensive, and they are. But the $8,000 window should give you enough room to dress up your BMW accordingly. The BMW, although also powered by a 248-horsepower four-cylinder engine, is also a tad quicker off the line, with a 0-60 MPH time of 6 seconds flat, versus 6.9 for the Jag.

You Could Think Outside The Box And Go For The Jag

Perhaps it’s the bang for the buck factor that allows a BMW X3 to outsell the Jag. It could also be its reputation. Generally speaking, BMWs retain a better resale value than Jaguars. Some could also argue that a Jaguar isn’t a reliable item, but if you want my honest opinion here, I consider that anything in this posh luxury segment that isn’t Japanese is bound to cost you an arm and a leg in maintenance bills.

In all fairness, I don’t see anything wrong with the 2024 Jaguar F-Pace P250 apart from the fact that it’s slightly overpriced. It does what it was meant to do rather well, actually.

Looking for something that dares to think outside the box? Then I’d say give this a try, if only during a lease program. It’ll get you a taste for something a little different in this segment. Hey, who knows, you might end up realizing that you always needed a Jag in your life after all.