Goes like a Porsche, hauls like a Skoda: Jaguar F-Pace buying guide

The steering is about as communicative as it gets in an SUV, while the suspension is ideally set up for British roads: supple and well-damped enough to keep the car comfortable and body movements in check and stiff enough to prevent roll in the corners and allow for confidence and grip when pushing on.

Even on 22in alloys, the F-Pace rides acceptably, but you get the best balance on 20s, which allow for a class-leading ride and handling combination and still fill the arches.

We called the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox the best in the business, and it should still feel crisp and discerning in a used car. It was standard on all bar the lower-powered diesels and is a fabulous partner to the 296bhp 3.0-litre diesel six - our pick of the engines.

The 2020 facelift made almost a generational difference. Changes to the styling made it look more modern and expensive. The interior gained an all-new dashboard, centre console and steering wheel. And a tax-busting petrol-engined plug-in hybrid joined the ranks with an electric range of 32 miles.

There's plenty of trepidation around Jaguar's forthcoming new era as an EV-only luxury car maker, but the F-Pace demonstrates that this is a brand that can step outside its comfort zone and still shine. As your neighbours pile en masse into their X3s, Volvo XC60s and Mercedes GLCs, why don't you take the Jag approach and 'copy nothing' with your SUV de choix? 

What to look for

Four-cylinder engines: There are many horror stories about the 2.0-litre diesel engine in pre-facelift cars, particularly concerning the diesel particulate filter, timing chain, turbos, oil dilution, excessive cylinder wear and coolant leaks. The 2.0-litre petrol four and later 2.0-litre mild-hybrid diesel are safer bets, but they can still suffer timing chain and turbo issues.

Six-cylinder engines: Many owners agree that the 3.0-litre diesel V6 and the two straight sixes are the most reliable engines. Nevertheless, be wary of knocking in the diesel straight six (crankshaft issues) or heavy coolant use in the petrol one (water pump problems).

Alternator: The belt tensioner can fail in mild-hybrid cars. Budget as much as £2500 unless covered by a sensible extended warranty.

Servicing: Jaguar's inadequate servicing schedule of two years or 21,000 miles for all F-Paces exacerbates issues. Look for services done every year or 10,000 miles ideally.

Steering: If the electric steering's motor develops a hairline crack, the circuit board inside the unit is exposed and becomes white with corrosion, rendering the car undrivable. Check for grinding, groaning or a heavy feel.

Gearbox: Fluid spots under the vehicle or transmission warning messages could point to a leaking transfer case. If unaddressed, this can lead to component damage and costly repairs.

Electrics: Many owners have faced a frozen infotainment screen. When this occurs, the solution is normally to turn the car off and on again. Issues such as failed parking sensors have also been reported, typically rendering the entire sensor system inoperative.

Also worth knowing

The fire-breathing F-Pace SVR has a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 with 542bhp (increased to 567bhp in 2023) and is utterly thrilling, both dynamically and audibly. If you can stretch to between £25,000 and £70,000, we reckon it's well worth the vastly reduced efficiency.