Now that the Jaguar E-Pace has been refreshed, now is a good time to revisit the smallest SUV in the Jaguar range. Because while everyone’s distracted by revised infotainment and new plug-in hybrid technology, the canny used car buyer can look into what they could save on the outgoing version featured here.
Under the stubby bonnet of the E-Pace is either a 2.0-litre petrol or a 2.0-litre diesel engine, both available in varying states of tune. The petrol line-up encompasses 198bhp, 245bhp and 295bhp versions and the diesel units can be had in 148bhp, 178bhp and 236bhp forms.
All E-Paces come with dual-zone climate control, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and LED headlights, but S trim adds leather seats (electrically adjustable in the front) and a more sophisticated infotainment system. Pricier SE and HSE models add bigger wheels, a wider range of electric seat adjustments and increasingly more safety kit. If you want a sportier-looking E-Pace, seek out the R-Dynamic version of each trim level.
Click here to buy your next used E-Pace from Autocar
On the road, the lower-powered petrol and diesel engines feel slow to respond, even if their actual on-paper turn of speed is pretty good. The automatic gearbox is often hesitant, which can be problematic on roundabouts and at junctions, but once on the move it changes gear smoothly. Opt for the more powerful units and gathering speed is no problem, but there is an obvious drop-off in fuel economy. The middle-ranking 178bhp diesel, the 2.0 D180, probably strikes the best compromise between outright punch and efficiency.
The ride is a mixed bag. The E-Pace isn’t horrendously firm and crashes over only the worst potholes, but you are jostled around quite a bit along pockmarked and beaten-up urban roads. The ride doesn’t settle at speed, so we’d suggest you stick with smaller wheels, even if this leaves a bit of a gap in the wheel arches.
The E-Pace is available with front-wheel drive or, more common, four-wheel drive. The entry-level diesel engine came with front-wheel drive only, and in this guise the E-Pace’s handling isn’t quite so assured.
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The addition of What Car? Reliability survey rating is most important, probably the most important.
I'm sure you're right Sabre. It obviously has very little to do with the fact that Autocar and What Car? are owned by Haymarket.