Jaguar’s F-PACE SVR Doesn’t Care About Your Feelings
Jaguar’s newest high-performance model has 550 horsepower, 8 cylinders, and zero regard for feel-good buzzwords like “sustainability” and “eco-friendly.”
Auto Trader UK recently got their hands on the Jaguar F-PACE SVR. In this video review, their host Rory Reid explains what he likes about it, and what he can live without.
Right out of the gate, it’s clear that, despite the fact it’s an SUV, this is a traditional, high-performance Jaguar in the truest sense. A classy, somewhat subdued exterior hides a powerful, brutish (and British) drivetrain. It’s not meant to be trendy or politically correct. With a big grin on his face, Reid refers to the F-PACE SVR’s supercharged V8 engine as “A big middle finger to Mother Nature.”
Despite its traditionally subtle Jaguar looks, the F-PACE SVR makes quite a statement. That’s not to say that it’s completely useless as an everyday car, though. Quite the contrary — the inside is a comfortable leather cocoon, with respectable cargo capacity. There’s over 60 cubic feet of space back there with the rear seats folded down. That’s plenty of space to rescue beached sea turtles or carry cardboard, cans, and bottles for recycling. Life is all about balance, right?
Speaking of balance, many SUVs with sporting pretensions sacrifice rear passenger comfort for low, sexy rooflines. This Jaguar has its cake and eats it, too. Despite the impressive racing buckets up front, that rear seat isn’t exactly a penalty box. The doors open nice and wide, and there’s plenty of legroom and headroom, even for adults.
Unfortunately, the roomy interior is also where the F-PACE SVR falters a bit. In regards to the build quality and materials chosen, Reid calls it “a bit of a let-down” when compared to its German rivals. The tech is similarly classified as slightly sub-par for its class. There’s no wireless phone charging, limited voice recognition capabilities, and an older touchscreen system.
Where it Counts
All of those perceived shortcomings are forgotten quickly when the ignition button is pressed and the exhaust shouts its growly report across the English landscape. With 550 supercharged horses and 500 lb/ft of torque on tap, it’s more than powerful enough to transport you and your precious cargo most expeditiously. In English — the Queen’s English — Reid bluntly says, “It’s a belter. An absolute belter.”
Zero to 60 happens in just 4.3 seconds, and when you lift off, this big cat pops and crackles like your morning bowl of Rice Crispies. The 8-speed automatic may give up some performance to its DCT-shifted rivals, but the way the exhaust crackles at each upshift will help you to forget very quickly.
The F-PACE SVR isn’t just a straight line machine, though — it can handle, too. It may be heavier than other performance SUVs, but it apparently carries the weight well. “You can drive it like a sports car, because it’s tuned to react like a much smaller car.” The ride quality barely suffers, despite the aggressive suspension tuning. It may not be the most comfortable performance SUV on the market right now, but it will probably out-handle anything in its class.
It’s big. It’s loud. It’s politically incorrect. Above all else, it’s fun. If we didn’t know any better, we’d assume that the jaguar F-PACE SVR was built right here in America.
Screengrabs: Auto Trader UK / YouTube
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