TOP CAT? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Jaguar's F-PACE is at its most sophisticated in P400e plug-in hybrid form. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 46

In Plug-in P400e form, Jaguar's F-PACE offers a powerful blend of performance, efficiency, class and practicality. Pricing's a little higher than some obvious rivals, but you get more power beneath your right foot. And, as usual with a PHEV, you'll make some handsome tax bill savings.

Backgroundword count: 119

If you're choosing a premium badged mid-sized executive SUV these days, the clever choice tends not to be a conventional diesel but a plug-in hybrid. Jaguar's F-PACE, long hobbled by not being able to provide such a thing, now includes PHEV tech within its revised range, creating the car we look at here, the F-PACE P400e. The tech you get is much the same as features with this model's two arch-rivals, the Audi Q5 TFSI e and the BMW X3 30e. But the combined power output on offer with this Jaguar - 404PS (yes really) is quite a lot more. So, hot rod performance and high rate returns should both feature here. Is that what's delivered? Let's find out.

Driving Experienceword count: 215

So what have we got here? A 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine coupled with a rear-mounted 17.1kWh battery and a 143PS electric motor that when fully charged will take you up to 33 miles without troubling fossil fuel. You'll certainly need to burn a bit of petrol though, to exercise the total output - rated at 404PS. That's good enough to take you to 62mph in just 5.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 149mph. To give you some perspective here, an Audi Q5 55 TFSI e offers a total output of 367PS and tops out at 140mph and though it can replicate this Jaguar's 0-62mph time, it falls a bit short with driving range, rated at 26 miles. The other main option in this class, the BMW X3 xDrive30e, has a combined output of 256PS which can be enhanced by an extra boost feature adding an extra 42PS. The rest to 62mph time of the BMW is 6.1s and the driving range figure is 34 miles. With this P400e, there's the usual drive controller, plus a separate set of EV settings - 'EV', 'Hybrid' and 'Save'. The EV system adds quite of lot of weight though, which you'll feel if you start throwing the car around. Refinement and ride quality are excellent though.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227