Jaguar F-Pace SVR Test Drive Review
We’ve been finding out what the new Jaguar F-Pace SVR is like.
What is covered in the review:
- What is the Jaguar F-Pace SVR?
- Jaguar F-Pace SVR updates?
- Performance of the Jaguar F-Pace SVR
- How does the Jaguar F-Pace SVR drive?
- Exterior of the Jaguar F-Pace SVR
- Interior of Jaguar F-Pace SVR
- Spec of the Jaguar F-Pace SVR
- Jaguar F-Pace SVR verdict
What is it?
Jaguar has a longstanding reputation for creating some seriously impressive sports cars and its Special Vehicle Operations team has an equally impressive history for pushing the boundaries even further. However, even with such a rich history of making go-faster models, making a performance SUV is always a challenge.
However, the original F-Pace SVR won many plaudits. The interior lacked the finish of rivals, but its driving characteristics by far exceeded those offered by rivals. Now, Jaguar has updated it to address the former issue, without losing any of the latter. We’ve been finding out what it’s like.
What’s new?
Jaguar hasn’t lost focus on the dynamic edge that the F-Pace SVR always had, which is why it has increased the amount of torque it produces while beefing up its braking performance and retuning the steering.
Outside, there are ‘motorsport-inspired’ touches that help to reduce lift by 35 per cent, while new LED headlights and taillights certainly give the F-Pace more of a high-tech appearance.
What’s under the bonnet?
It’ll come as little surprise to see that the F-Pace SVR retains the previous car’s excellent 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine. It packs a whopping 542bhp and 700Nm of torque - up 20Nm on the older car - which helps to power it to 60mph in just 3.8 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 178mph.
Naturally, it isn’t the most economical of engines. Jaguar claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 23.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 275g/km.
What’s it like to drive?
Much like the standard F-Pace, one of the first impressions you get from the SVR is simply how comfortable it is. The cabin feels spacious and the seating position lofty and commanding, while that brute of an engine settles into the background - until you get a little more confident with the throttle, that is.
Switching into dynamic mode changes the whole attitude of the car. It encourages you to make more of the corners and whereas the old model tended to list a bit in the bends, this new version feels far more composed. This is a weighty SUV after all and should be treated as such, but the SVR is a lot more dynamic than you might expect from a car of this size.
How does it look?
The F-Pace is already a very handsome SUV and this SVR version only builds on this. However, one of the most notable aspects of this performance F-Pace’s design is simply how subtle it is.
Of course, there are bonnet vents and large air intakes, but these are incorporated well into the overall design of the car. Even the brake cooling ducts are tucked subtly behind the front wheels to make them appear more like an accent rather than a functioning component.
What’s it like inside?
It’s inside where the majority of the noticeable changes have taken place. The fitment of JLR’s latest Pivi Pro system is one of the biggest edits, with the 11.4-inch high-definition touchscreen giving a real boost to the F-Pace’s technology levels. You still get physical buttons for aspects such as the heating controls, however, meaning you get a good blend of old- and new-school features.
The SVR also features excellent bucket seats and all manner of SVR-branded extras. A highlight is the gear selector, which has a really high-quality design.
What’s the spec like?
There’s just a single specification level for the SVR, with prices starting at £77,595. For this, you get all manner of mechanical upgrades such as torque vectoring by braking, red brake callipers, active all-wheel-drive with SVO-tuned dynamics and a switchable exhaust system.
In-car equipment includes a panoramic roof, 3D surround camera, LED headlights and that full Pivi Pro infotainment system which also includes both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Verdict
We’ve already been mightily impressed by the updates applied to the regular F-Pace, so the SVR had an excellent platform to build from right away.
The cabin is a hugely important upgrade given the overall cost of the car, but it’s also how well the SVR drives and steers that makes such an impact. Though it’s able to perform as well as the best of them, this F-Pace SVR is also relaxed and refined when you need to be - making it a real best of both worlds SUV.