2023 (73) Jaguar F-Pace 2.0 P400e R-Dynamic HSE Black 5dr Auto AWD

By Jonathan Crouch

Introduction

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 from this era, but you get more power beneath your right foot. And, as usual with a PHEV, you'll make some handsome tax bill savings.

History

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, gained PHEV tech as part of its 2020 mid-term update, creating the car we're going to look at here, the F-PACE P400e. The tech you get is much the same as featured from this era 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) was quite a lot more. So, hot rod performance and high rate returns should both feature here. The F-PACE was discontinued when Jaguar pulled out of the UK market at the end of 2024.

What You Get

Apart from the P400e badgework and the addition of a charging flap, there's nothing to visually mark out this plug-in hybrid F-PACE variant from a more conventional combustion engine derivative. Which means that it gets all of the visual updates that embellished the revised post-2020-era F-PACE model. That means a more sculpted bonnet with a wider power bulge and more precisely defined surfaces. It flows down into a larger grille with 'diamond' detailing, while the side fender vents feature the iconic 'Leaper' emblem. The front bumper was re-designed as part of this update, plus the car gained super-slim LED quad headlights with 'Double J' Daytime Running Light signatures. At the rear, re-designed slimline lights feature Jaguar's 'double chicane' graphic. And the bumper and tailgate have a more sculpted look. Inside, there's a sporty-looking centre console that sweeps up to the instrument panel which features a sophisticated 'Pivi Pro' 11.4-inch curbed-glass HD touchscreen in an elegant magnesium alloy casing. You may sit higher in an F-PACE than any other Jaguar but it still feels more sports car than SUV and there's no seven-seat option. There's comfortable space for a couple of adults in the rear. There is a boot space downside this PHEV though. Because this car's D7a platform was only ever designed to take a space saver spare wheel, there isn't much room under the boot floor, the rear-mounted battery intruding into luggage space, which falls from 601-litres with a conventional model (dry capacity behind the second row) to just 485-litres with this PHEV. So you might have to flatten the second row bench more often, using the provided 40:20:40-folding split. Which will free up a dry capacity of 1299-litres.

What to Look For

Buyers of this F-PACE tend to divide into a couple of groups: those who've had no problems at all; and those who've had a series of niggly electrical issues (look for those on your test drive). Things like infotainment system issues, squeaks and noise, random warning messages and issues with the engine stop-start system. One owner was typical of those less than satisfied in our survey. He reported squeaks and rattles from the passenger and driver's door and pointed out that the alloy wheels had corroded and had lacquer bubbling off. The rear discs on his car had also corroded, the soundproofing was falling of the wheel arches and the washer pipes became disconnected from the washer bottle. There were several badly fitting body trims (even after several workshop visits to rectify), too. Check all these things on your test drive - and look out for scuffed alloy wheels that could be pricey to fix. Obviously, insist on a full service history. And with this P400e,check that the charging system works as it should and that the lead hasn't been damaged.

Replacement Parts

(approx based on a 2020 Jaguar F-PACE P400e) An oil filter is in the £2-9 bracket. An air filter is in the £8-£35 bracket and a pollen filter costs typically between £13 and £32. A set of wiper blades will cost you about £27. A front brake pad set starts from around the £41 bracket. Brake discs typically sit in the £130-£171 bracket. Budget in the £185-£300 bracket for an alternator; budget in the £115-£310 bracket for a starter motor. Budget in the £155-£380 bracket for a water pump.

On the Road

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 from this era 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 from this era, 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.

Overall

With this F-PACE P400e, Jaguar's decision to add an extra injection of performance to the market for mid-sized premium brand plug-in SUVs was interesting, though we're not convinced that many likely customers on the used market will want to find the extra cash necessary to get it. Still, if you can justify the outlay, there's certainly nothing else quite like an F-PACE P400e. From its era, you might even see it as the ultimate car for a wealthy small family, combining classy quality, practicality, sharp performance and trendy efficiency. You pay handsomely for that package here. But if you're happy to do so, you might find the resulting confection rather satisfying.