The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace marries sport and utility

Jonathan Gitlin

Whether we like it or not, SUVs and crossovers are fast becoming the dominant species in our automotive ecosystem. Sure, a station wagon offers all the same convenience without compromised handling, but people just aren't reaching for their wallets for those the way they do for a raised ride-height and the (theoretical) potential to drive on rough terrain. Even OEMs that ply their trade based on a heritage of racing, with back catalogues full of sports cars, have gotten in on the act. Porsche showed the way with the Cayenne-the vehicle that arguably saved the brand-and then the Macan. Audi has the SQ5. Alfa Romeo has high hopes for its Stelvio. And then there's the Jaguar F-Pace.

The F-Pace is the first Jaguar SUV, built on a lightweight aluminum platform that also underpins the company's sedans. One might think Jaguar wouldn't need an SUV, since its Tata-owned stablemate Land Rover makes SUVs and nothing else. But the corporate bean-counters evidently saw an untapped market, and here we are. Jaguar says that the F-Pace is a "performance SUV for those who love driving, with exceptional dynamics and everyday usability," something we decided to put to the test during the course of a week we spent with an F-Pace 35t R-Sport.

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