Deer Hunting with a 2018 Jaguar F-Pace 25T R-Sport
The tire’s placement is likely due to the size of the wheel itself, as opposed to smaller wheels that sit below the floor, and there doesn’t seem to be anything Jaguar could do about it or make the situation better. It simply is what it is.
On the outside, our test model came with both the R-Sport body kit with front and rear bumper upgrades and Black Package changing many of the exterior trim pieces into a gloss black finish. Along with the sloped front to rear styling and classic Jaguar front-end, it is hard to argue this SUV isn’t the most stylish model in the luxury crossover market.
Back inside the cabin, sitting for a few hours also gives ample time to also play around with Jagaur’s Touch Pro 10-inch infotainment system. With luxury SUVs all becoming quite competitive, infotainment systems are now quickly becoming a way to make your model stand out. For the Touch Pro, it is quite impressive with a fast response and the ability to arrange your own icons.
Plus, you can share your navigation from your smart phone to the in-car navigation system and rearrange icons on the home page. Setting up a custom-home screen is not only handy, but also reduces some of the distracted driving concern with easily found favorite icons.
Scrolling through the various pages is effortless and once one masters the radio presets, the system works flawlessly with Meridian surround sound system putting out a great sound quality.
While our 26t test model didn’t have a hitch receiver, Jaguar says the F-Pace will tow up to 5,290 lbs – more than a comparable Porsche Macan, Audi SQ5 or BMW X3. This much capacity should easily allow owners to haul a boat or a camper with their family for a weekend getaway.
One of the more surprising things for me is how affordable the entry-level model. Jaguar offers the F-Pace for $42,065 and while options and trim levels quickly push this north of $60,000, the pricing should bring in many buyers who have always wanted a Jaguar, but haven’t found a price point suiting their budget. Our test model rang up nearly $10,000 in options putting it at $63,585.
Finishing up our morning hunt with nothing spotted, likely scared off by the F-Pace’s impressive engine growl, we returned to the pavement and headed home. Our hunting trip is definitely not a typical Jaguar owner’s excursion, yet it was a fun way to see the SUV in a different light. Jaguar is pushing its brand to new levels and this F-Pace is ready for the challenge.