Jaguar F-PACE Hybrid Review and Prices

If the standard Jaguar F-Pace is already a Swiss army knife of a car, then this plug-in hybrid version, called F-Pace P400e, adds more useful tools to its tally than ever before.

You see, not only does the F-Pace take care of the practical everyday stuff pretty well by being spacious and easy to drive, it also satisfies if you’re after something with more desirability and class than more mainstream family SUVs.

On top of that, it’s more fun to drive than you might expect from such a high-riding car, offers lots of comfort and refinement, and – particularly with the extensive 2021 update – it offers a vast array of technology and a real luxury feel inside.

The plug-in hybrid adds to this by giving the choice of smooth, silent and less polluting pure electric power, or extra straight-line oomph by using the electric motor to assist the petrol engine. It really suits the car’s character, although lesser versions aren’t lugging around hefty batteries and are more fun to drive as a result.

The F-Pace is now a much better car than before thanks to its mid-life update. That’s mainly down to the interior, which even on the cheapest models makes the pre-2021 car look about as posh as an all-you-can-eat buffet.

The latest F-Pace really ups its game over the last car - but you’ll need to do your sums to check if the plug-in hybrid model makes sense

Not only is the inside much posher to look at than before, it’s also nicer to the touch as material quality is now a match for the Germans.

The infotainment, which wasn’t great before, is bang up to date, with a sleek 11.4inch curved touchscreen offering loads of features and responsive menus. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, too, if all you do is plug your phone in and go.

Where the F-Pace trumps cars such as the Audi Q5 is in standard equipment terms. Even the entry-level S gets an electric tailgate, heated and electric leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and the full new infotainment system, but the extra luxuries of SE or HSE trim may be worth splashing out for.

Sportier R-design trim ditches subtle elegance for more visual impact with a number of exterior changes and even more kit. Be careful, though, it’s easy get carried away with the spec and push the price of your F-Pace over £70,000, into the firing line of even posher and more practical SUVs such as the BMW X5 and Land Rover Discovery – large SUVs with seven seats and huge boots.

Talking of boots, the F-Pace plug-in hybrid loses around 20% of its luggage capacity due to the battery being mounted under the floor. There’s nowhere to store your charging cables, either, as the underfloor storage is no more. This is the case with many hybrid alternatives, however.

The P400e puts out a healthy 400hp – easily enough to offset the increase in weight over lesser models. Performance feels strong and despite only being a four-cylinder the engine doesn’t sound or feel strained, thanks to the electric assistance. It’ll do 0-60 in five seconds and nudge 150mph, so it’s pretty quick.

As with most plug-in hybrids you’ll need to take the claimed 130mpg with a pinch – or maybe a fistful – of salt. You’ll need to plug it in pretty much every time you’re stationary, and only do fairly short journeys, to achieve that. Still, the 49g/km CO2 output is nice and low.

Most of the time the plug-in F-Pace is much like its non-hybrid siblings to drive if you’re out of EV mode. The ride is comfortable even on the giant 22in wheels you can spec, it steers and handles nicely for such a big car, and it’s enjoyable to drive both on country lanes and motorways.

However, it is a good deal heavier than than lesser models, so ultimately the handling isn’t quite as sharp. If you can live with that the F-Pace plug-in hybrid is well worth a look in.

If you want to see if the plug-in hybrid F-Pace works for you at a fair price, check out our F-Pace deals page. Or tap the button below to build your own spec.