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This year could very well go down in history as the year of the legitimization of the super-sporty SUV. The new Lamborghini Urus is enough to make the case for that on its own—but others from Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, and BMW abound as well, bringing such high-powered enablers as active anti-sway bars and hyper-responsive suspension systems to the crossover game.
Now, Jaguar is entering the fray with the SVO—that’s Special Vehicle Operations—version of its F-Pace. It doesn’t deploy many fancy performance parlor tricks, but it uses a lot of engineering finesse and know-how to reign in this SUV’s top-heavy mass and make it a legitimate performance vehicle…one that can also make Ikea runs.
The Good: Significant grunt from the supercharged V-8 makes this an unquestionably fun SUV. Its sleek aerodynamic treatment, including functional hood vents and side ports, work to keep temperatures in check and improve aerodynamics. That means plenty of power and grip under hard driving. It’s got ultra-growly acoustics, of the sort not seen on a Jaguar seen since the F-Type roadster popped onto the scene with its crackling, popping exhaust note. The F-Pace SVR isn’t quite that over-the-top, but it’ll still grab people’s attention.
Who It’s For: Anyone who wants a morning blast of giddyup on the way to work. The F-Pace delivers both the commanding view of an automotive high-rise along with the firm cosseting of a true performance vehicle. In other words, it feels like a fantastic place to be—and conquer the world from. So the meek shall not apply. (Nor should the particularly eco-conscious, as the supercharged V-8 delivers a scant 18 miles per gallon combined.)
Watch Out For: The F-Pace’s occasionally awkward design touches—though “quirky” is a more generous interpretation. Example: the window controls, which are used frequently, sit high up on the door sill out of natural reach—while the seat memory controls, used only rarely, are right at your fingertips on the armrest.
