Jag’s baby SUV is here, after years of speculation and waiting. Does it bring enough to the table?
The most compact of Jaguar’s SUVs, the E-Pace, has now finally made its Malaysian debut after about 3 years of on-again, off-again rumours surrounding its local arrival. There were previously a few examples spied on our roads as recently as 2019, but its launch certainly took a more casual pace, excuse the pun.
Now that the E-Pace is on sale, the compact SUV will definitely see some stiff competition from the BMW X1, Volvo XC40, the Lexus UX, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA (which is a generation behind), especially as the fully imported Brit is priced rather steeply at RM403,216.
Mind you, this already has the 50% sales tax waiver applied. Ironically, that makes its cousin, the new Range Rover Evoque, the E-Pace’s fiercest rival.
For that much coin, the E-Pace does at least come well equipped. As standard, there are 20-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, keyless entry, a powered tailgate, as well as the Black Exterior Pack with darkened accents. However, body colour options are limited to either Yulong White or Firenze Red, both metallic.
Inside, there’s the usual lashings of grained leather upholstery, which are most pronounced on those seats that feature 14-way electric adjustment at the front. The 10-inch Touch Pro infotainment system is new and quite slick, but also has support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and outputs to a 380W Meridian Sound System.
Jaguar has added a 360-degree camera to the E-Pace along with Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, a Driver Condition Monitor, and Rear Traffic Monitor. That is, of course, in addition to 6 airbags.
Up front, there’s a sole powertrain offering that comprises of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol from JLR’s new Ingenium family of engines, producing 200PS and 320Nm at their respective peaks. Drive is sent through a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels, and the resulting 0-100km/h sprint can be dealt in a respectable 8.2 seconds.
Each new E-Pace also comes with the Jaguar Care programme which covers the SUV with a 5-year warranty that includes a 5-year free servicing and 3 years of free roadside assistance.
Keyword: Jaguar E-Pace Is Finally In Malaysia - Thank You For Your Patience