Jaguar is rolling out mid-cycle updates and new infotainment across its range, with its entry-level crossover receiving one of the more substantial updates.
The 2021 Jaguar E-Pace has been graduated to Jaguar Land Rover’s Premium Transverse Architecture, which also underpins the second-generation Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque.
It arrives locally in the first quarter of 2021 with a petrol-only range headlined by the new 300 Sport.
It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system. Total outputs are 221kW of power and 400Nm of torque, with Jaguar claiming a 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds.
The 300 Sport sits atop a pared-back E-Pace range, otherwise consisting only of P250 R-Dynamic models in S, SE and HSE trim levels.
These models are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 184kW of power and 365Nm of torque.
This year’s diesel-powered D180 models have been ditched.
All 2021 E-Paces come standard with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Exterior styling has been refreshed with a revised front bumper, new grille and redesigned LED headlights, for a more “grown-up” appeal according to design director Julian Thomson.
Pixel LED headlights are optional, while all bar the base S model features adaptive high-beam. The S also misses out on scrolling front indicators, though it has them at the rear.
The E-Pace’s rear has also been tweaked, with a revised bumper and restyled LED tail lights inspired by those on the I-Pace. All models also offer an optional black exterior pack, standard on the 300 Sport.
Inside, there’s a new 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen running Jaguar Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro infotainment system.
Backed by a new electronic vehicle architecture, the new system has dual-sim technology, supports over-the-air updates, and has a dedicated power source for quicker start-up. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
There’s a new steering wheel much like that in the I-Pace, as well as a new drive selector. The area of the centre console where your knee rests has been resculpted to improve comfort, while various driver touchpoints are now covered in soft-touch materials.
The Premium Transverse Architecture underpinning the 2021 E-Pace allows for a stiffer, quieter structure than the outgoing model, which was related to that of the first-generation Evoque. Jaguar promises a more comfortable ride without sacrificing agility.
The E-Pace’s all-wheel drive system now switches to front-wheel drive-only in steady cruising to aid fuel efficiency.
The 300 Sport gets Jaguar’s second-generation Active Driveline AWD system, which uses two independent, electronically-controlled wet-plate clutches to distribute torque across the rear wheels. The system can send 100 per cent of that torque to either rear wheel in 100 milliseconds.
Adaptive suspension is also standard in the 300 Sport, which also adds 20-inch alloy wheels, the black exterior pack, a power tailgate, Ebony Suedecloth headlining and front sport seats.
All 2021 Jaguar E-Pace models now come standard with proximity entry, a 3D surround camera, adaptive cruise control, adaptive speed limiter, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic sign recognition.
Options include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and Jaguar’s ClearSight rear-view mirror, which feeds footage from a wide angle rear-facing camera to the rear-view mirror.
As on all the latest Jaguar models, the cabin air ionisation functionality now features PM2.5 filtration to capture ultra-fine particles. You can activate it by pressing the Purify button on the touchscreen. The second-generation wearable Activity Key can also be used to lock, unlock and start the vehicle.
Pricing
- 2021 Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic S P250: $63,900
- 2021 Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic SE P250: $67,200
- 2021 Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic HSE P250: $71,300
- 2021 Jaguar E-Pace 300 Sport: $79,600
All prices exclude on-road costs.
