Jaguar has a reputation for comfortable rides and good handling suspension. However, recently they have begun building SUVs and crossovers. Furthermore, Jaguar have been making an effort to build in some off-road ability into their new higher-sitting SUVs. We got our hands on a 2018 Jaguar E-Pace, and decided the best way to test off-road ability was taking the Jag up Gold Mine Hill.
Off Road Goodies
What has Jaguar borrowed from Land Rover in order to give the E-Pace some off-road cred? Well certainly not the tires. This one is on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros, which is an ‘all-terrain tire’, but certainly no BFG KO2. Approach angle is 22.8 degrees, break-over is 21.1 degrees, and departure angle is 29.4. Ground clearance is an acceptable 8-inches. The most impressive stat here is probably water fording depth. The E-Pace can cross water as deep as 20 inches.
There is no off-road ‘mode’, but there is a little button for All Surface Progress Control, ASPC. This is like crawl control. You select a gear and a speed and the Jag keeps you going at a constant speed. This also functions as hill descent control when going downhill.
Powerplant
All that off-road tech would be useless without an engine. Under the hood of the 2018 Jaguar E-Pace is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission.
How did it do?
Stage 1 was no problem for the 2018 Jaguar E-Pace. Stage 2… Well that took a few tries. But, to see how stage 3 went, you’re just going to have to watch the whole video.
Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for the latest news, views & real-world reviews and, of course, more videos on the 2018 Jaguar E-Pace.
