Jaguar F-PACE SVR 2020 Review

You want conspicuous consumption served with a dollop of NASCAR noise, then look and listen no farther than the Jaguar F-PACE SVR.

One of the latest hyper-SUVs rolling from the assembly lines of prestige brands, it combines a 405kW/680Nm supercharged 5.0-litre petrol V8 engine with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive to deliver hectic performance despite its 2070kg kerb weight.

How hectic? Try a 0-100km/h dash in 4.3sec and a top speed of 283km/h (if you head for a racetrack).

Underpinning this brutal force is a sports suspension system, an electronic active rear differential and brake discs measuring almost 400mm front and rear.

All that’s wrapped into the F-PACE’s mid-size five-seat SUV body, albeit with some embellishments including larger cooling inlets outside and slimline sports seats inside.

The recommended retail price of the SVR is $140,262 plus on-road costs.

That compares to the $142,000 Porsche Macan Turbo, the $149,900 an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio commands, the $157,900 you’ll pay for a BMW X3 M Competition, or $171,900 for a Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S. Only the Benz also has a V8.

Standard SVR safety equipment includes six airbags, lane keep assist, tyre pressure monitoring and low-speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

If you want high speed (up to 160km/h) AEB then you have to option the $1740 drive pack, or the $4589 driver assist pack that also includes blind spot assist, 360-degree surround camera, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, park assist and a rear traffic monitoring.

Another questionable safety-oriented option is the head up display, which is a hefty $2650.

Now, really, that stuff should all be standard at this price. But even with it added the SVR still undercuts most of the competition listed above.

Standard comfort equipment you don’t have to pay extra for includes dual-zone climate control, quilted leather seats that are heated, cooled and 14-way adjustable up-front and heated in the rear; Jag’s previous-generation 10-inch touchscreen, sat-nav and a powered tailgate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard for model year 2020, which is a step in the right direction.

But there’s still plenty on the options list. The test car came fitted with nearly $20,00 worth of stuff, including a fixed panorama sunroof ($3570), 22-inch wheels ($2210) rather than the heavier standard 21s, a Meridian surround sound system ($1040) and even a $120 remote release for the rear seat.

One thing you do get standard is a temporary spare wheel. Located under the boot floor it’s probably a space saver, but it’s still gigantic!

The SVR is protected by a freshly upgraded ‘promotional’ five-year warranty. Service intervals are dependent on driving style and conditions. A five year/130,000km service plan for an F-TYPE SVR is worth $3750. This price includes roadside assistance.

The SVR is the first Jaguar SUV to be tuned by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. That group of hot tuners has certainly produced something special, not least because this is also the first Jaguar SUV with a V8 engine.

The AJ133 DOHC 32-valve engine has been around in one form or another for a while. In the SVR, with variable inlet and exhaust cam timing and a twin vortex supercharger helping out, it is a boisterous, exuberant thing.

Peak pulling power extending from 2500-5500rpm and peak power then chimes in from 6000rpm. So wherever you go, whatever you do, whenever you push the throttle down there will be response. Through the mid-range it is simply enormous.

Switching the engine and throttle from normal to dynamic mode doesn’t do that much, but switching the auto from normal to sport mode changes the urgency of the whole experience substantially. All of a sudden there’s rapid and early downchanges and the gear is being held longer on the exit of a corner.

If you want to get really exact with gear control then you can change manually via aluminium paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

All this drivetrain substance is accompanied by one of the great exhaust notes – if you love a loud, bellicose V8 roar that is. It is switchable, but press the throttle hard and the two choice seem to be CRAZY LOUD or, um, CRAZY LOUD.

Apply light throttle and there’s little suggestion of what’s lurking upstream of the four tailpipes.

The SVR impresses beyond the straightline. It is extremely well balanced, steers beautifully and has substantial grip.

It’s hard to imagine it being loosened on the public road without going pretty hard. The AWD system, assisted by torque vectoring by brake, has been tuned to be rear-end oriented and it feels it; turn into corners is keen and sure.

The big Jag qualifies along with the GLC 63 and the Porsche Macan as being an extremely quick SUV that isn’t phased in the bends.

There is some adjustment offered to steering weight, but that’s it as far as driver adjustment of the chassis goes.

Indeed, the passive suspension is a strong argument for leaving well enough, because the SVR not only does the job when it comes to handling, it also rides well considering the kerb weight and the low profile of the grippy Pirelli P Zero ZR-rated rubber (265/40 front and 295/35 rear).

The work under the skin hasn’t done anything to compromise cabin space. Four adults can ride comfortably in the outboard seats and their luggage can be accommodated in the 650 litre boot.

In-cabin knick-knack storage space is good, the seats are supportive – if very firm – and the driver has good adjustability of the cockpit.

The controls and instrumentation all work without any obvious issues, although drilling down into various settings menus to effect changes can be laborious.

The SVR will appeal to someone who appreciate high performance, needs space and wants to combine them in one impressive package.

Oh yeah, they also want something different to the usual German default choices.

Alternatively, you might be a fan of Jaguar Land Rover’s portfolio of SVR models and a V8 lover. Well, the F-PACE SVR is easily the cheapest way to combine those two passions!

Downsides? Well, fuel consumption is the obvious issue. The SVR is rated at 11.7L/100km, but our week of trundling, commuting and – a little – enthusiastic driving produced a 17L/100km average! That’s on 95 RON. So, enjoy that.

By the way, if you really want to suck an exorbitant amount of fuel than consider towing. The SVR is rated to haul 2400kg braked.

Other whinges? The rear air-con vents in the centre console can be adjusted for direction and force but not temperature and there’s no wireless phone charging.

And while we’re glad CarPlay is now standard, the connection can be a bit awkward to restart without an unplug/plug-in, which kinda degrades the distraction-reduction argument.

The appearance of the SVR has also proved a debating point in the past. Some have suggested it’s a bit underwhelming. But our test MY20 SVR with its ultra-blue metallic paint and 22-inch alloys proved a head- and ear-turner all week.

Speaking (writing?) as an old fart, if I had this sort of money to spend on a car it wouldn’t be going on an SUV no matter how good it looks, goes and sounds. And the SVR is darn good at all those things.

Nope, I’d go and buy a standard F-PACE and then throw the rest of the money into the deposit for the best used Porsche 911 I could find.

Best of both worlds!

How much does the 2020 Jaguar F-PACE SVR cost?
Price: $140,262 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol
Output: 405kW/680Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 11.7L/100km
CO2: 272g/km
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2017)