Jaguar sold just over 31,000 cars and SUVs in the United States last year, nearly half of which were F-Paces. To say the company’s biggest SUV is its most important model (at least on our shore) is something of an understatement. And now the company’s best-seller—a fat cat gorging on profits, if you will—is getting a major update.
Jaguar brings the 2021 F-Pace’s exterior up to date with its current design language, taking cues such as the LED daytime running lights’ blades and the silver strakes in the side intakes off of other models in its lineup. The rear-end gets new taillights that mimic what’s found on the I-Pace, while the rear bumper looks more elegant thanks to a small nip and tuck.
It’s What’s Inside the 2021 F-Pace That Counts
While the updates to the exterior are standard fare for a mid-cycle refresh, the interior is a completely different ballgame. The F-Pace’s infotainment undergoes a big-time redesign. Where the funky, recessed touch screen once lived now resides a practically bezel-free 11.4-inch touchscreen that rivals the likes of the Tesla Model Y‘s. It floats neatly above the dashboard and is slightly curved to optimize viewing angles and reduce glare.
Jaguar claims the new screen is up to three times brighter and 48 percent larger than the one it replaces. It also hosts the next-generation of Jaguar infotainment. The brand calls it Pivi Pro, and it attempts to rid the F-Pace of the old setup’s woes. The screen is divided into three major sections: media, navigation, and external devices, such as a smartphone. It supports the pairing of two smartphones at once and features over-the-air updates.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the setup even connects with Microsoft Outlook and Google calendars to help keep track of appointments and major events. The system also pairs with an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Much like Audi’s so-called Virtual Cockpit, the Jag’s gauge cluster displays everything from navigation directions to media information to contact lists and more right in front of the driver. The new instrument cluster can also pair with a head-up display.
But the changes don’t stop at the F-Pace’s infotainment system. There’s a new steering wheel (just like the one in the recently updated XE), a redesigned center console with a drive mode selector that pops up and out of the central tunnel, and a new shifter with a volume scroll wheel just to the left of it. For 2021, goodies such as heated seats, keyless entry, and a 14-speaker Meridian sound system are standard fare on every F-Pace model.
We’ve said before that the interior of the F-Pace doesn’t befit its price tag, and it looks like Jaguar is taking steps to remedy that problem. The cabin of the F-Pace now benefits from active road-noise cancellation, more liberal use of soft-touch materials, and a new cabin air ionizer that’s capable of capturing ultra-fine particles and allergens. There are also new materials, such as open-pore wood, which make the insides of the F-Pace an even more luxurious space.
But Wait, There’s More to the 2021 F-Pace!
The F-Pace also gets its powertrain options reshuffled for 2021. All of the crossover’s engines pair with a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission, while all-wheel-drive is standard across the board. The base powertrain is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder that makes 246 hp at 5,500 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque at 1,300 rpm.
Step up to the 3.0-liter six-cylinder options and you also get “mild-hybrid” technology—a first for Jaguar. The lesser of the two I-6s makes 335 ponies at 5,500 rpm and 354 lb-ft at 1,500 rpm. The most powerful engine option for the 2021 F-Pace (at least until the next F-Pace SVR is announced) is rated at 395 horses at 5,500 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm.
Those numbers put the F-Pace nicely inline with the power figures from competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43. What remains to be seen, however, is if the changes that Jaguar made to the 2021 F-Pace will help it steal away sales from its competition.
Pricing details haven’t been announced yet, but it’s safe to assume the extensive overhaul means Jaguar will ask for a little bit more of your hard-earned cash this time around. In short, we expect the 2021 F-Pace to sport a sticker price a bit more expensive than that of the 2020 model’s $46,350 starting sum.
