2023 Jaguar F-Pace SVR review: The cat’s whiskers

Remember Jaguar? Time was when it was the pride of the nation, and even in more recent times it’s made some fine cars among a few frankly undeniable clunkers. When new the F-type, F-Pace, I-Pace and XF and XE were all excellent and in some cases exceptional examples of their art. But sadly that was all a very long time ago. The youngest, the I-Pace, was launched in 2018, which means it’s been fully five years since Jaguar last launched a car. For a modern mainstream motor manufacturer, that kind of inactivity is unprecedented.

We have another year to go too, until, we are told, Jaguar will be reborn and emerge from its hibernation having metamorphosed into a super-luxury all-electric brand. But for now I thought it instructive to remind ourselves just how good Jaguars once were and, against all the odds, in some cases still are.

This F-Pace SVR, for instance, recently upgraded with modern infotainment, remains a convincing example of the high-powered SUV art. It’s quick of course, and sounds great, but it’s also about as much fun to hoof about as you could ever expect such a car to be. I don’t think I’ve driven an F-Pace since before lockdown, and part of me thought it might be a slightly sad relic hoping to make up for all it lacked in so many other areas. Not a bit of it. It was great then; it remains so now. Makes you wonder what JLR could have done with the brand had it not decided to park it all those years ago. AF

Jaguar F-Pace SVR

Price £81,510
Engine 5 litres, eight cylinders, petrol, supercharged
Power 575bhp
Torque 516lb ft
Weight 2058kg
Power to weight 279bhp per tonne
Transmission Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
0-60mph 3.8sec
Top speed 178mph
Economy 23.5 mpg (WLTP)
CO2 274g/km (WLTP)
Verdict Sweet Jag petrol swan song.