SUVs generally serve a purpose. For most, it’s to move large families and their cargo in a comfortable manner. Then there are SUVs with a big engine under the hood, whose purpose is to move you, your family, and their cargo from point A to B as fast as possible—and with a smile on everyone’s face. The 2024 Jaguar F-Pace SVR falls into the latter category: this high-horsepower sport-ute rockets forward, swings out its rear end, and turns heads all in the way you’d expect a sports car would. This is a Jaguar built for families who enjoy driving.
The F-Pace SVR faces stiff competition from the likes of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, BMW X3 M, Mercedes-AMG GLC 63, and the Porsche Macan GTS, to name a few. They all post similar zero-to-100 km/h sprint times, and the X3 and Macan are arguably more agile through a set of twisties. However, the Jaguar packs more of a punch than the numbers suggest—and along with the Alfa, arguably sounds the best of the bunch.
With 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque on tap from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8, the F-Pace SVR moves with authority. It launches hard in Sport mode, it likes to dance when you throw it into a corner, and thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel-drive, it puts the power down without breaking a sweat. All this allows the SVR to run from zero to 100 km/h in four seconds flat, making for a sport-ute that’s way more fun than it should be.
When it comes to putting on a spectacle, the F-Pace SVR is a winner. Its V8 sounds exhilarating. Jumping behind the wheel and tapping the start button wakes up this beast with a deep, throaty rumble and the right amount of crackles and pops. The sheer sound, feel, and drama coming from the F-Pace is absent in nearly all its competitors, but don’t wait—this wonderful engine is on borrowed time.
Visually, the 2024 model hasn’t changed significantly since the F-Pace SVR launched several years ago. It has received a few nips-and-tucks over the years to change things for the sake of changing things, but it remains a very attractive and distinct design that you won’t mistake for anything but a Jaguar. To me, it’s one of the better-looking performance SUVs on the market. The staggered 22-inch wheels look spectacular, the blacked-out emblems on our tester are a nice contrast to the Fuji White exterior paintwork, and functional hood scoops and big quad exhaust tips show off the performance chops.
But don’t think the F-Pace SVR is all about sport. Inside, it can move four adults in comfort—five in a pinch—and rewards you with high-quality materials. Look for a mix of leather, suede, and bright metal trim, like the oversized and satisfying-to-use paddle shifters. The bright red upholstery screams for your attention, and the bucket seats up front are the perfect mix of comfort and bolstering. Having experienced my fair share of sport seats that were way too narrow for me to comfortably sit for long periods of time, my wide bottom and hips had no complaints here.
You won’t find any overly complicated tech inside the F-Pace SVR, either. Everything you need is straightforward to operate, the 11.4-inch touchscreen is crisp and responsive, and it retains physical buttons and knobs for climate controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, too.
Where the F-Pace SVR trails its competitors is fuel economy—or perhaps a lack thereof. The official numbers are 15.7 L/100 kilometres city, 11.4 highway, and 13.8 combined; during my week with it, I achieved a very thirsty 15.5 L/100 km in mixed driving. All this, plus the fact that premium-grade fuel is required to fill up the 83-litre fuel tank, is enough to give me a slight pause before flooring it. But I just couldn’t resist.
Buyers looking to get into an F-Pace SVR might be surprised to see a reasonable starting price of $104,200. With a handful of options, including the upsized 22-inch wheels, the Driver Intelligence Pack, and a few more bits and pieces, pricing works out to $109,505 as-tested before destination, taxes, and any other fees. It’s far from chump change, but it’s a small price to pay considering the SVR’s experience and drama.
The 2024 Jaguar F-Pace SVR may not be at the top of everyone’s list for a high-powered SUV because of its fuel economy and performance that slightly trails its competitors. However, those are minor annoyances, and the F-Pace SVR more than makes up for them with a killer engine and soundtrack, a posh interior, and a willing chassis that defies the fact that it’s an SUV. Good ol’ horsepower and noise is enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
