The 2018 E-Pace Drinks More Than Its Bigger Brother

Just to clear things up right off the bat, Jaguar’s newest model, the E-Pace, is not the brand’s upcoming electric sport crossover. That’s the I-Pace. Because “I” stands for … ions, we presume.

No, the E-pace is the smaller answer to Jag customers looking for something less than an F-Pace, but not too much less. Riding on the Range Rover Evoque platform, the E-Pace boasts less overhang and a shorter overall length, while retaining the styling cues and handling of its popular larger sibling. However, despite being smaller in most dimensions, there’s one area where it actually tops the F-Pace: in consumption of fuel.

The Environmental Protection Agency has released fuel economy ratings for one of the 2018 E-Pace’s two configurations — this one the higher output 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder seen on higher-trim models. It’s good for 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque sent to all four wheels.

The combined rating bestowed on the hotter E-Pace is 23 miles per gallon. In the city, this E-Pace can expect to return 21 mpg, and 27 mpg on the highway.

However, buyers of a 2018 F-Pace equipped with the same engine can expect 24 mpg combined, helped along by a higher city rating of 22 mpg. Highway mileage is the same. Smaller to the eye doesn’t necessarily mean thriftier at the pumps — we saw this recently with the Nissan Rogue’s little brother, the Rogue Sport (Qashqai in Canada).

On the surface, the E-Pace’s ZF nine-speed automatic transmission, coupled by its smaller size, would seem to give it an advantage. However, the E-Pace, when equipped with the 296 hp engine, actually outweighs the F-Pace by 130 pounds. Its transmission also has a higher final drive ratio than its eight-speed sibling.

Still, a single MPG isn’t likely to muss anyone’s hair, as the E-Pace’s main job is to provide a lower entry point to Jag’s utility lineup. For $39,595 after delivery, the new SUV’s base MSRP is meaningfully lower than the $43,060 F-Pace. Base models of both vehicles make do with a 2.0-liter making 246 hp in the E-Pace, 247 hp in the F-Pace, and 269 lb-ft in both.

[Image: Jaguar Land Rover]