Jaguar and Land Rover have been quite active in recent months with the 2021 model year updates. We saw the F-Pace, Velar, and the XF Sportbrake among other products being updated in recent months. This time, it’s time for the E-Pace to be updated.

Although it comes with similar updates like its other family members, which include new mild- and plug-in hybrid options and tweaked interior and exterior, the E-Pace comes with another big change – a new architecture. Will this make the SUV better than the current model?

What’s New On The Outside?

When compared to the other ‘Pace’ models, the E-Pace used to feel sedate and simple. That, however, is changed this time around and the 2021 model looks a lot more aggressive and sportier. The front fascia comes with a new grille mesh design. It even features new LED headlights with Double J Daytime Running Lights. You can also have them with the Pixel LED technology.

Things in the rear are also slightly different. The bumper features a new mesh insert that sits between the integrated exhaust pipes. The LED taillights are inspired by the I-Pace and are unmistakably Jaguar. You can choose to delete all the chrome by opting for the Black Exterior Pack that adds a Narvik Black finish to the bespoke elements.

How Is It On The Inside?

A new steering wheel welcomes you to the cockpit with ‘hidden until lit’ switches and metal paddle shifters. The new E-Pace comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel which Jaguars prefers calling “HD Interactive Driver Display”. It throws a ton of data, including full-screen navigation, infotainment, details, and so on. A Head-up Display is also available as optional. A 15W wireless changer is present as well.

The highlight of the cabin is the new 11.4-inch curved glass touchscreen backed by Jaguar’s Pivi Pro system. It is a well-rounded system and comes with a plethora of compatibilities, like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Baidu Car Life, Microsoft Outlook, etc. It even supports over-the-air updates, cellular connectivity, and dual-phone simultaneous connectivity. The touchscreen is said to have two coatings; one for anti-glare and the other to resist the fingerprints.

There are a lot of other new things as well that make the Jaguar E-Pace feel a lot more premium, like the usage of soft-touch materials around the cockpit, sculpted area on the sides of the center console that comes in contact with the knee, etc. The Jaguar Leaper is embossed on the headrests and ‘Est.1935 Jaguar Coventry’ tags can be seen on the upholstery. A new Drive Selector is also in place and the upper section is embroidered with a “cricket ball” finish.

The E-Pace also comes with a second-generation wearable Activity Key that can be used to access and start the SUV. It replaces the conventional key fob. Driver Assistance features like Clear Exit Monitor and Adaptive Cruise Control are also present. 3D camera, cabin air ionization, and ambient lighting are some of the other features available on the 2021 model.

New Platform and Drivetrain Options

The biggest changes for the 2021 model year come under the skin of the SUV. The 2021 E-Pace now rides on Jaguar’s Premium Transverse Architecture, which has been ‘designed and engineered to accommodate the latest electrified powertrain technologies’. The company hasn’t explicitly mentioned that it improves the ride quality as well, but a difference will be noticeable in the real world.

Diesel Engines

The 2021 E-Pace also comes with a plethora of engine options to choose from, some of which are new whereas some of them are carried over.

However, this is offered in three different iterations. In the base form, it churns out 161 ponies. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

The other two iterations come with mild-hybrid technology. The drivetrains equipped with the mild-hybrid technology makes use of a Belt-Integrated Starter Generator, which essentially helps with regenerative braking. The energy harvested is stored in a 48-volt lithium-ion battery. These mild-hybrid models also feature a stop/start system.

One of the diesel mild-hybrid models makes 161 horses and 280 pound-feet of torque, whereas the other one dishes out 201 ponies and 317 pound-feet of torque. The former comes with a fuel economy rating of 44.3 mpg and the 201-horsepower iteration delivers up to 43.9 mpg. Both these iterations come with a nine-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all the wheels.

Petrol Engines

The base 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 158 horses. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to the front wheels only and comes with mild-hybrid technology. The same engine is also available in a plug-in hybrid version, which I’ll get back to in a bit.

The other option is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged mill that is offered in three different states of tune. All of them, by the way, feature the mid-hybrid tech. The least powerful version makes 197 horses and 236 pound-feet of torque. The mid option makes 246 ponies and 269 pound-feet of torque, whereas the most powerful 2.0-liter petrol mill makes 296 horses and 295 pound-feet of twist. The 0-62 mph times for all of them stand at 8.5 seconds, 7.5 seconds, and 6.9 seconds respectively. The 296-horsepower option is available exclusively on the new range-topping trim called the 300 Sport. Power is sent to all the wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission in all three states of tune.

Plug-in Hybrid Drivetrain

The plug-in hybrid option is based on the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged Ingenium engine.

Power is sent to all the wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The Electric Rear Axle Drive motor is powered by a 15 kWh battery that is situated under the boot floor.

When connected to a 7 kW charger, it takes 84 minutes to charges to 80-percent. The same recuperation happens in 30 minutes when connected to a 32 kW DC fast charger. It provides an electric-only range of 34 miles, which is more than the average U.K. daily commute. If used only in the city, the electric range could be enough. The overall fuel economy is rated at 141 mpg! It is sufficiently fast as well, hitting the 62 mph mark from a standstill in 6.5 seconds.

2021 Jaguar E-Pace 300 Sport

Jaguar has introduced a new top-end trim called the 300 Sport for the 2021 model. It will be available in all the exterior shades offered on the SUV as standard. Even the Black Exterior Pack comes as standard here. The E-Pace 300 Sport rides on 20-inch, five-spoke, Black Accent Diamond wheels. Inside the cabin, this trim is offered with R-Dynamic Taurus Sport seats that can be had in Ebony, Cloud, or Deep Garnet themes. Other intricacies include illuminated Jaguar tread plates, Meridian Audio, Ebony Suede cloth headlining.

It comes with the top-spec petrol engine under the hood that sprints to 62 mph from rest in 6.9 seconds. There are some exclusive tech features offered on this range-topping trim, which include Active Damping, Adaptive Dynamics, Active Driveline, and Configurable Dynamics.

Final Thoughts

The 2021 Jaguar E-Pace comes with a whole lot of changes under the skin, a few in the cabin, and even fewer on the outside. However, it feels fresh and that’s what matters at the end of the day. The pricing sees a subtle increase as well. The range now starts at $40,995, which is an increase of $1,045 over the outgoing model. The 300 Sport, on the other hand, starts at $49,995.