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By Jonathan Crouch

Jaguar's E-PACE P300e AWD Plug-in Hybrid offers an interesting take on what a compact, fashion-conscious premium SUV can be. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 52

Jaguar's improved E-PACE gets the brand's PHEV Plug-in tech, this AWD P300e version able to cover up to 34 miles in all-electric silence. This confection certainly isn't inexpensive, but if you can't quite bring yourself to opt for a mid-sized EV and you want a compact premium-badged Crossover, this one might appeal.

Backgroundword count: 132

The last thing the original version of the Jaguar E-PACE needed was the extra weight of a Plug-in hybrid system. In its early form, this car struggled along with steel D8 underpinnings so heavy that they made this compact SUV weightier and Jaguar's mid-sized F-PACE model in the class above. But things have changed. A mid-term facelift for the E-PACE, usually the kind of thing that would have given the car are no more than a minor wash and brush up, has in this case bought it completely fresh and much lighter PTA platform. Which can also enable it to take the three cylinder Plug-in PHEV powertrain we've already seen in JLR's Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque models. Creating the E-PACE P300e variant we're going to look at here.

Driving Experienceword count: 224

This P300e Plug-in Hybrid E-PACE derivative uses the same powertrain found in smaller Land Rovers; a 309PS three cylinder 1.5-litre petrol unit mated to an 80kW Electric Rear Axle Drive motor powered by a 15kWh lithium-ion battery beneath the boot floor. The E-PACE PHEV is one of the quickest variants in the line-up, able to manage 62mph from rest in just 6.1s and reach 84mph on electric power alone. Above this speed, the electric motor is decoupled to reduce drag and the car reverts to front wheel drive. Top speed is 134mph. Obviously, if you use this model's reserves of performance too often, you'll very quickly deplete the all-electric driving range, WLTP-rated at 34 miles. Like other E-PACE variants, you should find on the road that this one has very much a Jaguar feel, aided by this revised version's new stiffer PTA platform. It's certainly far more of a driver's car than its Land Rover cousins thanks to things like 'Configurable Dynamics' technology that lets drivers personalise throttle, steering and transmission settings. There's a 'JaguarDrive Control' system that gives owners a choice of four selectable driving modes - 'Normal', 'Dynamic', 'ECO' and an 'AdSR' 'Adaptive Surface Response' mode option. The 'Active Driveline' AWD system can transfer traction to the rear axle in a fraction of a second should a lack of grip demand it.

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