Item: Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

Our favourite F-Type engine is the P450, a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 with 444bhp. It’s noticeably quicker and more muscular than the 2.0-litre, providing enough acceleration to pin you back in your seat, with a snarling exhaust note that turns into a guttural roar as you chase the red line. It’s available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and is markedly more expensive than the P300, but it feels significantly more special.

5.0 P450 Supercharged V8

Coupe

Jaguars are consistently among the best-handling cars of their kind, with the firm’s model range encompassing the XE, XF and XJ saloons, the F-Type sports cars and multiple SUVs.

Jaguar was actually relatively late to launch its first SUV, the F-Pace, but it quickly followed it up with the smaller E-Pace and the all-electric I-Pace.

That SUV range will keep growing, too, with larger and more luxurious SUVs planned to take on the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover from sister brand Land Rover.

JAGUAR

F-TYPE

Available on P300 and P450 models, it has more aggressive styling on the outside, with black accents and bigger 19in wheels, a switchable exhaust and additional metal trim inside. Opt for the P450 and the wheels are 20in, and you get a limited-slip differential to boost traction, plus adaptive suspension. As it’s the only way to get the P450 engine, it’s the trim we’d go for.

R-Dynamic

5.0 P450 Supercharged V8 R-Dynamic 2dr Auto

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

How pricey the F-Type seems depends on what you compare it with. It looks decidedly dear next to the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a>, which, despite being faster and better to drive, costs thousands of pounds less.

There are versions of the F-Type that are considerably cheaper than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/8-series/coupe/review/n18853">BMW 8 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>, though. Whichever way you slice it, you need deep pockets for the range-topping R, which sneaks towards the price territory of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a> supercar.

Unsurprisingly, insurance and road tax costs will be high on any F-Type and it will depreciate far faster than a Porsche. The four-cylinder model is easily the best for fuel economy and company car tax, but it still isn’t what you’d call cheap to run.

It still sits in the top 37% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket, while you’ll be very lucky to see 30mpg. Unsurprisingly, the V8 cars are even thirstier.

The entry-level P300 F-Type is quite well equipped, with LED headlights, 18in alloys, a sports exhaust, cruise control and the 10.0in infotainment system. You can also choose the P300 engine with R-Dynamic trim, which adds some extra styling touches, along with 19in wheels.

The P450 engine is available only as an R-Dynamic model, gaining a limited-slip differential for better traction and 20in wheels, while the P575 F-Type R stands at the top of the range, with a more distinctive bodykit and fully electrically adjustable seats.

Other options include keyless entry (standard on R), heated seats and a heated windscreen, and you’ll probably also want to spend extra on the extended leather upgrade for the interior and aluminium gearshift paddles.

We don’t have any reliability data for the F-Type itself, but Jaguar as a manufacturer finished towards the bottom in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">2020 What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. The standard three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty and three years’ roadside assistance should provide some peace of mind, though, and both can be extended at an extra cost.

The F-Type hasn’t been crash tested by the safety experts at <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a>, but it comes with the safety equipment you’d hope for. Like most rivals, the F-Type has stability control, four airbags and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

However, its active bonnet is an unusual feature; it pops up to cushion the impact in a collision with a pedestrian. It also has lane-keeping assistance, driver condition monitoring to warn of signs of tiredness, traffic sign recognition and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking</a>. Blindspot monitoring is part of an optional package.

The F-Type is comparatively good at keeping out thieves. It scored five out of five for guarding against being stolen and four out of five for resisting being broken into in Thatcham Research’s security tests.

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The most popular F-Type engine is the least powerful in the range. Badged P300, it’s a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder that’s offered only with rear-wheel drive.

It’s powerful enough to make the F-Type feel quick, but it needs working pretty hard to deliver its potential and certain hot hatches can show it a clean pair of heels.

The exhaust note sounds a bit dreary, too, despite the odd pop and crackle when you back off the accelerator pedal. All in all, the P300 has too many excellent rivals in its price range to stand out.

Our favourite F-Type engine is the P450, a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 with 444bhp; this is noticeably quicker and more muscular than the 2.0-litre.

There’s enough acceleration to pin you back in your seat and a snarling exhaust note that turns into a guttural roar as you chase the red line. It’s available with rear or four-wheel drive and markedly more expensive than the P300 but feels significantly more special.

The P575 – exclusive to the F-Type R – is a version of the same V8 engine, but with even more power. With 567bhp, it gives you enough acceleration to match the pace of some supercars.

A sports exhaust gives it one of the most hilariously brutish engine notes you can find on any new car on sale (if you like your neighbours, there’s a setting to quieten the exhaust on start-up). So why isn’t the P575 our favourite F-Type? Well, although it’s eye-wateringly powerful, it’s just too much of a financial leap from the P450 to be recommended.

Every F-Type has an eight-speed automatic gearbox that shifts smoothly but can be hesitant if you ask for a sudden burst of pace. You can use the paddles on the steering wheel to shift manually, and the gearbox reacts more promptly when you do so. Switching to Dynamic mode makes the gearbox more alert and sharpens the accelerator response.

The F-Type is much heavier than rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a> and Porsche <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">718 Cayman</a>, and you feel its greater weight on the road. It’s less nimble when you attack a corner with gusto and the steering doesn’t have as much feel, although it is precise.

Still, the F-Type is enjoyable to drive, with far better composure than the Toyota Supra. Even the rear-wheel-drive models are stable yet entertaining in the wet, without the spiky, unpredictable tendencies of previous rear-drive F-Types. The four-wheel-drive models are even more impressively sure-footed.

Four-cylinder F-Types have conventional suspension, which gives you a ride that’s sports car firm but not overly bumpy. Progress never becomes uncomfortable, but you’re always aware of undulations in the road as the car's wheels pass over them.

V8-powered models come with adaptive suspension, which improves ride comfort while helping to counteract body pitch and lean in corners. The set-up still leaves the ride a little unsettled on scruffy surfaces, but it’s a bit more supple, especially around town.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

The most popular F-Type engine is the least powerful in the range. Badged P300, it’s a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder that’s offered only with rear-wheel drive. It’s certainly quick, although there are a number of hot hatches that can out-accelerate it. It also sounds rather dreary, one of the big reasons for upgrading to the P450.

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2.0 P300

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OUR PICK

50-p450-supercharged-v8

The P575 – exclusive to the F-Type R – is a version of the same V8 engine found in the P450, but with even more power. With no less than 567bhp, it gives you enough acceleration to match the pace of some supercars. A sports exhaust gives it one of the most hilariously brutish engine notes you can find on any new car on sale, but the big price jump over the P450 makes it hard to recommend.

5.0 P575 S/C V8

50-p575-sc-v8

Heritage is a double-edged sword. While the Jaguar F-Type Coupé can be proud of its lineage, the grace, space and pace of its forebears mean it has a lot to live up to.

That’s especially true when its very name is so similar to that of the legendary Jaguar E-Type, which, remember, didn’t have anywhere near as many rivals on the road.

The entry-level F-Type competes with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a> and Toyota Supra, while the range-topping F-Type R is up against the mighty <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>, as well as grand tourers such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/8-series/coupe/review/n18853">BMW 8 Series</a>.

In order to see off this veritable battalion of adversaries, the F-Type has to span the gulf between sports car and supercar, ably assisted by its soft-top sister, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/sports/review/n17">F-Type Convertible</a>. It's armed for the mission with a varied line-up of engines, ranging from a 296bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder to a 567bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 (which emits a bloodcurdling battle cry when provoked).&nbsp;

Whichever engine you pick, it remains a strict two-seater. You’ll need a BMW 8 Series or Porsche 911 to match the F-Type’s performance while carrying more than one passenger.

So, can the F-Type take on all comers confidently, or do rivals leave it bruised and bloodied? Read on and we’ll tell you exactly how it drives, what it’s like for passengers and how much it’ll cost you to run. We’ll also explain which engines are our favourites, and why.

Already imagining an F-Type on your drive? The next step is to visit our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/jaguar/f-type/coupe/deals">New Car Buying pages</a> to find out just how much you could save, without any tedious haggling.

Jaguar offers the F-Type with decent sports seats as standard, including six-way electric adjustment.

We’d consider upgrading to the 12-way memory front seats that are standard on First Edition and R models, or an option on lesser versions. These are more comfortable and supportive, although you’ll have to pay extra for seat heating on all models.

The interior is suitably driver-focused, with a dashboard that wraps around and a central grab handle dividing the cockpit into distinct driver and passenger zones. The crisp digital driver display shows vital driving information with helpfully large, clear fonts and graphics. The low seating position is suitably sporty but slightly restricts visibility.

Front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera are standard on all F-Types, as are automatic LED headlights and auto wipers. Also standard is Jaguar’s Touch Pro infotainment system. Its 10.0in touchscreen is fine to use, but the menus take a bit of getting used to. It doesn't respond to inputs as snappily as Porsche’s system and is well behind BMW’s iDrive.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone mirroring are provided as standard, along with a DAB radio, Bluetooth and a 380-watt Meridian sound system. An upgraded 770W surround-sound system is optional. It’s pricey, but the excellent sound quality makes it worth considering if you love your music.

The dashboard’s design is uncluttered; most of the heating and ventilation functions are controlled via three simple dials, with central air vents that rise out of the top of the dashboard only when required.

Material quality is decent for the most part, with cheaper plastic mostly found lower down the dashboard and in out-of-the-way locations. However, while the overall level of quality is acceptable on the cheaper models (if not as good as in a Porsche), it’s distinctly out of place on the range-topping R, which is nearly twice the price.

Good to drive, but chief rivals are better sports cars

Jaguar F-Type

Despite the F-Type's low roofline, you’d have to be seriously tall to find your head brushing the roof, thanks to the low-mounted seats. These also move back a long way, so leg room isn’t an issue, either.

The wide centre console makes the interior feel quite cosy, even though the driver and passenger actually sit quite far apart.

Stowage space is limited to a pokey glovebox and a shallow storage bin in the centre console. The latter is big enough for a wallet and a phone, but that’s about it. The door bins aren’t very deep, either, so a 500ml bottle of water is about all each can hold.

Unlike some rivals, the F-Type is a two-seater, although there is some space to put stuff behind the front seats. On paper, the boot appears a decent size, but the space is wide and shallow, while the opening is narrow. Tick the box for an optional space-saver spare wheel and the boot shrinks dramatically.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/8-series/coupe/review/n18853">BMW 8 Series</a> are more versatile, due to the fact they offer rear seats (even if these aren’t particularly comfortable) and both have boots that are more usable.

The entry-level F-Type is available only with the P300 engine and comes as standard with 18in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, auto wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, climate control, keyless start, six-way electric front seats, an active sports exhaust, a 10.0in touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio, sat-nav, a Meridian stereo, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control and automatic emergency braking. If you’re planning to go for the P300, it’s all you really need.

F-Type

f-type

r-dynamic

R-Dynamic Black

r-dynamic-black

There’s no doubt the F-Type holds plenty of appeal. Performance ranges from quick to downright rapid, while the V8 versions sound glorious. It’s reasonably comfortable for long distances, although you’ll have to pack light; there’s not a lot of stowage space and the boot isn’t particularly big. Rivals such as the Alpine A110, the Porsche Cayman and Porsche 911 are more enjoyable to drive, though, so we’d take a look at one of those instead.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.

For a blend of&nbsp;rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for,&nbsp;the Audi TT is a brilliant option. But the Mercedes CLA offers plenty of style and substance to match, while the Aston Martin DB11 will give you serious performance.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe review

Introduction

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