Jaguar E-Pace’s handling and lush interior will leave you ready sign the dotted line – until you double-check the price

NOW this is a little confusing.

Jag’s baby SUV is called E-Pace but the “E” does not mean it is electric. That’s the I-Pace.

E-Pace is petrol and diesel only, using “Ingenium” internal combustion engines.

So why isn’t E-Pace called I-Pace and I-Pace called E-Pace?

Because that would be far too obvious.

The big suits at Jag think they’re being clever by aligning E-Pace with the XE saloon in its sizing charts, followed by F-Pace and XF in the middle, and topped by the big-daddy J-Pace and XJ, both coming soon.

Hmmm. That might work in the boardroom, me old fruit, but E means electric to the rest of us. Thankfully, the power outputs are dead easy to understand with D150 meaning 150hp diesel and P250 for 250hp petrol, and so on.

But then it gets all mushy again with the trim levels.

The basic £29,000 E-Pace has no letters after its name, no nothing.

It’s also front-wheel drive and manual and best avoided, so let’s gloss over that.

Further up the ladder — depending on engine choice — there’s S, SE, HSE, body-kitted R-Dynamic, as well as R-Dynamic S, SE and HSE.

Still with me? Good.

Because somewhere in between all that sits the new Chequered Flag edition which you see here.

It’s a handsome thing, handles sweetly and has a lush interior that’ll make you want to sign on the dotted line immediately — until you double-check the price. Jeez, it’s expensive for a crossover.

My D180 test car (yep, 180hp diesel, you learn fast) costs a whisker under £41,000 standard and was loaded with another six grand of kit.

What? No thanks, mate. I’d rather have a Volvo XC40 and a holiday. Or a Range Rover Evoque. Or more likely a brand-spanking Porsche Cayman and take the kids to school one at a time.

I’d also expect way more detailing than just Chequered Flag badges on the side vents and treadplates and a bit of red stitching. There’s understated and then there’s underwhelming.

I repeat, the E-Pace is a  fantastic car and I’m sure thousands of customers are very happy with theirs but it is very spec dependent.

The D180 R-Dynamic at £35,000 is the sweet spot. It doesn’t cost much more than a fully-loaded Ford Kuga Vignale or a Nissan Qashqai and you know which one will impress the neighbours most.

UNASHAMED STYLING

The D180 is all-wheel drive with a smooth nine-speed auto and has the best balance between performance and efficiency, returning  40mpg.

As well as all the kit you need: 10in touchscreen with reversing camera, cruise control, USBs in a huge cubby hole under the central armrest, and lots of seat and steering wheel adjustment to get comfy.

Praise also for the unashamed F-Type styling — most notably the wraparound grab handle dash, sports gear stick and chunky flappy paddles.

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