2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe Review: The Quirky Alternative
Not attracted by the thought of a Ford Mustang, BMW M4, or Porsche 911? Looking for something a little more unique? The Jaguar F-Type is a stunner of a vehicle, and the luxury sports coupe is available with a variety of power outputs to suit your needs. The base model is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This engine sends power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic, as manuals have been discontinued. Alternatively, you can have a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 335 hp and 332 lb-ft. Finally, the same engine is available with 374 horses and 338 lb-ft of twist, and this variant can be had with all-wheel-drive too. But is the F-Type just about its good looks, or is there a decent sports car lurking underneath that stunning bodywork?
What's the Price of the 2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe?
The entry-level model, the 296HP starts at a base price of $61,600 before a $1,025 delivery and destination charge. The next model, the 340HP, starts at a base price of $71,100, while the Checkered Flag model is $71,900. Opt for the V6 in the Chequered Flag model (with AWD) and that price jumps to $94,500. The R-Dynamic, only available with the upgraded V6, costs $84,300 in RWD form and $87,300 in AWD form. Fully loaded, you can expect to pay over $132,000.
Best Deals on 2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Handling and Driving Impressions
The F-Type was a car that Jaguar knew they had to get right. There's no point in bringing to mind your most famous car through aesthetics and then offering handling ability that mirrors that of the 60-year-old original. Fortunately, the F-Type is well-balanced and agile, darting between corners with impressive body control and sharp steering. If you think that the rear-wheel-drive variants are going to be tough to control, you're wrong. The natural mechanical grip from the F-Type is impressive, and it takes a high level of silliness with the right foot to unsettle the car. Once the back has begun overtaking the front, holding a slide is simple. Ride comfort is impressively balanced, and the available adaptive suspension setup is excellent at absorbing bumps. With the all-wheel-drive system, grip is further enhanced and the added weight aids with comfort over bumps too. The downside here, however, is less fun in the corners. With such a long nose, any tendency to understeer is heightened too. Braking is also impressive, and if you really want to maximize performance in this department, carbon ceramic rotors are available.
Verdict: Is the 2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe A Good car?
Visually, the F-Type is gorgeous enough to warrant a purchase on the merit of its looks alone. On paper, you also have everything you could want from a sports car: leather upholstery, a fast transmission, lightweight construction, agile handling, and a range of engines to suit every need. It even appears practical thanks to its supposedly capacious trunk. But in reality, the trunk is tiny, the cabin is more personal than some marriages, and the infotainment system is more of a frustration than a positive feature. There is also no longer a manual transmission option, which could have saved the base variants from being dead in the water. In addition, some options like dual-zone climate control really should be standard these days. It's still a great car to drive, and those looks can't be denied, but the rest of the market offers much more these days, and getting an original F-Type before a heavily revised model arrives next year is like signing up for stocks in a company that produces CD players when the rest of the world has gone digital.
What Jaguar F-Type Coupe Model Should I Buy?
The base engine available in the F-Type is not what we would call exciting, so we would opt for a variant with the V6. The most attractive is the R-Dynamic, as this model gets more power (374 hp) and 20-inch wheels as standard. It also gains a switchable active exhaust system, some aesthetic exterior upgrades, and a limited-slip differential. We'd stick with the rear-wheel-drive setup for its lower cost and higher fun factor. This model also features adaptive dynamics as an option, but we'd be certain to add rear cross-traffic alert to the standard blind-spot monitoring system for $500. All in, you're looking at around $85,000.
2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe Comparisons
2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe vs Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe
The 2020 Corvette Stingray is already one of our favorite cars for the year. With a 6.2-liter V8 developing 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque, it has any variant of the Jaguar F-Type beat. With two storage compartments for luggage and an excellent infotainment system, it's also more practical and easier to live with day to day. The Jaguar is a beautiful machine, but it can't compete with the Corvette in the looks department when it comes to sheer drama. The American is a real supercar with blistering performance and handling ability, while the British car is just a cramped sports car that looks good. The Corvette is also far cheaper. In base form, it costs $58,900, over two grand less than the cheapest F-Type. Fully loaded, the Corvette costs around $105,000, while the F-Type can be over 30% dearer. The Stingray wins this one - no contest.
2020 Jaguar F-Type Coupe vs Porsche 718 Cayman
The 718 Cayman is one of Porsche's most affordable offerings at a base price of $57,500. In this configuration, it comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four with 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, but unlike the Jaguar, you can have it with a six-speed manual as standard, with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic as an option. The Porsche comes with less standard safety equipment, and asks for extra cash even for blind-spot monitoring; but to drive, it's far more engaging and far more capable when it comes to aggressive or spirited maneuvers. You also have access to more advanced features like adaptive LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and a launch control function. Overall, whether in base or top spec, the Porsche is the far better car in almost every way.