69: Jaguar F-Pace – Great looking big cat but needs nicer diesels

Jaguar’s first ever stab at an SUV has been a resounding success, and that is presumably down to jag being able to lean on Land Rover’s 4x4 expertise. It uses a light aluminium structure to maximise both efficiency and road-holding, and Ian Callum’s high-rise-XF styling, somewhat surprisingly, works a treat.

It's as engaging and enthusiastic to drive as any Jaguar should be (shame about the too-firm ride, though) and yet it's practical too, with a big boot and plenty of stretching room in the back seats. No wonder there were literal queues of people lining up to buy one when it first came out.

The downsides are that the cabin, unless you spend a fortune on the options list, is too plain and looks like it could have come from a Hyundai and that the four-cylinder diesel engines are less than inspiring. Jag has since launched the (gorgeous) XF Sportbrake estate and is about to release the new E-Pace smaller SUV, both of which could put a dent in F-Pace sales.

Best model: 3.0 V6d R-Sport