The 2021 Jaguar F-Pace is the crossover you buy when you’re tired of hearing your neighbor talk about how great his Mercedes-Benz GLE is, but you don’t want to be cliché and buy a BMW X5. No, Jaguar isn’t exactly the type of brand everyone lusts over, but it has an understated panache.

That’s what I felt like when I first sat in the F-Pace. It didn’t blow me away, but I appreciated its posh interior and inobtrusive overall styling. Here is a quick review of it.

The Jaguar F-Pace’s engine has the best of both worlds

One of the most interesting parts of the 2021 Jaguar F-Pace S is under its hood. Beneath the front fenders, there’s a 3.0-liter inline-six engine that’s both supercharged and turbocharged. That’s right; it’s dually force-fed to get the most power throughout the powerband. For those not in the know, a supercharger can provide instantaneous torque upon initial acceleration, while a turbocharger builds boost later on in the rev range.

Conceptually, what you’ll get by using both forced induction methods is a train-like push to the redline without any initial turbo lag like in other cars. However, in my experience driving the F-Pace, I still felt a lot of hesitancy at the initial tip-in after coming to a complete stop. I blamed it on the throttle mapping or the 8-speed automatic transmission because I’m honestly not sure why it felt that way.

Otherwise, the engine does get the car moving pretty quickly. It has 335 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to get the F-Pace up to 60 mph from a standstill in 6.9 seconds, according to Jaguar.

The F-Pace is comfortable but a little stiff

Power aside, the Jaguar F-Pace feels comfortable cruising around town and on the freeway. The cabin is quiet, and the suspension feels comfortable, but it’s not plush. There’s a little stiffness to the dampers that’s enough to shake the cabin over large road imperfections but not enough to wake a sleeping baby.

Regardless, the F-Pace would be a great car to take on a long road trip. Not only is the ride comfortable, but the car is also spacious. My 5-foot, 8-inch frame fits well in every seat, and my guess is that occupants up to around 6 feet, 3 inches shouldn’t have any issues. Also, the Caraway Windsor leather seats are well-bolstered, although I wish the leather were a little softer.

There’s also plenty of storage space in the cargo area — 32.1 cubic feet to be exact – which is enough space for a couple of golf club sets. Yes, this is a great car to take to the golf course. Even Tiger Woods would be jealous.

The infotainment system is well-placed and easy-to-use

One thing I’m always wary about when testing luxury vehicles is how easy the infotainment system is to use. Mercedes-Benz’s system can be a little cumbersome at times, and BMW’s i-Drive system can get a little confusing – although it’s come a long way. But the infotainment system in the Jaguar is really simple.

The Pivi Pro 11.4-inch touchscreen only has a few different menus to toggle through, and all the functions are laid out nicely to click on. It’s also within easy reach of the driver and passenger. Additionally, the wireless Apple Carplay function worked flawlessly, unlike in some other cars. And the Meridian sound system is crisp and clear.

How safe is the Jaguar F-Pace?

Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA has rated the Jaguar F-Pace, but it does have a lot of standard safety equipment. The most notable features include a 360-degree camera, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot assist. Essentially, there’s enough tech to keep you and your family safe in a crash.

Is the 2021 Jaguar F-Pace worth buying?

If you’re looking for a luxury crossover that’s different than a Mercedes-Benz but will get you brownie points at the next PTA meeting, then the 2021 Jaguar F-Pace is worth buying. It is a little pricey, though. My test car for the week costs $73,420 with the destination charge and over $13,000 worth of options.

Some of the options included 21-inch wheels, a head-up display, and 16-way powered seats with a massage function. The Eiger Gray exterior paint job was an additional $610 as well. If you don’t care about those things, the $59,395 starting price is well worth it, and it is on par with its German rivals.

Ultimately, if you want to humbly brag to your neighbor, or just enjoy British motoring, then the Jaguar F-Pace is worth a look.