The 2022 Jaguar F-Type has been on the market for almost 5 years, but it is still one of the most desirable sports cars in the world. There is a reason why it’s still desirable for a sports car first released in 2017. It has been offering everything you would like to see in a Jaguar sports car – its unique silhouette, gorgeous looks, and most importantly, the drivetrain makes it so much fun to drive.
Starting with the looks, it’s drop-dead gorgeous at every angle. Jaguar updated the F-Type in 2020, and the new front fascia is much more aggressive and better match the character. There are minimal differences when it comes to standard F-Type and F-Type R, mainly the front bumper and bigger wheels are the first two things that you notice. SVO Yellow is definitely the right choice with the black wheels, it has a great color contrast, but it is one of the few sports cars that look gorgeous in every color.
From the side profile, it looks like a typical front-engine sports coupe. The hood is quite long, and the engine is placed behind the front axle. The driver sits right in front of the rear axle, the sloping roofline goes all the way to the back of the car, and it is quite low, but it is surprisingly easy to get in and out. Overall, it’s the ideal layout for a proper sports car.
The rear design looks just as good as the front, but there is a minimal change over the years compared to the front end. The biggest change is the exhaust tips, which used to be located in the middle when the F-Type is first released, but eventually, they switched to quad exhaust tips on both sides. The taillights are also slightly different, but it’s not a drastic change like the headlights in the front.
As a 2-seater sports car, the interior space is limited, but it is totally adequate even for large adults. The seats not only look very sporty, but exceptionally comfortable with the right amount of side bolstering. The interior design is slightly updated compared to the pre-facelift version, but it still looks fresh. As expected from a British sports car, the fit and finish are excellent, but it is also aesthetically pleasing to look at.
The digital gauge cluster is the biggest update in the interior. The 12.3″ TFT cluster is also used in other Jaguar and Land Rover models, so before even we start driving, we know right off the bat that it’s very customizable and easy to use. You can choose different layouts for your driving style. However, the 10″ infotainment system is where you feel the age of the platform. The screen is fairly high-resolution and quite responsive, but it just looks small by modern standards.
Trunk space isn’t a big deal for a proper sports car, but the 2022 Jaguar F-Type R offers a decent amount of cargo space (408 L). It’s mostly because it only has 2 seats, the rest can be utilized as a storage area. The sloping roofline would not allow you to place big items, but it can easily take two carry-ons and a small bag or just one suitcase. The only catch is you have to remove the privacy cover, which will block out the entire view of the back.
As far as storage on the interior goes, it is surprisingly good. You get two cupholders, a small center console cubby, a relatively large glovebox, and a mesh net between the two seats and door pockets. Of course, your expectations should not be high from a 2-seater, so you don’t get a lot of space, but it’s usable by sports car standards.
What makes the F-Type R appealing to potential buyers is the everyday livability, it can just be a pleasant commuter with its road manners. In normal driving mode, it just drives like a luxury product even with the firm suspension tuning, you can easily daily drive it, take it to work, or even get the groceries. Maybe it’s not the ideal vehicle for an IKEA trip, but for anything else, it’s just doable. It is not punishing the driver and the passenger in any way.
When you start driving the 2022 Jaguar F-Type R like it’s meant for, it is a completely different animal. The same car you take to work becomes a monster. This year, the F-Type is only available with V8 engine options under the hood, the F-Type R being the most performance-oriented version. The supercharged 5.0L V8 engine generates a healthy 575 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque at 3500 RPM.
Undoubtedly, the supercharged V8 engine makes the car feel very special, but it is also used in other Jaguar and Land Rover models, including the Defender we reviewed earlier this summer. The numbers aside, it is the drama factor that makes the F-Type R so much fun to drive. It is one of the best-sounding V8 engines on the market. The only gripe that I had is the supercharger sound, you can only hear it at a certain RPM, I wish it was just a bit louder.
The engine is matched with a ZF 8-Speed torque-converted automatic transmission, which is one of the most popular choices of performance-oriented cars. We’ve seen this transmission in many different makes and models, and there is a reason for that. It can handle a lot of power, the shifts are extremely fast, and it communicates well with the driver inputs, but it can be very comfortable and smooth when you drive it normally.
2022 Jaguar F-Type R uses a very common 2-seater sports car layout. The engine is in the front behind the front axles, and it is a rear-wheel drive architecture, meaning that the engine is placed longitudinally and sends power to the rear. However, the F-Type R is actually not a rear-wheel drive vehicle. It only comes with an all-wheel drive, which can be a good or bad thing depending on where you are looking. It is definitely a rare layout and that puts the F-Type R in a unique place.
It’s definitely a great thing if you need the maximum grip possible. The car just slingshots itself off the line with a lot of exhaust pops, bangs, and crackles. It’s definitely sure-footed on any surface, it can put the whole power down efficiently. On the other side though, it adds weight. The car weighs almost 1800 kg – over 4000 lbs, which is quite heavy for a 2-seater.
Behind the steering wheel, you don’t really feel the extra weight though. Due to the very short wheelbase, changing direction is extremely fast and the steering feels very agile. It always wants to oversteer at the limit with minimal throttle input, things get more dramatic if you give a lot of throttle input and that’s how you feel this is a very rear-biased AWD system. The overall grip and limits are insanely high.
That’s why you pay the premium. The base F-Type offers a great value proposition considering it also comes with a detuned supercharged V8 engine and all-wheel drive, the F-Type R differentiates itself not just with extra power, but there is more drama, and it’s spicier in every way. The seats, the suspension, and all other details make the 2022 Jaguar F-Type R more special and a future collectible car.
The 2022 Jaguar F-Type Coupe starts at $87,200 CAD, and if you want the maximum performance, the F-Type R Coupe starts at $121,400. Despite being a premium product, I think the 2022 Jaguar F-Type R offers one of the best value propositions in its segment, considering the base Porsche 911 starts right around $121,000 and would cost twice to get similar performance.
| Engine | 5000cc V8 supercharged |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8-speed automatic & All-wheel-drive |
| Max power | 575 hp @ 6500 rpm |
| Max torque | 516 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.6 sec |
| Curb Weight | 4105 lb – 1861 kg |
| Top Speed | 186 mph – 299 km/h |
| Fuel Economy (Combined) | 16 MPG – 14.7 L/100 km |
For more details – please visit www.jaguar.ca
