It’s nigh on impossible to name a car manufacturer that doesn’t have either at least one SUV rolling off its production lines, or in development.

With that in mind, it was hardly a shock when Jaguar entered the fray with the F-Pace. Perhaps the real surprise is that it hadn’t done so sooner.

It’s up against some stiff competition, not least from the Land Rover side of the family who have been making SUVs for approaching 50 years but, while there might have been a degree of temptation to tap into that expertise, Jaguar have maintained an admirable degree of independence while creating the F-Pace.

That’s why it borrows its undergarments from the XE and XF and, because 80 per cent of the body is aluminium with a smidgeon of magnesium tossed in – in a measured fashion of course – it helps keep the centre of gravity low and the weight down.

The use of a steel boot floor helps shift some of that weight rearwards, bringing the F-Pace closer to Jaguar’s engineers’ ambitions for 50:50 weight distribution.

At the front the F-Pace sits on double wishbones with an integral link suspension system at the rear. There’s a choice of six engines – all mounted longitudinally and all connected to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission – with either all-wheel or rear-wheel-drive.

My test car was fitted a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine producing 240PS and 500Nm of torque with the eight-speed automatic driving all four wheels. Under normal driving conditions the transmission sends drive to the rear wheels but when the system detects a loss of traction it can send up to 50 per cent of the power to the front.

It has rakish design and shares many of the design cues you’ll find across the rest of the range. Not quite the coupe-look of, say, BMW's X6 but certainly erring towards the athletic end of the spectrum. It was conceived as a sporting, dynamic car for owners who enjoy driving. It isn’t averse to a little, gentle, off-roading, but that isn’t the habitat Jaguar’s engineers had in mind when they created the F-Pace.

The interior is as instantly recognisable as the exterior, starting with the rotary gear selector that rises out of the deep transmission tunnel. The dashboard sweeps round in a wide arc, cocooning the driver and putting them right at the heart of the controls.

The driving position is unlike your typical SUV thanks to more Jaguar skulduggery that attempts to convince owners that there are really behind the wheel of a car, and by and large sitting with outstretched arms and legs, set low in the typically cockpit-like Jaguar cabin, the illusion is a convincing one.

It’s hard to fault the fit and finish. That is to say that the tactile quality of the materials is of a good standard and certainly does not do the price tag any injustice. There are a couple of hidden-away areas that fall marginally shy of what you might expect but overall, perceived quality is high.

There are plenty of useful storage compartments dotted around the cabin, with decent-sized door bins and cubby holes in the centre console, with twin cupholders and upright holders for your smartphones.

Sitting at the heart of the dashboard is Jaguar’s InControl infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen flanked by analogue shortcut buttons. It comes with a full suite of functions including Bluetooth handsfree and audio streaming, DAB radio, smartphone integration, sat nav, USB connectivity as well as a wi-fi hotspot.

Upgrade to the InControl Pro system and you’ll be rewarded with a 10.2in screen, more advanced sat nav, a Merdian audio system, 10GB of storage, access to online Jaguar services and a customisable 12.3in digital instrument cluster.

In the back there’s plenty of room for a couple of fully grown humans to travel in comfort, while the rear split seats fold 40/20/40, offering impressive flexibility backed up by a load bay that’s wide, deep and flat. The floor of the boot is double-sided with a non-slip, wipe-clean surface on the reverse and there’s space under the floor to stow the tonneau cover.

and car-like performance and, the fact is, with the impressive 2.0-litre diesel under the bonnet, it does a commendable job of living up to that promise.

From a standing start – and thanks to that healthy slug of 500Nm of torque – 60mph will arrive in just 6.7 seconds and carry the F-Pace on to a top speed, where legal, of 135mph.

The diesel power plant is quiet, too, for the most part. Only serving up a reminder of its presence when it’s being worked hard and, even then, it’s a reasonably satisfying overture, rather than your typically raucous rattle.

That refinement extends to an absence of noticeable wind or tyre roar, making the F-Pace a very comfortable and capable long-distance cruiser.

Given Jaguar’s remit for the F-Pace, the other area in which it must deliver is in its handling. And it does. My test car was equipped with the firm’s adaptive dynamics – a £1,185 option – and while I am, for the moment, unable to testify to the merits of ticking that particular option box rather than sticking with the standard passively damped suspension, in isolation it delivers exactly the kind of tenacity and poise that it promises.

It’s beautifully balanced, with massive reserves of grip as you turn in, excellent body control and precise steering. It’s true that there’s a slight absence of feedback through the electromechanical steering rack but it does little to impact on forward momentum.

It really does deliver a car-like driving experience that belies its high centre of gravity.

And so the F-Pace delivers everything that you would expect it to. In every respect it’s the epitome of a modern Jaguar: Superb handling, excellent ride, stirring performance all wrapped up in a handsome, modern well-built and practical package.

It also manages to differentiate itself from its more established brethren across the road in Land Rover territory to give potential buyers a genuine choice.

Jaguar F-Pace R-Sport 2.0D AWD

Price: £41,330

As tested: £56,940

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Max power: 240PS

Max torque: 500Nm

Max speed: 135mph

Acceleration (0-60mph): 6.7sec

Urban: 39.8mpg

Extra urban: 56.5mpg

Combined: 48.7mpg

Emissions (CO2): 153g/km

For more information visit www.jaguar.co.uk