Jaguar F-Type boot space, practicality and safety

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• Acceptable space for two
• Practicality is not its forte
• Pack lightly for best results

In traditional Jaguar style, the two-seater cabin is snugly comfy rather than generously spacious, but there’s not a huge amount of space to pack away your in-car detritus. The cupholders are decently sized, though. Most of the materials your hands will explore feel of good quality, but this varies from surface-to-surface, plus the way it’s assembled isn’t going to give Porsche employees any sleepless nights.

Sports car aren’t supposed to be paragons of practicality, but the two-seater Jaguar F-Type’s cabin is fine for most people, but a touch snug if you’re taller than average. Larger occupants will struggle to slide the seats far enough back to liberate sufficient leg- and headroom.

Accessing the F-Type can also be tricky in tight confines, thanks to a combination of the wide doors and very low seating position.

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Once you’re in, the majority will find it comfortable – it feels particularly airy with the optional glass roof – but will soon discover there’s not a huge amount of space for odds and ends. Stick to a coffee cup and you’ll be fine.

Open the F-Type Coupe’s long-but-slender tailgate – electrical assistance is optional – and you’re greeted with a similarly narrow-and-shallow boot. Jaguar claims it’ll swallow 310 litres of luggage, but you’re going to have to pack the squashiest of bags to comply with the dimensions available.

Of course, with no rear seats to fold over, the only way it can be increased is to remove the parcel shelf and fill the additional wedge-shaped triangular space up to the glass, bringing capacity up to 408 litres.

Two obvious downsides here: firstly you’ve then got no rearward visibility save for the door mirrors and secondly everything in the boot is potentially visible. The solution? Pack light.

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Is it easy to park?

It’s compact enough to not be posed too many issues in urban areas or car parks, with parking sensors and a reversing camera on hand to give you further assistance.

Safety

• Unlikely to be tested by Euro NCAP
• Should be a safe choice based on other Jaguars’ scores
• AWD models have additional traction

Although the F-Type hasn’t been specifically crash-tested by the experts at Euro NCAP – nor is it likely to be – Jaguar’s saloon offerings of the XE and XF, which also use similar aluminium construction were both rated as five-star cars by the organisation.

In terms of safety equipment, the F-Type’s well kitted-out with the following as standard:

• Six airbags
• Sensors for pedestrian contact
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Blindspot warning
• Lane-keeping assist
• Self-parking system
• Driver drowsiness monitor
• AWD on P380 and V8 models

In fact, the only significant piece of optional safety equipment is the Rear Traffic Monitor, useful if you regularly reverse out of driveways or parking bays.