Jaguar F-Type coupe V6 UK first drive

The cheapest version of Jaguar's new Jaguar F-Type coupé, the sister car to the Jaguar F-Type convertible and currently one of our favourite driver's cars.

Powered by the same 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine as the more expensive V6 S model, this F-type coupé packs 335bhp and 332lb ft of torque.

That's some way off the 375bhp offered in the V6 S. It, however, costs £60,235 whereas this base F-type comes in at £51,235. The car we tested came with options including special 19-inch alloy wheels (the standard car rides on 18-inch items), cruise control and an upgraded sound system, taking its total cost to £60,963.

If anything, from the outside the F-type coupé looks even better than the convertible. Its fixed roof and rear-end shape work well together. The roof isn't just an aesthetic choice either, as it also endows the coupé with more rigidity than the soft-top car.

Also, because Jaguar has re-tuned the F-type's suspension for more feel and handling prowess, this should – in theory – be an even better drive than the convertible.

First impressions on entering the cabin are familiar. The layout of the controls is almost identical to the convertible, but the cabin itself feels smaller inside thanks to the new roof. That's no bad thing, because this isn't a car that you would buy because you were after large amounts of space inside.

It's supremely comfortable and intuitively laid out. Storage space is a little limited, but the coupé offers a 315-litre boot which should be more than enough for most owners.

Absolutely sublime. From the first time the engine is started and burbles into life, there's a feeling of effortless potential from the Jaguar F-Type coupé.

It doesn't sound as loud as the V6 S or as meaty as the V8 R versions, but it's still a pleasing sound. The throttle sensitivity is excellent, with just the smallest of movements required to quickly pick up speed.

It must be said that we didn't test the car on public roads, instead we were confined to Millbrook Proving Ground's city course, high-speed bowl and hill test route. Between them, these routes simulate the majority of driving conditions.

During the city course the Jaguar F-Type coupé's steering proved to be quick, well weighted and accurate. The eight-speed 'Quickshift' gearbox makes excellent use of the engine's power, selecting higher gears quickly for better fuel economy about town. Rather than feeling like a large, heavy, powerful sports car, the F-type coupé feels surprisingly nimble to drive.

On the hill route the F-type coupé made short work of many of the other cars using the same track. Its power delivery isn't explosive - you'd have to look to the £85,000 V8 R version for that - but it's still very quick indeed.

And here's the thing - even at speeds below 70mph, the F-type coupé still feels vastly rewarding to drive. It's well planted on the road and easily controlled. There's also the sensation that the Jaguar's plethora of electronic assistance systems aren't interfering too much with the experience.