Jaguar makes a full-electric vehicle - and a very good one. Jonathan Crouch drives the I-PACE.

Ten Second Review

Jaguar was one of first of the premium brand manufacturers to make a long range, practical, battery-powered electric vehicle. If you can afford the £70,000 asking price, you might well have everything you could want here: a near-300 mile driving range, 395bhp, potentially zero emissions and a car that might be as comfortable taking to a racetrack as to a gravelly ravine. Welcome to the I-PACE.

Background

It seems to have taken the posh car makers a long time to have got their heads round the concept of full-electric power. Yes, they've dabbled with plug-in hybrids and shown futuristic concepts at motor shows but in terms of products customers can actually buy, the Tesla Model S has had the full-EV premium market for large cars to itself for well over half a decade. But stand by Elon Musk: things are about to get a whole lot tougher. This Jaguar I-PACE delivers a Tesla-style 300-mile drive range but, thanks to proper 50/50 weight distribution and Jaguar know how, handling dynamics that owners of a Model S or a Model 3 could only dream of. Technology people can create an electric car. But only car people can make one like the I-PACE.

Driving Experience

We've enjoyed putting this I-PACE to the test; the prospects certainly are promising. The stuff you need to know here's quite straightforward - by electric vehicle standards anyway. The 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack lies between the axles and Jaguar has specified two electric motors so that it could position the wheels for a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. They're powerful too, giving this 'performance' EV a 395bhp output. Rest to 60mph takes just 4.5s. Drive like that though and the claimed operating range (up to 286 miles with base trim) will be used up pretty quickly. You'd expect silent refinement and instant acceleration from rest from an electric car but, due to the heavy weight of all those batteries, less than stellar ride quality. Jaguar claims it's put a lot of work into that and offers I-PACE buyers a wide choice of suspension options. You can have passive or adaptive dampers or air springs with adaptive damping. An electric 4WD system is standard - one of those that can put as much or as little torque as is necessary to any wheel. If you were ever brave enough to try your I-PACE off road, you might be surprised at what it could do. Jaguar claims it would wade up to 500mm of water.

Design and Build

In theory, the I-PACE is a kind of SUV. But you might equally want to see it as a coupe, a luxury saloon or even some kind of sportscar. Designer Ian Callum isn't bothered either way. At 4,682mm in length, this model is 10mm longer than Jaguar's XE; it's bigger than the larger XF saloon too, with a 30mm longer wheelbase and 15mm of extra width. There's more of a cab-forward stance than you'd get in a conventionally-engined Jaguar but the silhouette looks very agile in profile. And it retains a traditional big grille, even though the three independent cooling systems (for the electric motors, the battery and the interior) don't really need it. Inside, the cabin's very Jaguar-like, with big comfortable seats that come with faux-leather as standard and real hide at extra cost. You can even have wood trim if you want it. Ahead of the driver sits an all-digital instrument binnacle and the centre-dash infotainment layout is bespoke to the I-PACE too. As in the Range Rover Velar, it's a two-screen package, the upper part dealing with navigation, audio and 'phone functions and the lower part operating informational stuff you'll need less frequently. It's a comfortable five-seater and there's a decent 505-litre boot, with a further 27-litre compartment out-front.

Market and Model

The I-PACE comes in one 'EV400' package with a 90kWh battery and a 395bhp all-wheel drive powertrain. There are four standard 'R-Dynamic' trim levels - 'S', 'SE Black', HSE Black' and '400 Sport'. Prices start at around £70,000 and range up to around £80,000. Equipment levels are as generous as you would expect for the money being asked and now include the Amazon Alexa system built in. Even the entry-level 'S' variant comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, full-LED headlights, sports seats, a Meridian sound system, a 'Navigation Pro' infotainment set-up, a rear parking camera, cruise control and heated door mirrors. 'SE' models add leather seats, a powered tailgate and power-folding mirrors. The 'HSE' gets a Meridian Surround Sound audio system, 20-inch wheels, Matrix-LED headlights, super-soft 'Windsor' leather upholstery and a 'Driver Assist' pack including adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree parking camera. The 'First Edition' version embellishes all that with a panoramic roof, a heated windscreen and Jaguar's ADAPTIVE Dynamics and Adaptive Surface Response driving modes, plus active air suspension. Inside, there's four-zone climate control, heated and cooled seats and a head-up display.

Cost of Ownership

Jaguar claims this car has a range of up to 286 miles (base trim) and that it can be charged to around 80% of capacity in less than 45 minutes; that's at a DC rapid charging point. At a public 50kW charging point, it would take 90 minutes to charge an I-PACE to 80% of its capacity. As an owner, you'll need to install a wallbox in your garage so you can charge the car overnight; a typical domestic wall outlet would take more than two days to charge the car from empty. I-PACE owners can easily find public charging points using connected navigation features built into the I-PACE's 'InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system'. As usual with EVs, Jaguar provides an app so that you can set charging times on your 'phone, so as to take advantage of low-cost electricity rates. What else? You get the usual unremarkable three year Jaguar warranty, though to be fair it does cover you for up to 100,000 miles. Should anything go wrong, Europe-wide breakdown assistance is part of the deal for three years.

Summary

Would you want one? Perhaps a better question is 'why wouldn't you want one?' To which we'll provide some obvious answers. Firstly, clearly there's the premium pricing to consider. And secondly, despite the great job Jaguar's engineers have clearly done with the handling dynamics of this car, there's no way an EV weighing around 2.2-tonnes can respond and ride quite like a conventionally-engined fossil-fuelled rival. But all the signs are that this one gets very close to that benchmark. If you've been waiting for luxury EVs to get serious, your time may have come here. In the future, there will certainly be better battery-powered electric vehicles than the I-PACE, but we don't think that there are right at present. And we think that in future, experts will look back at this car as the one that made the EV concept properly credible for the premium buyer. Which makes it very significant indeed.

Body Glass

Rear wiper

Privacy glass

Heated washer jets

Heated rear window with timer

Heated front windscreen

Solar attenuating windscreen

Rain sensing windscreen wipers

Acoustic laminated windscreen

Electric windows with one touch open/close and anti trap

Solar attenuating rear windscreen

Laminated front and toughened rear side glass

Brakes

Anti-lock brake system

DSC - Dynamic Stability Control

Emergency brake assist

Low traction launch

All surface progress control (ASPC)

Hill launch assist

Emergency braking

Electric parking brake (EPB)

Enhanced brake regeneration

Carpets/Rugs

Ebony Carpet

Chassis/Suspension

Configurable dynamics

Communication

Voice control system

InControl remote

E-call

Bluetooth connectivity

Wireless device charging

Software over the air

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Driver Aids

Lane keep assist

Blind spot assist

Traffic sign recognition with adaptive speed limiter

Rear traffic monitor

Speed proportional electronic power assisted steering (EPAS)

Rear collision monitor

Driver Convenience

Start up sequence with movement in dials and lighting

Driver Information

Navigation system

Outside temperature gauge

Trip computer

Driver condition monitor

Brake pad wear indicator

Low power mode

Range for route

Interactive driver display

Driving Mirrors

Electric heated/power fold memory door mirrors with approach lights and auto dimming driver side

Engine

Active sound design

Timed charging

Entertainment

Digital Audio Broadcast radio-DAB

Pivi pro connected

10" PiVI pro duo

Exterior Body Features

Body colour bumpers

Fixed panoramic glass sunroof

Active vanes

Flush exterior door handles

Rear bike carrier preparation kit

Rear side wing doors

Graphite atlas matte finish front air cheeks

Body coloured side cladding and rear diffuser

Body coloured accents

Front shield grille

R-Dynamic body style

Exterior Lights

Automatic headlights

Third brake light

Follow me home headlights

LED tail lights

Automatic headlight levelling

3 flash lane change indicators

Rear fog lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air quality sensor

Electric cabin pre-conditioning

Interior Features

Rear cupholder

Multifunction steering wheel

Front storage compartment

12V power socket in loadspace

Hooks in loadspace

Luggage tie downs in loadspace

12V power sockets

Interior Lights

LED rear reading lights

Overhead lighting console

Premium cabin lighting

Packs

Online pack with Data plan - I-Pace

Safety

3x3 point rear seatbelts

Anti-whiplash front headrests

Front and rear seatbelt reminder

Power operated child locks

6 airbags - Driver/front passenger airbags, front and rear curtain airbags and front side airbags

Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

Seats

3 rear headrests

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Storage under rear seats

Single front passenger seat

Security

Locking wheel nuts

Keyless entry

Intrusion sensor and alarm

Global lock and unlock switch on driver door

Lock only switch on front passenger door

Towing

Screw-in rear recovery eye

Transmission

Open differential with torque vectoring by braking

All Wheel Drive (AWD)

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Vehicle Charging

11kW 3 phase AC onboard charger

Home charging cable Mode 2

Public charging cable Mode 3

7kW single phase AC onboard charger wallbox

Jaguar charging

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 765

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 7

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 603

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-80

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 447

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 0-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 85

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 50

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 0-80

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 90

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Low - TEL: 618

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Low - TEH: 533

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Medium - TEL: 604

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Medium - TEH: 503

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - High - TEL: 518

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - High - TEH: 445

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Extra High - TEL: 361

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Extra High - TEH: 320

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 446

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEL: 470

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEH: 408

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 22

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 25.2

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 2.5

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 2.8

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Ex High - TEH: 199

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Ex High - TEL: 224

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 277

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEH: 254

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEL: 292

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - High - TEH: 277

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - High - TEL: 322

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Low - TEH: 331

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Low - TEL: 384

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Medium - TEH: 313

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Medium - TEL: 375

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Left Side Front

Usable Battery Capacity: 84.7

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 50

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): 67

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: R-Dynamic SE Black

Coin Description: 90kWh EV400

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50E

Service Interval Mileage: 21000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 400

Badge Engine CC: 0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 4.8

Top Speed: 124

Engine Power - BHP: 400

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 294

Engine Power - RPM: 4250

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 513

Engine Torque - NM: 696

Engine Torque - MKG: 71

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 245/50 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 245/50 R20

Tyre Size Spare: N

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Wheel Style: 5 SPLIT SPOKE STYLE 6007

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4682

Width: 2011

Wheelbase: 2990

Width (including mirrors): 2139

Height: 1566

Height (including roof rails): N

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 2133

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2670

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Loading Weight: 537

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 505

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 75

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1363

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12.35

Chassis/Suspension

Electronic air suspension

Adaptive dynamics

Driver Aids

Cruise control and speed limiter

Jaguar drive control with adaptive surface response

3D surround camera

Driver Convenience

Power gesture tailgate/boot lid

Click and go integrated base unit

Driver Information

Head up Display

Wifi enabled with data plan

Driving Mirrors

ClearSight interior rear view mirror

Embellishment Trims

Aluminium weave carbon fibre trim finisher

Entertainment

Meridian 3D surround sound system

Sound system

Exterior Body Features

Premium metallic paint

Metallic paint

SVO bespoke ultra metallic satin finish

Tailgate/boot lid spoiler

Black contrast roof

Illuminated metal tread plates with Jaguar script

Exterior Lights

Headlight power wash

Front fog lights

Matrix LED headlights with signature DRL

Animated directional indicators

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Cabin air ionisation plus with PM2.5 filter and CO2 sensor

Four zone climate control

Interior Features

Twin front cupholders with cover

Non heated steering wheel

Windsor leather upholstery + sport seats

Premium textile upholstery + sport seats

Windsor leather upholstery + performance seats

Premium textile upgrade

Suede cloth steering wheel

Lockable cooled glovebox

Full extended leather upgrade

Loadspace partition net

Light oyster morzine headlining

Light oyster suede cloth headlining

Ebony suede cloth headlining

Packs

Entertainment pack with 3D sound system- I-Pace

Bright exterior pack - I-Pace R-Dynamic S/SE Black/HSE Black/Sport

Comfort pack - I-Pace

Dynamic pack - I-Pace

Convenience pack - I-Pace R-Dynamic S/SE Black/HSE Black/Sport

Vision pack - I-Pace R-Dynamic SE Black

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Portofino blue

Metallic - Ostuni pearl white

Metallic - Santorini black

Metallic - Firenze red

Metallic - Eiger grey

Paint - Solid

Solid - Fuji white

Paint - Special

Premium metallic - Carpathian grey

SVO bespoke ultra metallic satin - Eiger grey

SVO bespoke ultra metallic satin - Carpathian grey

Seats

14 way heated and cooled electric driver memory seats

16 way heated and cooled electric driver memory front seats with 2 way manual headrests

40:20:40 split folding heated rear seats with centre armrest

Security

Secure tracker pro

Secure tracker

Trim - Cloth

Premium textile - Dapple Grey/Ebony, Ebony/Ebony colourway + sport seats

Trim - Leather

Windsor leather - Light Oyster, Ebony/Light Oyster colourway + sport seats

Windsor leather - Siena Tan, Ebony/Ebony colourway + sport seats

Windsor leather - Mars Red, Ebony/Ebony colourway + performance seats

Windsor leather - Light Oyster, Ebony/Light Oyster colourway + performance seats

Duo leather - Ebony, Ebony/Ebony colourway + sports seats

Windsor leather - Ebony, Ebony/Ebony colourway + sport seats

Windsor leather - Ebony, Ebony/Ebony colourway + performance seats

Duo leather - Light Oyster, Ebony/Light Oyster colourway + sports seats

Wheels

Self sealing tyres

Wheels - Alloy

19" 6 split spoke gloss dark grey with contrast diamond turned finish alloy wheels - style 5055

22" satin dark grey with contrast diamond turned finish and carbon fibre insert alloy wheels - style 5069

22" 5 split spoke gloss black finish alloy wheels - style 5056

22" 5 split spoke gloss dark grey with contrast diamond turned finish alloy wheels - style 5056

20" 5 spoke gloss dark grey with contrast diamond turned finish alloy wheels - style 5068

20" 5 spoke gloss black finish alloy wheels - style 5068

Wheels - Spare

Reduced section steel spare wheel

Tyre repair system