Living with the Jaguar I-Pace
Review by Jacob Lerklint.
The I-Pace was first introduced almost four years ago in Geneva. It has since been awarded with numerous awards as the 2019 world car of the year and European car of the year. It is also Jaguar's first electric car. The sleek look and the luxurious interior has impressed many, but how is the Jaguar I-Pace behind the wheel?
With a starting price of 1.078.900sek the Jaguar I-Pace sits at the top tier of electric cars in terms of price, so what do you get for your money? The I-Pace has 90kwh (85kwh usable energy) battery with two electric motors, one on the front axle and one at the back making it 4WD. These two motors produce a healthy 400 combined horsepower and nearly 700nm of torque.
If you find yourself on a twisty road the Jaguar I-Pace won’t disappoint. Put the car in the dynamic mode and lower the suspension and the I-Pace transforms from a well executed luxury car to a fun (heavy) beast. The instant torque is obviously fun but the steering and turn is what surprised me the most, even on friction tires the I-Pace handled corners superbly.
With the air suspension the Jaguar I-Pace floats over bumps and has an impressive adjustability for sportier drives. It feels composed and sorted. The seats are probably one of the comfiest seats I have sat in. However, the none-opening panoramic roof feels pretty useless as it is way too dark to see out of. The rear-seats are not as comfortable as the front seats, you don’t get enough support for your legs and there’s insufficient room for your feet under the front seats. Even though the Jaguar I-Pace received a slight refresh a while ago the infotainment system both look and function like a much older car. I had countless issues with the Pivi pro system where the screen would go black and not respond. The menus are confusing and not very user friendly.
While driving the I-Pace for a week in winter conditions I managed to travel about 300-350km between charging with an average consumption around 220-250wh/km. Not too shabby but could always be improved
The Jaguar I-Pace impresses immensely with its appearance and driving capabilities. There is a distinct luxury feel to it. But, it is starting to age technology wise, the 100kw maximum charge speed is not acceptable for a car in this price category.