The I-Pace isn't just a pure electric vehicle. It's also kind of an SUV.
More importantly it's a Jaguar. To kick things off
here's a scintillating gaggle of numbers. Let's see the EPA has an estimated 240-mile
range, a 4.5-second four and a half second 0-60 time, a top
speed of 124 miles per hour, a 5-year 60,000-mile warranty, and an underfloor
90 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack featuring an 8-year 100,000-mile
battery warranty. Charging that battery with a standard household outlet is
possible but a terrible idea. We tried it from a Friday night to
Monday morning and only racked up 118- miles of range. With a 240-volt charger
the 0-100-percent takes 12.9-hours. Use a 50 kilowatt DC fast charger
and 80-percent comes after only 90 minutes. Exploiting the battery packs electrons
are two electric motors, one for the front tires and one for the back,
producing a cumulative 394 hp and buckets of torque. With their powers
combined acceleration is instant and intense. How intense? When you floor it
the nose of the car rises noticeably. Maybe some nuance of the suspension is a
contributing factor, but it's dramatic nonetheless. Adding to the drama is a
fake futuristic soundtrack. I personally dig it, but if you want to
turn it off follow along. Its settings, all settings, features, scroll down, tap
active sound design, and then choose calm. Easy right? While you're at it
swipe left from the home menu to adjust the Jag's regenerative braking intensity.
With high regen you rarely need to use the brakes, just come off the pedal and
you slow down. Hard like you're using the brakes. For my taste the low regen
setting feels better. What can I say? I like pressing a brake pedal. Speaking
of, at the top portion of the pedals travel there's an area that's light and
spongy and not much happens, but if you push through that you will indeed slow
down, though it smoothly requires a delicate touch.
Delicate touch, yes, and put the brake-in. Indeed I'm slowing it down.
One other oddity, with your feet off the pedals on a hill the I-Pace will roll
backwards. If you want to avoid that activate creep mode. With its upright
stance climbing aboard the I-Pace is effortless. You might think that height
would limit its sporting potential, but it really doesn't. The underfloor battery
pack contributes to a low center of gravity. Quick steering and stout
road-holding generate genuine driving fun and now
needless acceleration. Weeeee! Fun aside the ride is commendably refined with
suspension elements swiped from the Jaguar F-Type and an air suspension nabbed
from Land Rover. It can drop point four inches on the freeway for improved
aerodynamics or raise high enough to ford nearly 20-inches of water. Here's
the b-roll to prove it. The I-Pace grill head and taillights confirm its
Jag-iness, but there are other fun details like all premium electric cars.
There are pop-out door handles, thanks Tesla, and yes, I recognize the Jaguar
F-Type had pop-out handles long before the I-Pace arrived, nevertheless thanks
Tesla. At the tail there's an optionally powered hatch that's roomy despite
nearly horizontal glass. For even more space drop the seats. There's also a
front trunk but it's tiny. I don't know maybe you can store your
video awards in here. Hey, do we have an appropriate graphic for this moment?
Yeah I work. Inside cabin functionality is a mixed bag. The rear center armrest
cupholders are unsettlingly shallow, so maybe keep an eye on hot beverages. Up
front the volume control is a long reach. At first I thought it might be a
right-hand-drive English thing, but then if you're seated
here the start button would be way across on this side. I think maybe they
just wanted the knobs to align. Either way I'm too classy to lean slightly to
the right. Why, can you get that for me? Elsewhere
I'm fine controlling the climate with this screen but certain sound angles
make it impossible to see. Meanwhile the temperature knob works like you'd expect,
but it can also be pushed or pulled to access fan speed, along with the seat
heating and cooling functions. There's a short pause after you pull or push.
Before the secondary function is activated you have to visually confirm.
Oh I'm using the fan or I'm controlling the seats down here. There are more
intuitive ways to make sure you're temperate while driving.
Below the climate controls you'll find a helpful bin. There are seat back map
pockets if you still use physical maps and the center console hold is large
with a removable cup holder featuring a rubberized cover. You can use as a
landing pad for your phone. For passengers there's good head and legroom
in front and and back. Even though it has a firm seat back the middle spot is a
workable position for brief jaunts. Most charming of all are the material choices
the available carbon fiber trim is nice and I love a suede steering wheel, but
look at that optional premium textile material. It's a bit abrasive for where I
rest my arms. It looks fabulous. If there's a truly polarizing element it's
the standard glass roof. That's the kind of feature that seems cool until summer
arrives transforming your car into a greenhouse. No problem I'll just pull the
shade, is what you would say if there was a shade. Granted the glass is deeply
tinted, but for me an unrelenting sun would eventually obscure the novelty of
perpetual sky. A bit more than $ 70,000 including destination charges gets you a
basic I-Pace S trim with blind spot monitoring, keyless access, automatic
emergency braking, a range of drive modes, a vivid 12.3-inch gauge cluster
display and a 10-inch infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto smartphone integration. Depending on what you're searching for
the menu structure can feel overly complex and in my experience response
times are awfully slow. It might be time for an update. Before they knew how to do
that.
Higher trims feature LED headlights, adaptive cruise control with steering
assist, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a 360-degree camera system.
Load up the top HSE trim like our test car here with a head-up display,
adaptive suspension, 22-inch wheels, four-zone climate control, carbon fiber
exterior trim and an activity key for living a radical active lifestyle.
Without harming the standard key and the MSRP can top $93,000.
Keep in mind there's also a $7,500
federal tax credit and potential state incentives to help offset that sum. If
you're shopping electric SUVs your prime choice is the larger and pricier Tesla
Model X with its dazzling falcon doors. Treat the I-Pace like a car instead and
there are many cheaper alternatives. Then again if you've watched this whole video
you probably want something special. Among electric cars many are soulless
and sterile. This electrified Jag is anything but. It has tons of character.
Like the most interesting people you know the Jaguar I-Pace has its flaws and
its charms but it's impossible to ignore.