Overview
Jaguar has always brought an English reserve to updating its products. The automaker pounced on the EV transition early with the I-Pace, which arrived in late 2018, even before the Audi Q8 e-tron became the first luxury competition from a legacy automaker. The 2024 I-Pace enters its fifth model year with hardly any change. Meanwhile, fresher offerings have appeared with greater range, quicker charge times, more tech, or more performance. The Jaguar still succeeds, though, for the same reason Jaguar has survived all of its troubles: the I-Pace speaks to the heart more than the mind, its distinct exterior design, refined interior, and enticing driving demeanor imparting rare character in a segment so focused on digital appeal. Features like the Meridian sound system, a superbly crisp 10-inch infotainment display, performance seats, and cross-stitched leather in vibrant colors complete the package, excelling at the eye and ear tests for luxury. While the Jag might not place very high in our 2024 rankings, it’s still a lively, gratifying electric SUV.
What’s New for 2024?
With Jaguar still preparing an all-new, all-electric model range for the 2025 model year, there are only minor revisions to the I-Pace. The former grille with its lozenge pattern is replaced by a solid panel in a dark gray. Below that, the intakes and lower bumper are reworked to look more intense. A Black Exterior Pack comes standard, adding dark touches in spots like the side mirror caps and the trim around the side windows. New satin Eiger Grey and Carpathian Grey paints join the color menu, each at the formidable price of $7,450. Inside, owners get a newly standard heated steering wheel and ebony suede cloth headliner.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
There’s one trim and it comes with nearly everything, even indulgences that luxury automakers often charge extra for, like a 10-inch infotainment screen with navigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, a powerful premium audio system, 16-way power front seats with heated-and-cooled cushions, a power-operated liftgate, air suspension, and 20-inch wheels. The only things we’d add are the performance seats at no extra cost and the $215 sunshade for the panoramic roof, a climate control feature that doesn’t need to draw energy from the main battery.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The I-Pace’s two electric motors produce a combined 394 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque. That energy turns both axles for standard all-wheel drive and provides quick, effortless acceleration. The I-Pace we tested hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, more than a second quicker than a Jaguar F-Pace we tested, which was powered by a 395-hp, 3.0-liter inline-six. Jaguar made sure its only battery-electric vehicle didn’t lack the dynamic distinction we expect from the brand either, save for uneven braking behavior at parking lot speeds that we experienced in our tester. That was the only shortcoming in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable package.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The 2024 I-Pace features a 90.0-kWh battery pack that provides an EPA-rated driving range of up to 246 miles per full charge when riding on 20-inch wheels. Opt for the 22-inch rims and the estimated range dips to 217 miles. For comparison, the Audi Q8 e-tron (formerly the Audi e-tron) recently improved its range estimate, now able to go up to 285 miles on a charge, while the Tesla Model X is expected to travel up to 348 miles. The electric Jag includes a standard DC fast-charging port that recharges the battery to 80 percent in as little as 40 minutes—which isn’t particularly fast. When plugged into a 240-volt AC outlet, topping up the battery will take a little more than ten hours. That’s a setback compared to an earlier version of the I-Pace that fitted an 11.0-kilowatt onboard charger; the current charger was downgraded to 9.6 kW.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
Government estimates for the 2024 I-Pace vary depending on wheel size. Models equipped with 20-inch wheels are expected to get up to 85 combined MPGe with 89 in the city and 82 on the highway. Models equipped with larger 22-inch wheels earned a lower rating of 76 MPGe with 79 in the city and 72 on the highway. While such efficiency ratings are comparable to those of the Q8 e-tron, they’re considerably lower than for the Model X. The last I-Pace we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, achieved 64 MPGe—8 below its highway rating and 3 MPGe less than the Q8 e-tron earned. More important, it delivered a real-world highway range of 190 mile on its 20-inch tires. For the record, we haven’t tested a Model X on our real-world route. For more information about the I-Pace’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Jaguar complements the I-Pace’s stylish exterior with a sophisticated cabin boasting flashy displays. The standard sport seats are nicely bolstered but less comfortable on long trips than they look, so make sure to try the performance seats. Jaguar designed ample places to store items, the highlight being the versatile center console offering a useful bin under the armrest and a tray below the center stack. Further back in the cargo bay, we managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases with the rear seats up, and 18 with the rear seats folded.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every I-Pace comes with a 10.0-inch touch-sensitive screen for the Pivi Pro infotainment system placed above a 5.5-inch display that primarily handles the climate-control system. Jaguar continues to make improvements to the interface to be more intuitive than before, we have yet to test that out for ourselves. The latest software shows the locations of charging stations as well as their availability, cost, and estimated charging time. The I-Pace offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto played through the standard 825-watt Meridian sound system and Amazon Alexa voice control. Getting a Wi-Fi hotspot requires adding the Driver Intelligence Pack, though.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
This electric SUV has an assortment of standard driver-assistance technology, including automatic high-beam headlamps and blind-spot monitoring. A 360-degree camera system is also available. For more information about the I-Pace’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Jaguar provides one of the most comprehensive warranty plans on the market, with lengthy limited and powertrain coverage. Plus, it offers one of the longest complimentary scheduled maintenance periods we’ve seen.
- Limited warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for five years or 60,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2019 Jaguar I-Pace EV400 First Edition
VEHICLE TYPE: front- and mid-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE AS TESTED: $88,595 (base price: $86,895)
MOTORS: 2 permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 197 hp, 256 lb-ft each; combined output, 394 hp, 512 lb-ft
BATTERY: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 90.0 kWh
TRANSMISSION: 1-speed direct drive
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 13.8-in vented disc/12.8-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero PZ4 PNCS, 255/40R-22 103V
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 117.7 in
Length: 184.3 in
Width: 74.6 in
Height: 61.3 in
Passenger volume: 96 cu ft
Cargo volume: 26 cu ft
Curb weight: 4951 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 4.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 10.4 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 16.6 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 4.6 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 1.7 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 2.3 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.8 sec @ 109 mph
Top speed (governor limited, mfr’s claim): 128 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 160 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 66 MPGe
C/D 75-mph Highway Range: 170 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 76/80/72 MPGe
Range: 234 miles
Source: www.caranddriver.com