- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
Perm Magnet, LI
- Engine Power
294kW, 696Nm
- Fuel
48h 0m chg, 446km range
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
5 Yr, 200000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2018)
2018 Jaguar I-Pace review – First Australian drive
Regardless of whether the Jaguar I-Pace is a good car, the British brand has landed an important blow by bringing it to market ahead of German rivals.
Audi, BMW and Mercedes all have electric SUVs on the way, while the likes of Porsche and VW are reading alternatives at higher and lower ends of the automotive spectrum.
But Jaguar got there first.
- Sharp dynamics
- Clever cabin layout
- On trend
- Slow home charging
- Interesting looks
- Grabby brakes
Is it right for me?
“It’s a huge achievement for a brand of our size.”
So says Mark Cameron, managing director of Jaguar’s Australian business, standing in front of the visually arresting crossover.
“I’m really confident that it will change people’s perceptions of what Jaguar is and what it stands for.”
Like many people, the images appearing when I hear the word “Jaguar” are of classic E-Type sports cars, all wire-spoked wheels, chrome bumpers and British racing green bodywork.
But this is nothing like that.
Looking long and lean, with a cab-forward design and enormous wheels tucked under each corner of its metallic red bodywork, the I-Pace resembles a new world.
Taking in its design in a Sydney showroom a couple of days after time with the new Audi e-tron, it occurs to me that the Jag offers a much bolder design statement. This is Jaguar’s “Prius” moment, an unapologetic shift into a future steering a new course for the marque.
While this is the sort of stuff you might normally hear about a concept car, the I-Pace is a real-world option you can buy and drive today.
Can I afford it ?
Priced from $119,000 to $159,700, the I-Pace costs significantly more than the brand’s petrol and diesel-powered F-Pace SUVs which start around $80,000. But it should undercut the Audi e-tron by $20,000 or so, proving cheaper the entry-level Tesla Model X 75D which currently starts at $141,795 plus on-road costs.
Other rivals include the $135,600 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid and the Range Rover Sport Hybrid priced from $128,200.
What do you get for your money?
The I-Pace features an impressive level of kit as standard, including Jaguar’s full suite of safety gear (such as autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control and lane keeping assistance) as well as LED headlights, 18-inch wheels and faux leather trim.
Customers who want a fully-loaded car can purchase a first edition model with 20-inch rims, leather seats with 18-way adjustment, matrix LED headlights and more for just shy of $160,000.
How much does it cost to maintain?
Servicing for the first five years of ownership is free. Of course, maintain for electric cars is minimal - you don’t have to change engine oil or filters, and regenerative braking makes life easy for pads and discs.
Is it well built?
Our test example felt well-executed and solid, deserving its place in the premium class. Beautiful digital screens and controls look sharp but aren’t quite as responsive as the best in class, and we’ve experienced a couple of glitches with similar hardware offered by Jaguar’s Range Rover siblings.
If anything goes wrong, the car is backed with a five-year, 200,000-kilometre warranty and separate eight-year, 160,000-kilometre battery guarantee to give sceptics peace of mind.
What are the Standout features?
Every I-Pace features a 12.3-inch digital dashboard coupled with twin screens in the centre console measuring 10 and 5 inches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature as standard, along with sat nav, Wi-Fi connectivity, a head-up display and a vehicle tracking system.
Other features include a remote-control app that lets you check the car’s charging status (and much more), the ability to pre-set the car’s climate control, a special navigation system which finds the nearest charging point, and other tech including self-parking and steering assistance systems.
What does it have that others don't?
A weight problem. The Jaguar undercuts Audi’s upcoming e-tron by more than 400 kilograms, tripping the scales 220 to 365 kilos lighter than the Tesla. Those are reasonably significant sums, lending the British machine a comparatively sporty character.
How practical is it?
The I-Pace represents an eminently liveable machine. You have seating for five, an impressive 656 litres of cargo space, power outlets in the front and rear, and dedicated air conditioning controls in the back seat.
Is it comfortable?
The cabin makes plenty of sense, though its electronics feel a step behind the seamless presentation served up by the likes of Audi.
Though smaller dimensions compared to the e-tron ought to make the Jaguar a little tight for back-seat passengers, a longer wheelbase lends impressive room for occupants in the front and rear.
Easy in, easy out?
A high ride height, huge door openings and long wheelbase make it easy to access the I-Pace.
Space and versatility?
There’s plenty of room once you’re inside, and lots of hidey-holes to stash odds and ends.
What's the engine like?
Jaguar’s combustion-powered F-Pace crossover currently serves up a choice of eight powertrains combinations, with more on the way.
But that isn’t the case for the electric model - whichever way you go, the I-Pace brings a pair of electric motors sending 294kW and 696Nm outputs to all four wheels. Weighing in just over 2.1 tonnes, the Jag is able to streak to 100km/h in an impressive 4.8 seconds, lending genuinely exciting straight-line potential.
As is usually the case for an electric vehicle, it feels smooth and seamless, pulling away from rest with uncommon vigour.
There's a touch of electro-whirr from the driveline until you really mash the throttle, when the Jag pipes in a distant synthesized mash-up of new and old powertrains that sounds a little like a Star Wars fighter drag-racing a modern V6.
How much fuel does it consume?
Jaguar says the I-Pace uses 21.2 kiloWatt-hours of electricity for every 100 kilometres of travel.
If it all runs to plan, the I-Pace’s 90kWh battery will give you at least 470 kilometres of range in real-world conditions. A slower maximum charging rate compared to the likes of Audi (both at home and when using fast-charging sites) may frustrate some consumers. EV specialists Jet Charge offer figures detailing the time it takes to charge the I-Pace, finding that a standard household powerpoint adds eight kilometres of range for every hour of charge time, compared to 35 kilometres for a home charging kit (yours for $2280, installed), 110 kilometres on a 22kW DC charger and 480 kilometres per hour on a 100kW DC charger.
Jaguar says average charging costs of around $5.70 per 100 kilometres represent around one-third the running costs of similar-sized combustion-powered cars.
Is it enjoyable to drive?
More than zippy in a straight line, the F-Pace is equally impressive in the bends, where grippy Pirelli tyres and a massive weight advantage compared to other electric SUVs help the Jaguar key into the road.
Crisp steering, an impressively composed ride on air suspension and seamless thrust conspire to make the I-Pace a genuinely engaging driver’s car.
It's comfortable, liveable and generally impressive.
Again, there are areas where it could be improved, such as braking performance that lacks the silky smoothness of Audi’s e-tron, feeling a touch grabby and difficult to modulate.
Does it perform as you expect?
Happily, the I-Pace is better than good. Much better.
Competitively priced, generously equipped and stirring to drive, the I-Pace makes an excellent argument for EV ownership.
Though electric cars represent just 0.1 per cent of vehicles sold in Australia today, that number will grow exponentially as more models arrive.
Especially if they’re as good as this.
2018 Jaguar I-Pace Price and Specifications
Price: From $119,000 plus on-road costs
On sale: Now
Driveline: Front and rear electric motors
Power: 294kW
Torque: 696Nm
Transmission: Direct drive, all-wheel-drive
Battery: 90kWH
Energy use: 21.2kWh/100km