Jaguar I-PACE

Revamped I-PACE still packs loads of driver appeal

Upgraded tech and improvements help keep exciting SUV a real contender, says Andrew Walker

Since we first drove the Jaguar I-PACE three years ago, an awful lot can happen. Brexit, Covid and a raft of new electric cars have come to market, threatening the electric Jaguar which, back in 2018, was well ahead of the pack. It was no surprise when Jaguar decided to make some improvements and the updated I-Pace arrives with us last month

So what’s new?

Outside, there’s some subtle trim updates and a new bright pack, which makes the 2021 model visually distinctive from its predecessor. Inside, tech updates, with an improved Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring Pivi Pro Connected inside, stand out, along with a 10.25” touchscreen display; a 12.3” Interactive Driver Display is carried over from before.

Elsewhere, JLR’s Clearsight rear camera system has been added. The system works by feeding a high-definition wide-angle view from a roof-mounted camera on to the rear-view mirror, giving the driver an unobstructed view of the rear. We first experienced this in the Mk2 Evoque and it’s brilliant, if at first a little disconcerting. The image on the mirror is so clear it doesn’t look real and is even better in the dark.

The other main change is with charging. The I-PACE now comes with a new three-phase 11kW inbuilt charger. This means that you can fully charge the battery in just 8.5 hours and is a real bonus as it means you can plug-in overnight, to take advantage of discounted night-time charging rates.

Exterior

When it came out the I-PACE really stood out from the crowd. Somehow, Jaguar has managed to keep the Jaguar ID, for example, with the front grille, while simultaneously adding a massive air vent to the bonnet to make the I-PACE more aerodynamic and totally unique. Plainly, they considered the competition and back in 2018, it was Tesla’s Model X.

Since then, however, the competition, namely the Germans, have been catching up, but to be fair to Jaguar, the squat and muscular I-PACE still turns heads wherever you go.

Specification

We were testing the entry level I-PACE 400PS Electric S, which comes very well equipped. It features Luxtec synthetic leather sports seats, 19” five-split spoke gloss dark grey alloys, electric cabin pre conditioning, LED head and tail lights, follow me home lighting, flush exterior door handles, Jaguar Drive Control, Pivi Pro connected, a smartphone pack for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Meridian sound system, cruise control, lane keep assist and a rear camera.

Charging equipment includes a 7kW charger cable, which went straight into my Rolec home set up and a multi-function 32A charging cable, which will plug in to a domestic socket.

Inside, the quality of all of the visible surfaces is excellent. Some nice touches include a light Oyster Morzine headlining, as the cabin can be quite dark, metal tread plates with Jaguar script and an ebony interior.

Passengers will be pleased with the generous head and leg room in both the front and rear, and the cabin cocoons you in a happy way. Three adults will fit into the rear with decent legroom but shoulder space will be a little tight.

The centre console has been hollowed out, with a hidden space underneath, just big enough for a small bag. This section also contains two USB charging ports. In the rear, there’s trays beneath the rear seats, which are the perfect size for storing an iPad or laptop plus, rear passengers also get twin USB ports and a 12v socket. The central armrest has a 10-litre cubby underneath with a further two USB ports inside plus another 12v socket. In front of this there’s two drinks spaces and a clever rectangular fitting for your mobile phone. Both front door pockets are a decent size and will each take a small bottle.

The way that the I-PACE has been designed, means there’s an excellent amount of boot space, with 656 litres on offer. Drop the rear seats down and this goes up to a more than useful 1,453 litres. The two charging cables are stored under the boot’s flat floor and, of course, as there’s no engine, you get a few litres of storage space at the front under the bonnet.

Continued from page 21 Battery and range

The 90kWh battery is installed into the floor and it’s this that makes it so much fun to drive, with the car’s 2.2 tonnes of weight spread more evenly across the chassis.

Jaguar claims a range of up to 298 miles, but with the way it handles and a 0-60mph of just 4.5 seconds, we would seriously question this. The I-PACE begs to be driven and as we found out, a range of 190-200 miles on a single charge is more realistic. Stick to Eco mode for the best range rather than in Comfort or in Dynamic. The 90kWh battery which drives the two electric motors to give 4WD, develops 400PS and 696Nm of torque, more than enough to tempt even the most pessimistic petrolhead.

We started off with a 90-mile drive on motorway from full charge, which was 268 miles on delivery. The range dropped from 268 to 142 miles, however (126 miles), which wasn’t a great start. It proves that travelling at over 70mph really does drain the battery.

The good news, though, is that once you slow down and drive in urban areas, or on A and B roads, at 30-40mph, the economy improves. The 142-mile range we had left actually gave us 128 miles of driving before we were warned to recharge. That’s close to one mile range = one mile actual driving, as it should be.

Charging from almost near zero to full using our Rolec 7kWh home charger took us 10.5 hours and this would work out at around £12 of electricity, depending on your supplier. As we have an Octopus Go tariff, we were able to utilise the 5p a kWh charged between 00.30am and 04.30am, which would reduce the cost to only £4.50. If you don’t have a home charger, you’ll need to plug in the 32A charging cable into a domestic socket. This is not to be encouraged as it will take twice as long to charge the battery and will cost more as well.

We reckoned our £12 bought us about 200 miles of range, about two-thirds cheaper than it would cost to buy 200 miles of fuel in an average family petrol hatchback. Compare the cost to go 200 miles in the kind of petrol powered car that offers the I-Pace’s performance and the Jag is at the very least three-quarters cheaper running on electricity than petrol. That’s a sobering thought and one that many customers will be swayed by.

On the road

Driving in town in a silent car can be dangerous to pedestrians and so Jaguar has fitted a synthetic soundtrack which you can adjust from ‘calm’ to ‘dynamic’ to warn unsuspecting passes by that you’re near. It may be quiet but the I-Pace is hardly invisible.

Moving off, you push the D for Drive button, with an R button for Reverse and a P button for Park. There’s an electric hand brake, which is located on the right side of the steering wheel on the lower part of the dashboard.

The cabin layout and equipment mirrors those found in other Jags and Range Rovers, including the touchscreen infotainment system. This system works well, but it isn’t as large or as much fun as the massive tablet screen or system fitted in the Teslas, or even the Ford Mustang MACH E.

The heating controls are clever. Twist the dial to increase the temperature, push it to engage the electric heated seats or pull it up to increase the fan speed. The 12.3” driver’s digital display in front of you is also a nice touch.

For the first few days I drove the I-PACE only on the motorway and although it’s an excellent motorway companion, driving in relatively straight lines and on a lot of speed-restricted sections, it wasn’t giving me the pazzaz I was hoping for. Then, as if by magic, I took the I-PACE out on some local country roads and despite its weight of almost 2.2 tonnes, the I-PACE managed to put a massive smile on my face.

As a proper five door SUV, the I-PACE defies convention. It’s not only quick but offers the driver a sports car-like experience, with exceptional balance and handling. Speed into a corner and the I-PACE offers little or no body roll, hugging the road and allowing you to enter and exit at speed. A series of S bends presents no problem for this Jaguar and what had at first seemed to me anyway, a Tesla wannabe, proved that it’s so much more. As Jaguar-man, Arthur Daley would have said, “This is a seriously good motor.” Composed, comfortable, hell, it’s even exciting, with the rapid acceleration allowing you to drive with a permanent smile on your face.

Factor in the oh-so-comfortable seats and well equipped interior and the I-PACE delivers on many levels.

Pros and cons

Still the best car in its class to drive, with looks that are still relevant and an excellent interior, both quality and space-wise. Thhe addition of new, faster charging and software updates make it better. With zero CO2 emissions, the Benefit in Kind from April 2021 for tax year 2021/22 is 1% across the I-Pace range. Brilliant!

On the downside, there are other electric cars arriving which will push the I-PACE hard and it’s not as unique or as on-trend as it once was. Even the entry level model, at just under £65,000, is expensive.

CC&V VERDICT

In a world where technology changes faster every day, not least when it comes to electric cars, Jaguar has updated and improved the I-PACE where it needed it most, its tech. Thankfully, they haven’t messed around with the way it drives and it still retains the Jaguar heritage and DNA of old. When it come to price, most I-PACE customers will not buy their car, but will lease it through work or personally, so the monthly cost is more relevant for company car drivers.