Everything you need to know about the Jaguar I-Pace

How good is the Jaguar I-Pace?

Jaguar’s I-Pace is the manufacturer’s first-ever fully electric vehicle and it is one they’re immensely proud of. Named 'World Car of the Year' in 2019, the I-Pace has gone on to become a leading contender in the electric SUV range, competing with the likes of the Mercedes EQC and Audi e-tron.

We have been testing out two different specifications from the Jaguar I-Pace range, the EV400 SE and the EV400 HSE to find out all about its key features for anybody considering a Jaguar lease on a personal or business contract hire.

Let’s jump into it! This is everything you need to know about the Jaguar I-Pace and what we think makes it so special.

Model Range and Specification

There is one model available in the Jaguar I-Pace range, the EV400, but there are three different specifications on offer within that. Drivers have the choice of the S, the SE and the range-topping HSE.

Key Features

S:

• 19'' 5-split spoke wheels
• Manual tailgate
• Luxtec Synthetic Leather Sports seats
• Interactive Driver Display
• Emergency Braking Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Speed Limiter

SE:

• 20'' 6 spoke wheels
• Premium LED headlights
• Powered tailgate
• Grained leather sport seats
• Blind Spot Assist Pack

HSE:

• 20'' 5 spoke dark grey and diamond gloss wheels
• Matrix LED headlights
• Powered gesture tailgate
• Windsor leather sport seats
• Head-up Display
• Driver Assist Pack that includes; Adaptive Cruise Control, Driver Condition Monitor, Rear Collision Monitor

Battery & Performance

There is just the one battery option available in the Jaguar I-Pace, a 90kWh lithium-ion battery that has been designed with longevity in mind. The I-Pace is powered by two synchronous magnet electric motors, one on each of the front and rear axles. To give you a sense of its true capabilities, these are the same motors used in Jaguar’s I-Type Formula E racing car.

Jaguar’s claimed range is between 252 and 292 miles and depending on how quickly you need to charge, you have several different options to top up your I-Pace. Using 50kW charger, you can store up to 154 miles of range per hour, while you can also use several different public chargers outputs, ranging from 3kW to 11kW.

Electric vehicles are known for their rapid acceleration and the Jaguar I-Pace is no different, benefiting from its all-wheel-drive system, it has a 0-60mph time of just 4.5 seconds and max speeds of 120mph.

Producing 696Nm of instant torque and 294kW (395hp) of power, the I-Pace is no slouch and thanks to its speed and incredible balance, it makes for a very rewarding driving experience. 

Design

Despite officially being classified as an electric SUV, the Jaguar I-Pace doesn’t necessarily fit that traditional mould.

It has a small profile with a beautiful swooping body that arches down into a low nose that you wouldn’t expect from an SUV.

The I-Pace looks every bit of a modern car but retains the famous and iconic look that you see throughout the Jaguar range. The famous British manufacturers have done a fantastic job of seamlessly combining that heritage and putting on a modern car that deserves all its plaudits.

Throughout the exterior and interior there is small but classy Jaguar detailing that adds to what is an intricate and well-thought-out design.

You get the choice of nine different wheel options with the I-Pace, depending on the model you choose. As standard, the S has 19-inch 5 split-spoke wheels with a gloss finish. In the SE you have 20-inch, 6 spoke wheels with a silver gloss finish and finally in the HSE you get 20-inch 5 spoke wheels with a dark grey and diamond gloss finish.

Interior 

As good as the exterior is, there is also lots to enjoy once you get yourself comfortable inside.

You have a plethora of options to choose from, including Luxtec, Grained Leather and Windsor Leather sports seats.

Jaguar’s Touch Pro Duo provide drivers with not one, but two touchscreens in the centre console, with digital drivers’ display behind the wheel too. A 10-inch screen up top will control all your entertainment, smartphone connectivity and more commonly used tech. Meanwhile, below you have a five-inch screen that operates your climate control.

They both look brilliant visually and feel right at home in what is an extremely well-presented cabin, with various soft-touch finishes throughout that add to the luxurious feel.

However, the infotainment system will need some time to get used to. The usability of touchscreens and infotainments systems have been a concern with Jaguar models of years gone by and the same can be said for the I-Pace, despite its good looks. On a particularly bright day, you will also need to be aware of the glare that hits the second screen, hampering the visibility. 

Practicality and Safety Features

Practicality wise, the Jaguar I-Pace does a good job of offering lots of clever storage opportunities throughout the cabin. Dotted around the car, there are several USB ports, 12v ports, hooks, two ISOFIX points and storage compartments.

There is plenty of leg room and space in the rear seats, enough for two adults to sit comfortably, while the optional large sunroof overhead also allows plenty of natural light in the cabin.

Boot space in the Jaguar I-Pace is competitive – there is 656L of luggage space on offer, which is all but the same as the Audi E-Tron and much better than the Mercedes EQC. There is also some handy extra storage in the 'frunk', but only enough for a few bags of shopping at best. 

One thing to note about the Jaguar I-Pace is the rear window, which is…odd. Considering how well designed and thought out the rest of the car is, the rear-view window, which is practically non-existent, leaves a little to be desired. 

It is also surrounded by two huge pillars on either side, making for some quite sizeable blind spots. While it may not be a deal breaker for you – and Jaguar does offer an additional Blind Spot Assist pack on select models - it is something you cannot simply ignore either.

The I-Pace secured a five-star NCAP rating and has a host of safety features as standard, including Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Keep Assist and Speed Limiter among others, while there are as many as six different airbags fitted throughout.

Optional Extras

Jaguar offers an Electronic Air Suspension for the I-Pace, which automatically lowers the car by 10mm when you’re travelling at speeds over 65mph for an extended amount of time.

Living up to the reputation of being a real ‘driver’s car’, you have the option to personalise the Jaguar I-PACE’s throttle sensitivity, steering weight and damper stiffness with the additional Configurable Dynamics system. You really can make it your own with a wealth of cool optional extras.

Pricing

An electric car this good is going to come at a price. The I-Pace S can start from £65,000, while you will have to pay upwards of £74,000 to get behind the wheel of an HSE edition.

Leasing a Jaguar I-Pace is a great way to lower the cost of such a brilliant driving experience. At Carparison, we can offer competitive monthly payments on a Jaguar I-Pace lease deal, with flexible initial payments and term lengths.

If you would like more information on our best car lease deals either on a personal or business contract hire, please do not hesitate to get in contact with a member of our team and they would be happy to help find the right deal for you.