Jaguar I-Pace SUV

The Jaguar I-Pace is Jaguar’s first electric car and currently counts the Tesla Model X, Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC as its main rivals. More electric SUVs are on their way from BMW and Volkswagen but the I-Pace was the first of the ‘premium’ contenders to go on sale.

The I-Pace is built on Jaguar’s new ‘skateboard’ platform, designed specifically to underpin fully electric cars, and uses a 90kWh battery to power an electric motor on each axle. The result is a four-wheel-drive SUV with 396bhp and an official range of up to 292 miles (220 miles is more realistic based on our tests). The I-Pace can be charged at up to 100kW but 50kW chargers are more commonly available and take around 90 minutes to get the battery to 80%.

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On the road, the I-Pace looks muscular, athletic and unlike most other cars. Its looks are matched by a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds, but it impresses most on a twisty road; its poise and responsive handling trump what virtually any other production electric car can manage and give enthusiasts hope that a move away from conventionally powered cars won’t spell the end of driving fun. The only downside to this is an undeniably firm ride compared to most versions of the Jaguar F-Pace.

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The I-Pace is spacious inside and practicality is enhanced by a 656-litre boot, putting the Jaguar on a par with the Audi Q5 for roominess. There are plenty of places to put your personal effects inside, and even a small extra boot under the bonnet. The interior is smart, modern and comes with a slick 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Buyers of the entry-level S model get plenty of standard equipment, with SE and HSE adding increasing amounts of luxury. At launch, customers could purchase a fully loaded First Edition model, which pushed the price into Range Rover territory.

While insurance is expensive and the car has a relatively high price tag, the I-Pace should be very cheap to run once you’ve got it, because charging is so much cheaper than the cost of petrol or diesel. Company-car drivers will also be drawn to the I-Pace by its 0% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax liability, cutting monthly bills significantly. The I-Pace comes with plenty of safety equipment and all other current Jaguar models scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests.

The Jaguar I-Pace is a truly accomplished electric SUV that’s fast, fun, luxurious and practical, with enough range to make it a car you can use regularly with little worry about running out of charge. It’s a shame there aren’t currently more superfast chargers for non-Tesla electric cars in the UK, but that alone doesn’t stop us from recommending the I-Pace. The Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC are better motorway cars but for keen drivers looking to switch to their first EV, Jaguar has set the bar very high indeed.

For a more detailed look at the Jaguar I-Pace, read on for the rest of our in-depth review.