Jaguar I-Pace SUV - Interior & comfort

The interior of the I-Pace is smart and a welcome evolution of the familiar Jaguar design seen in existing models in the range. All three core trim levels come with plenty of standard equipment. The ride feels on the firm side, particularly at low speed, but it doesn’t make the car uncomfortable and it's very refined, with just a little tyre and wind noise at higher speeds. The optional air suspension is worth considering, as it helps the ride settle at high speed and takes the edge off the thuds from potholes, providing better composure than the Tesla Model S

Jaguar I-Pace dashboard

The dashboard of the I-Pace represents a modernisation of the design used in the existing Jaguar range. It’s still a conventional layout; nothing gimmicky has been added to shout about the I-Pace’s all-electric nature, which seems appropriate for a luxury car. As electric cars become the norm, it makes sense that they should have traditional interiors that appeal to the average car buyer.

Equipment

A shake-up of the I-Pace range in 2023 means there are now four core trim levels: R-Dynamic S, R-Dynamic SE Black, R-Dynamic HSE Black (we never said they were catchy), and 400 Sport topping the range.

At the base of the range the entry-level R-Dynamic S has 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, sports seats, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, sat nav, DAB radio, cruise control and a rear camera.

The R-Dynamic SE Black gets 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, privacy glass, a panoramic roof, and a black exterior pack in place of the R-Dynamic S model’s chrome trim. HSE Black models get a different design of 20-inch alloy wheel, as well as Windsor leather for their sports seats, 16-way adjustable heated and cooled front seats, and a suede headlining, as well as all the features from the models below it.

Step up to the 400 Sport and a set of arch-filling 22-inch alloy wheels are the main differentiator, along with Windsor leather-trimmed and more heavily-bolstered performance seats, more like those you’d expect to find in the F-Type sports car, with 14-way adjustment, along with heating and cooling.

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Options

Buyers have a choice of a single solid paint colour, five standard metallic hues (for an extra £700), premium metallic shade called Carpathian Grey (£1,600), and then a pair of SV bespoke ‘ultra metallic’ colours, Eiger Grey and Carpathian Grey both in a satin finish – for the small matter of £6,000. There’s a carbon-fibre styling pack that gives the car a sportier appearance, several alloy wheel designs depending on the trim level, a contrasting black roof or panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, window surrounds, matrix LED headlights (if you don’t buy the R-Dynamic HSE Black or 400 Sport with them already specced) and a range of different colours for the leather.

Active air suspension, four-zone climate control and ambient interior lighting are available, as well as safety packs and a cold climate pack, which includes a heated windscreen and heated steering wheel.

Technology

The Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which is made up of a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen on the dashboard and a smaller five-inch screen beneath it in the centre console, looks great and is quick and simple to use. It can occasionally feel complicated when trying to adjust certain settings, as there are several layers of menu that make it easy to get lost, and there's no haptic feedback. A 2020 update introduced the brand’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment software to the I-Pace, which is shared with the new Land Rover Defender. It also gets a configurable multifunction steering wheel and also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The I-Pace has ‘Smart Settings’ that use artificial intelligence to learn your preferences for climate control, seat position and preferred radio station. Smart charging means home charging can be pre-set to coincide with when electricity is cheapest on your energy tariff.