2024 Jaguar I-Pace review: Electric Jag has grace, space and lots of pace

Does Jaguar’s first and only all-electric car still impress against a growing field of rivals?

Jaguar intends to be an all-electric brand by 2026.

The marque famous for growling V12s and rumbling V8s plans to ditch combustion engines entirely in the next two years as part of a wider electrification strategy for the JLR ‘house of brands’.

That’s quite an ambition for a company that has so far given barely a hint of what’s to come and has just one electric model on sale – the I-Pace.

Jaguar stole a lead on its rivals with that car, launching it in 2018 before the likes of Audi and Mercedes had any similar offering.

But that means the I-Pace is now six years old and rivals have come along to challenge it. Cars like the Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX and Mercedes EQC are already on sale and soon Jaguar will have the Polestar 4 to worry about. So have some midlife updates manage to keep the former World Car of the Year relevant as the brand reinvents itself?

Design, interior and technology

The I-Pace’s chief designer, Ian Callum, is one of the biggest names in the business and it’s easy to see why. He was praised for the car’s bold looks when it was first unveiled and what’s impressive is that it still looks as sharp and modern now as it did back in 2018.

The wide stance, low bonnet and sweeping roofline give the I-Pace a squat, purposeful look that does a good job of disguising the car’s size as well as giving the impression of something more dynamic than your average SUV. It’s aided by massive 22-inch wheels that fill out the arches like a concept car’s.

Updates last year replaced the diamond-patterned grille with a smooth single piece and ditched some gloss plastic trim around the grille, bumpers, doors and rear diffuser. The changes also brought a diamond-cut finish to all versions of the largest 22-inch wheels. But apart from that Jaguar has wisely stuck to the “if it ain’t broke” rule of design.

Inside it’s a similar story where smart material choices and masses of space make the I-Pace a wonderful place to spend time. There’s more than enough room for four adults, and every version comes with high-grade leather upholstery and a chunky, solid look and feel to all the main touchpoints that make it a match for any premium rival.

I covered hundreds of miles in it, including two days of 250+ miles of driving and felt as fresh at the end of my journey as at the start, thanks to a comfortable driving position, decent noise insulation and astonishingly good ride composure for a car on such huge wheels.

Like any new car, there are plenty of screens, starting with a 12.3-inch set of digital dials supplemented by a head-up display. Alongside that there’s a 10-inch screen running Jaguar’s Pivi Pro system, which enjoys over-the-air updates to keep it current. Features such as navigation with live traffic data and wireless phone mirroring are all standard and everything looks bright and clear. Frustratingly, though, the operating system isn’t as responsive as those in rival cars.

There’s a smaller touchscreen beneath the main display for controlling the multi-zone air con but it’s nice to see that the I-Pace hasn’t yet fallen victim to JLR’s purge of buttons and it retains the smart multi-function physical dials.

Battery, motor and performance

While there have been interior and specification changes, the I-Pace’s basic setup remains unchanged.

Buyers’ only option is the EV400 which uses twin motors to deliver 395bhp and 513lb ft, split across the front and rear axles. Providing the energy for that is an 84.7kWh battery that was unusually large in 2018 and still impressive today.

Even in a fairly heavy SUV, 395bhp is enough to cover ground rapidly. There’s plenty of the ‘pace and grace’ Jaguar used to be famous for as it delivers all that muscle swiftly but without too much drama.

Straight stretches of road are dismissed with rapid ease and in the corners the I-Pace continues to display the sort of dynamism the brand is famous for. Sharp steering allows the Jag to turn in with directness and enthusiasm and it powers out again with pleasing composure thanks to the grip of the all-wheel-drive system. The body stays mostly flat, too, aided by my car’s adaptive air suspension, so you don’t feel like you’re tumbling between turns.

There are three drive modes – dynamic, comfort and eco – although the differences aren’t as noticeable as in some other cars. There are also multiple regenerative braking modes but these are buried three menus deep in the infotainment system – infuriating for a function drivers might want to adjust on the move.

Using all the pace all the time will, inevitably, ruin your efficiency but Jaguar claims that driven carefully, the I-Pace offers efficiency of 2.76m/kWh, which should return 285 miles of range (292 in lower spec cars). Opt for 22-inch wheels like my car and the official range and efficiency drop to 255 miles and 2.48m/kWh, both of which I managed to exceed fractionally with some light application of the right foot.

While a lot about the I-Pace still feels current, the maximum DC charging of 100kW is a little behind the times. It should get you from 10-80% in around 45 minutes, but the Audi Q8 offers up to 170kW and the Polestar 4 will manage up to 200kW DC.

Price and specification

The I-Pace range starts at a fiver under £70,000 and all cars get the sort of features you’d expect at that price. There’s keyless entry, a powered tailgate, LED lights and heated leather seats with memory function. Basic ADAS, a reversing camera and the 10-inch Pivi Pro system are also standard kit.

My R-Dynamic HSE model was £77,495 and added adaptive headlights, a panoramic roof and tinted rear glass along with aesthetic upgrades. It also offered more adjustment and cooling for the front seats, a heated steering wheel and Meridian sound system along with more advanced driver assistance.

If you want the adaptive air suspension that’s standard on 400 Sport trim, you’ll need the £3,300 Dynamic pack that also upgrades the wheels from 20 to 22 inches.

Verdict

When it was launched it was easy to see why the I-Pace was named World Car of the Year. What’s most remarkable about it today is that it manages to still feel so fresh.

It was an impressive blend of refinement, performance and luxury when it came out and manages to retain all those qualities even as, presumably, it nears the end of its life.

Minor upgrades haven’t done much to change the basic package and its relatively slow maximum charging rate gives rivals some advantage but the I-Pace remains an impressively complete and engaging EV.

Jaguar I-Pace R-Dynamic HSE

Price: £77,495 (£83,830 as tested)
Powertrain: dual-motor, all-wheel-drive
Battery: 84.7kWh usable
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 513lb ft
Top speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 4.8 seconds
Range: 255 miles
Consumption: 2.48m/kWh
Charging: up to 100kW