Jaguar I-PACE cars

The style of the car

The I-PACE looks like no other car on the road. It’s futuristic, sleek and sporty, despite being a tall SUV. High-spec models have bigger wheels that add to the sportiness. The user-friendly interior looks even better. Luxurious leather covers the seats and dashboard, and most functions are controlled through two smart-looking touchscreens on the dashboard.

How it drives

The I-PACE feels light and agile for a mid-size SUV yet comfortable and stable on motorways. The I-PACE is also very quick and, like many electric cars, it will accelerate from stationary very abruptly if you press the throttle hard. Accelerate more gently, though, and the I-PACE is easy to drive at low speed and in stop-start traffic. All I-PACE models are four-wheel drive. Parking sensors and a rear-view camera aid manoeuvring.

The interior

The I-PACE is about the same size as the BMW X3 and Mercedes EQC. It’s a mid-size SUV with five doors, five seats and an interior that feels luxurious. Most features are controlled through one of the two touchscreens, one high up on the dashboard, the other lower down.  Four tall adults fit comfortably and a fifth will just about go in the middle back seat. So even rapidly growing children will have more than enough room. There are two sets of Isofix mounts. The boot has room for four large suitcases, and the back seats fold down to create even more. All models have climate control, heated leather seats, sat nav and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.

Running costs and reliability

According to official figures, the I-PACE can go 298 miles on a full charge. In the real world, that figure will depend on how you drive, the outside temperature and how many of the electrical features are in use. A 50kW charger such as you’ll find at a motorway service gives a 0-80% charge in 85 minutes. A 7kW ‘wallbox’ installed at home gives a 0-80% recharge in 10 hours - overnight, in other words. How much charging costs depends on which domestically electricity tariff you’re on and which public charger providers you use. But it will cost a lot less than a tank of fuel. The I-PACE doesn’t incur a road tax charge, offsetting potentially high insurance costs. Advanced safety features helped the experts at Euro NCAP to award the full five-star safety rating. Jaguars can suffer electrical issues, but are generally reliable.

How it compares with similar cars

The Audi e-tron, BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQC are all electric SUVs of similar size to the I-PACE. They all have similar range and interior space, but there are some notable differences. The Audi has the most high-tech interior and feels like a higher quality product than the others. The Jaguar is by far the most enjoyable to drive and is the most affordable to buy used.