Jaguar is trying hard to reinvent itself. The Jaguar I-PACE, built by contract manufacturer Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, has remained a true Jaguar since its launch in 2018. The new 2022 model has received a few improvements to make this great EV even more desirable at a starting OTR price of £65,620. Team Track EV takes a look at these refinements.
Exterior
The immediate standout element is the new Atlas Grey touches on the grille pins and the glossy black applied to the grille, side window surrounds and the rear badges (Is black the new chrome nowadays?).
A new 19-inch wheel option provides a comfortable drive around town.
Interior
Jaguars are known for comfortable seats, and the new model is no exception. Full ebony leather sports seats with gloss back trim finishers, and leather headliners make the interior look enchanting.
The full panoramic roof with UV protection should help keep the cabin cool (without the need for a sunshade) and increase headroom. Two wireless chargers with dual-bluetooth and phone signal boosting capability and dedicated storage trays designed for laptops and tablets increase practicality for people on the go.
Passenger comfort
The rear legroom at 89 cm is comparable to a large SUV. With no transmission tunnel, there is a 10.5-litre central storage compartment.
Optional Click and Play tablet holder attachment could reduce boredom, especially during charging sessions. The optional Meridian 3D surround sound system with 16 speakers, and one subwoofer delivers exceptional sound for all occupants.
Cabin air ionisation with PM2.5 filtration improves air quality during journeys and charging in the city. The boot space is quite spacious at 656 litres, and with the rear seats down, there is a further addition of 800 litres.
Technology
I-Pace is packed with clever technology. Pivi Pro infotainment system has received some useful updates. There is now even better support for Amazon Alexa and a dedicated Spotify app for your streaming needs. The navigation is improved to show public chargers and their availability and enables battery pre-conditioning to improve the charging rate. 3D 360 surround camera, ClearSight rearview mirror, park assist, and adaptive cruise control with steering-assist feature enrich the driving experience further.
The software would continue to get better and slicker over time with free over-the-air updates. Jaguar is also throwing in unlimited 4G connectivity (with a 20GB fair-use policy) for your Spotify or Deezer needs.
Performance
With dual motors that offer 294 kW power and 696 Nm torque, Jaguar is quicker than a Kia EV6 GT and a Tesla Model Y LR, achieving 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. A ground clearance of 17.4 cm and instant torque makes the vehicle snappier in corners and while starting from red traffic lights. Turning circle of 12.3 metres does make the car difficult to drive in little roundabouts and while parking.
The battery is the key feature of an EV, and Jaguar has made no attempts to change it. I-Pace comes with the exact 90 kWh LG Chem lithium-ion liquid-cooled battery with a pouch design that packs 432 battery cells in 36 modules of 12. The DC charging speed is still limited to 100 kW with no change to the charge curve, so more suitable for 50 kW rapid charging. There is, however, a new 22 kW (3-phase) on-board charger as standard to charge quicker at home with the right EVSE.
While Jaguars are not known for efficiency, owners could expect a real-world range of around 200 miles during cold weather and approximately 250 miles during summer. This figure might be acceptable for typical owners of Jaguar who value comfort and looks over mileage and range. The standard 8-year/100,000 miles battery warranty should alleviate any concerns about expensive battery failures.
I-Pace has a respectable towing capacity of 750kg (same as Kia Niro EV), opening the prospects for luxury zero-emission adventures.
Cost
A starting price of £65,000 puts the Jaguar I-PACE on the premium end, beating the likes of Tesla Model Y and Nissan Ariya towards BMW i4 and Mercedes EQE territory.
The S trim lacks several useful features, such as a Powered Tailgate, Folded mirrors, Electric Driver Memory Front Seats and even Adaptive Cruise Control, making it quite bare for contemporary EV owners.
Known annoyances
- The Pivi Pro Infotainment system and the navigation are known to have bugs but receive frequent updates and features.
- The glovebox is quite small limited by HAVC, Airbags and the instrument panel.
- Passengers must pull the handle twice to unlock and open the door
- Some reliability problems persist with owners reporting issues with the battery control system and gearbox
Closing Thoughts
With the new improvements, Jaguar should convince their existing customers of fossil-fuel models such as the Jaguar F-Pace or even Land Rover Discovery Sport to consider the I-Pace a worthy alternative and a needed upgrade. We believe the New I-PACE is a great EV that many desire before eventually settling with a Kia or a Nissan Ariya.
