2019 Jaguar I-Pace On and Off-Road Review: Here Are 10 Things You Need to Know! [Video]

How does Jaguar’s first all-electric crossover stack up? Here’s what you need to know.

After years of anticipation, including some Arctic testing in Sweden, Jaguar’s first fully-electric vehicle is finally here: the all-new I-Pace. And yes, technically it’s pronounced “Jag-u-ar”, rather than the “Jag-war” we Americans are used to. While the argument as to how to say the company name may not be settled here, what about the argument of an all-electric Jag? Since 1935, Jaguar has produced some of the world’s most rakish and desirable cars. Charismatic cars for genteel types, cars for scoundrels, cars for the jet set: Jaguar has long had pedigree and style to spare. How well has all that translated to their first electric crossover?

Jaguar brought TFL’s Roman Mica out to Portugal to try out the all-new I-Pace. Here are the top 10 things you need to know!


2018 Jaguar I-Pace First Drive Review
2019 Jaguar I-Pace. [Photo: Jaguar]

10) It looks (and goes) like a Jaguar should

From the signature grille and headlights to the arching side profile, the I-Pace is unmistakable as a Jaguar. More specifically, lead designer Ian Callum was responsible for bringing the attractive styling of this electric crossover to life. He was responsible for cars such as the Aston Martin DB7 and DB9, the Jaguar XF and XJ, as well as the F-Type and F-Pace. Basically, he’s responsible for how all modern Jaguars look.

But what about how this Jaguar goes? In addition to its looks, the I-Pace also has the performance pedigree of a modern Jaguar, both on and off the road. Oh, yes, this Jaguar I-Pace can go off-road, at least on light to moderate tracks.

9) It has a 90 kWh battery pack

The new Jaguar I-Pace has a 90 kWh battery pack nestled nice and low for better handling performance. It provides up to 240 miles of range depending on your driving style. The Tesla Model S, by comparison, gives up to 335 miles of range with its 100 kWh battery. However, the Tesla also costs significantly more for that level of range and performance.

2018 Jaguar I-Pace First Drive Review
2019 Jaguar I-Pace. [Photo: Jaguar]

8) 0-60 in 4.5 seconds

Despite being a crossover, the Jaguar I-Pace is no slouch when it comes to speed. It will hit 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, which isn’t bad considering its mass. It’s not as fast as the top-dog Tesla Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode. Then again, there are few cars – electric or otherwise – that can touch that sort of performance. There’s also the price gap to consider once again.

7) Nearly 400 horsepower and over 500 lb-ft of torque

394 horespower and 512 lb-ft of torque. That’s a respectable level of power for this size of car, which allows for that 4.5 second 0-60 time. Also helping the Jaguar I-Pace along is the fact that it has an all-aluminum body, another Jaguar staple. Thanks to its construction and Jaguar’s placement of the battery pack, the I-Pace has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, which is good for handling.

6) Enough amps to make Tesla (the inventor, that is) proud

On the track, the I-Pace can put down some serious power. No, we’re not talking about horsepower here – we’re talking about current. The car can put out up to 1,000 amps when pushed hard, and it can also regenerate up to 450 amps through hard braking.

2018 Jaguar I-Pace First Drive Review
The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace can do a bit of light off-roading. [Photo: Jaguar]

5) All-wheel drive

The Jaguar I-Pace is all-wheel drive, as you’d expect from a modern crossover. However, unlike a conventional crossover, it doesn’t send its power through a central transfer case. Instead, it uses its two electric motors to split power where necessary. One electric motor is nestled between the front wheels, while the other one sits between the rear wheels.

Each electric motor fits around a single-speed transmission and open differential, so it can distribute torque as necessary to all four wheels.

4) A top speed to get you into trouble

The new Jaguar I-Pace tops out at 200 kilometers per hour, or about 124 MPH. That’s not lightning fast compared to other sporty models. However, thanks to instantaneous torque via the electric motors, it won’t take you long to reach that speed.

3) Torque vectoring via braking (applies brake on inside wheel); open differentials

In addition to its all-wheel drive system, the Jaguar I-Pace also has torque vectoring to improve its handling. As you push hard into a corner, the car applies the brakes on the inside wheels to pull harder into the corner. That’s a useful feature to have, as the I-Pace has open differentials, which means an equal amount of torque is sent to both rear wheels.

2) Charge up in 40 minutes on a DC fast charger

There are a few different options for charging the Jaguar I-Pace back up after blasting around the track or tossing it around country roads. The slowest option is using an AC home charger. The car comes with a 7 kW on-board charger with a universal cable, where customers will be able to charge on a 110V or 230V socket. Taking that option, it will take approximately 12-1/2 hours to charge up from empty.

Jaguar customers can also have a Level 2 230V charger set up in their home. To facilitate that process, Jaguar Land rover is developing a network of electricians to support setting up those chargers.

On a 50 kW DC fast charger, you can charge the I-Pace up to 80 percent in about an hour and a half. If a 100 kW charger is available, you can charge up in just 40 minutes.

2019 Jaguar I-Pace First Drive Review
2019 Jaguar I-Pace interior. [Photo: Jaguar]

1) It can get a bit pricey

The Jaguar I-Pace will go on sale later this year, priced from $69,500. However, since it is an electric vehicle, there are some federal and state incentives out there for those who buy this car new.

Will Jaguar’s first electric crossover’s style, performance and price be enough to draw some adopters away from Tesla? We’ll have to wait and see. Let us know what you think about the all-new I-Pace in the comments! Subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow for more news, views and real-world, electric Jaguar reviews.

2019 Jaguar I-Pace Photo Gallery [Photos: Jaguar]

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