The most unique part of the Jaguar I-PACE is its drivetrain. Electric motors come in a wider range of shapes and sizes than a traditional gasoline engine, and Jaguar has found that the most efficient way of packaging their new vehicle involved having an electric motor for each axle. Jaguar claims a combined output of 394 horsepower and 512 lb. ft of torque: the latter number available seemingly whenever and at any rev range. Acceleration is incredibly fast with 0-60 coming in just 4.5 seconds. There is no sensation of switching gears since there is no transmission in the traditional sense. The center of gravity is low due to much of the weight of the vehicle coming from the batteries, while weight is balanced evenly front to aft.
The standard I-PACE is loaded with technology and the list of standard features is extremely long. The I-PACE comes standard with a panoramic roof, LED headlights and taillights, automatic headlights, heated mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, rain sensing wipers, an auto dimming rearview mirror, ambient interior lighting, dual zone front climate control, a HomeLink garage door opener, Bluetooth connectivity, six USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 380W Meridian Sound System with 11 speakers, an emergency braking system, a lane keep assist system, a rear camera, a Smart Key system with push button start and much more.
The SE ditches the 18-inch wheels in favor of a 20-inch design, while the LED headlights get swapped for nicer projector beam versions and include a washer for the headlights. The SE also gets a powered rear lift gate, auto dimming heated power folding door mirrors, 8-way power driver and passenger seats, leather seating surfaces with a 3-position memory function for both the driver and front passenger seats, Blind Spot Monitoring and High Speed Emergency Braking.
The HSE has an even nicer 20-inch wheel design, a powered tailgate that responds to gesture commands, Windsor leather seating surfaces with 12-way power adjustment for the front seats, heated and cooled front seats, an 825W Meridian sound system with 15 speakers, adaptive cruise control with steering assist and a 360 degree surround-view camera.
The Jaguar I-PACE remains unchanged for the 2020 model year. First introduced in 2019, it is the all-electric, high performance SUV that should be able to transport people in style without burning a drop of gasoline. The I-PACE has exceptionally good looks, comfortable seating for five people and all-wheel drive. Unlike virtually every electric vehicle other than a Tesla, the I-PACE features a usable range. For the most part, this means that in excess of 200 miles, owners should be able to use it for a long commute with room for the occasional impromptu errand after work. Minor changes for this year include Photon Red paint is now available on all trims, and the First Edition trim is dropped.
The Jaguar I-PACE is aimed squarely at the Tesla Model X as well as Audi E-Tron. However, the I-PACE is fast and practical enough that it should really be considered a threat to high performance SUVs such as the Porsche Macan or the BMW X4. The I-PACE being an EV vehicle, qualifies for tax incentives to lower the price of the vehicle. Cost of ownership should also be lower than most vehicles out there considering buyers will never be asked to put a drop of gasoline in their vehicle. Now, of course, that has to be balanced with electric cars needing considerably longer time to "refuel", but Jaguar claims that the I-PACE can make it to 80% full with less than 45 minutes of charging by using a 100kW DC Charger.