Normally I’m not big on Crossover SUV because most cases they’re not very sporty and they’re not very utility. If you have to crossover, then it means you aren’t really good at what you are crossing over from. For the most part, Crossover SUV remind me of like a modern day minivan on steroids. Either you revel in your SUV-ness or you stick to being a sedan.
However the Jaguar I-Pace S is an exception to that rule. First of all, the design is quite stunning and you have to admit it looks really good, even for a Jaguar. Also the Jaguar I-Pace S is 100% electric. For the design of the I-Pace, Jaguar has took the sleek lines of the prestigious sedans and blended them into an SUV. The I-Pace comes in 90 kW battery with a driving range of about 234 miles. It also has 51 inches of cubic storage space with the seats folded down and even comes with an adjustable suspension feature similar to that in a Tesla Model X. However the most important question you should be asking is what is it like to drive.
One of the first things that catch your eye when you get into the I-Pace are the gorgeous LCD screens. There are 3 of them in total and each serving a distinct purpose. The main LCD screes is for the media and navigation controls. It’s quite easy to use reminds me of a use experience is similar to that of an iPad. So it’s quite easy and familiar to anyone operating it for the first time.
The second screen is below that and contains a climate control. This screen present a very nice combination of LED touch screens and touch capabilities built into the knobs. It is also a very intuitive system that can detect whether or not there is a passenger riding shotgun with you or not. If there isn’t a passenger in the front passenger seat, the system will automatically redirect all the air to the driver. However if there is a passenger, it evens to air between both occupants.
Third screen is the driver’s digital display which includes this speedometer and a fully customizable screen, allowing you to divide the display into a sub screens so that you can choose to display where your battery levels on one side and on the other side you can display your navigation or whatever other combinations you like. This is something I wish I could do on my Tesla Model X which only has static screens that cannot be customized to this level.
The drivetrain is dubbed as the EV 400 which is comprised of two electric motors bolted to the transaxle – one upfront and one in the rear which makes the I-Pace an all wheel drive. That loads up the I-Pace with around 394 horsepower which doesn’t seem like much for electric vehicle when you compare it to Teslas or the Lucid Air. However when you pair that up with the 512 foot pounds of torque, the I-Pace get real. Also you have to keep in mind that this vehicle weighs over 4700 pounds which is a lot for a car it’s size. The I-Pace will take you from 0-60 time in about 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph.
There are two modes of driving with the I-Pace. The first one is called Standard and the second is called Dynamic. The Dynamic Mode mode is where I wanna focus on because that’s where all the magic happens. The I-Pace on Dynamic Mode cranks up the EV Ness of the Jaguar, giving it instant torque which is one of the things that we all love about electric vehicles.
Overall this Jaguar I-Pace has a lot of good qualities and stays true to it’s Jaguar heritage. The finish is very upscale. The LCD screens are beautiful. The displays are nice and bright. The viewpoints are pretty good, which is nothing less than you can expect from a Jaguar
In conclusion, when thinking about the Jaguar I-Pace, you have to ask yourself does it have the sportiness of an SUV” The answer is yes. Does it have utility of an SUV? Probably not. Does it feel and drive like an electric vehicle. Yes for the most part, especially when you activate Dynamic mode. But one thing about the Jaguar I-Pace that is for certain is that it has character and most importantly it has style, a style that is uniquely Jaguar and you can take that to the bank.
Fun face: Jaguar also has a smaller E-Pace and F-Pace which I hope to review in the coming weeks.
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