The Jaguar I-Pace was a big step for the British car company into the world of electric vehicles (EVs) when it came out in 2018. The I-Pace was Jaguar’s first all-electric car. It combined the brand’s signature style, performance, and luxury with the latest electric technology. It quickly became a standard in the high-end electric vehicle SUV market because of its sleek design, fun driving dynamics, and cutting-edge engineering. The I-Pace’s story, on the other hand, is one of ambitious goals, great successes, and problems in an industry that is changing quickly. Production stopped in December 2024. This article looks at the I-Pace’s journey, its most interesting features, and how it will change the car industry for good.
A daring design with Jaguar DNA
The Jaguar I-Pace, which was designed by the famous Ian Callum, was the first car to have a modernist look and cab-forward proportions. Its electric architecture allowed for a shorter bonnet and a longer wheelbase, which made the interior space as big as possible while keeping the car’s sleek, aerodynamic shape with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The outside of the I-Pace was a mix of sporty and elegant, with flush door handles, a sculpted grille (for looks, not function), and a squared-off back to improve airflow. The 2023 facelift gave it a smoother gray grille panel, a new Jaguar logo, and body-colored accents, which kept the design fresh.
The I-Pace had a high-tech, luxurious interior. The leather and suede materials, the panoramic glass roof, and the dual-touchscreen Pivi Pro infotainment system all made the space feel both elegant and easy to use. The “skeletal” center console and plenty of storage in the cabin’s layout were a good balance of form and function. The flat floor and 2.99-meter wheelbase gave rear passengers plenty of legroom. The boot had 656 liters of space (which could be expanded to 1,163 liters) and a 27-liter front “frunk” for charging cables.
Powertrain and Performance
The I-Pace’s electric powertrain was a highlight, giving it exciting performance that stayed true to Jaguar’s sporty history. It had a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery (85 kWh usable) and two electric motors, one for each axle, for all-wheel drive. It made 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque. This setup let the car go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, which is faster than many regular sports cars and even some supersaloons. It could only go as fast as 124 mph because of electronics.
The I-Pace’s handling was just as good. The underfloor battery gave it a low center of gravity, and the precise steering and optional adaptive air suspension made it very agile for a 2.2-tonne SUV. With brake-based torque vectoring, the car handled corners well with little body roll, making it one of the most fun electric vehicles to drive. Reviewers always said it was a good mix of sporty and comfortable, and they said it felt very much like a Jaguar, even though it was electric.
How far it can go, how long it takes to charge, and how well it works
When it first came out, the I-Pace had a WLTP-rated range of 292 miles (470 km) and an EPA-rated range of 234 miles. After a software update in 2019, the range went up to 246 miles. Tests in the real world, like those done by Edmunds, got up to 258 miles, but the range dropped to about 190-200 miles on the highway or with bigger 22-inch wheels. At first, it was competitive, but by 2024, its range was behind newer competitors like the Tesla Model X and the BMW iX.
Another problem was the speed of charging. The I-Pace could charge quickly with up to 100 kW of DC power. It could go from 10% to 80% in about 44 minutes, or 85 minutes at 50 kW. For a full charge, it took about 12 hours to charge at home at 7 kW. However, models made later in 2021 were upgraded to 11 kW AC charging for faster top-ups. The I-Pace’s charging capabilities were enough for most daily needs, but newer electric vehicles with 150 kW+ fast-charging support were faster.
Efficiency was hit or miss. The I-Pace got an average of 2.9 miles per kWh, which is good compared to other cars from the same time period, like the Audi e-tron, but not as good as newer EVs like the Tesla Model Y. Regenerative braking and JaguarDrive Control settings (like Eco and Dynamic modes) helped get the most out of the range, but cold weather or hard driving could lower the numbers a lot in real life.
Features and Technology
The I-Pace had a lot of cutting-edge technology, which shows how much Jaguar wants to be at the forefront of new ideas. The Pivi Pro infotainment system, which was updated in 2021, worked perfectly with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It had a 10-inch touchscreen and a smaller climate control screen. The digital instrument cluster and optional head-up display made it easy for drivers to see important information. The Jaguar Remote app let owners check on charging, precondition the cabin, or lock or unlock the car from a distance.
The safety features were very good, and the car got a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Standard features included six airbags, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and matrix LED headlights. The optional Dynamic Pack, which came with 22-inch wheels and adaptive suspension, improved both the look and the performance of the car.
Awards and Praise
The I-Pace made a big difference right away, winning more than 60 international awards. It was the first Jaguar to win European Car of the Year in 2019. It also won World Car of the Year, World Car Design, and World Green Car awards. These awards showed that it was a leader among high-end electric vehicles, beating out German competitors like Audi and Mercedes-Benz to the market.
Problems and a Drop
The I-Pace had some problems that caused it to stop being made in December 2024, even though it was successful at first. In 2019, sales reached a high of 17,000 units worldwide, but by the first half of 2024, they had dropped to 3,894 units. Over its lifetime, it sold about 70,000 units. Some of the main problems were:
No Updates: Jaguar only made small changes to the design and software, and they didn’t add new powertrain options or make the range and charging capabilities much better. Competitors like the Tesla Model Y and BMW iX were more flexible and efficient.
Concerns about reliability: Early models had battery problems, especially with LG Chem’s pouch cells, which led to a U.S. recall for fire risk and buybacks. Jaguar’s reputation for reliability stayed strong even after the 2020 models came out.
Market Positioning: The I-Pace was a high-end car that cost £65,565 ($70,000 in the U.S.), but cheaper competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y had similar range and technology at lower prices.
Change in Brand Strategy: Jaguar’s plan to switch to an all-electric lineup by 2025, starting with a new four-door GT, made the I-Pace useless in the brand’s new vision.
Also, because Magna Steyr made the cars in Austria instead of in-house, Jaguar couldn’t make changes as quickly. The I-Pace’s high price and lack of a single-motor or high-performance version also made it less competitive.
Legacy and Effect
There is no doubt that the I-Pace will live on. It showed that older car companies could compete with Tesla by making an electric vehicle that looked good, worked well, and was useful. Waymo’s self-driving fleet (which has ordered up to 20,000 units) and the I-Pace eTrophy racing series showed how flexible it is. The Oslo wireless charging taxi project showed even more how forward-thinking it could be.
The I-Pace is still a great deal on the used market, with early models selling for as little as £12,000 to £18,000. You can get luxury and performance for a lot less than the original price. The 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty gives buyers peace of mind, but they should check the battery’s health first.
In conclusion
The Jaguar I-Pace was a bold statement of intent, combining Jaguar’s history of style and performance with the promise of electric mobility. It came out before its German competitors, set standards for how electric vehicles should drive, and became famous around the world. But it quietly left the market because it couldn’t keep up with the competition and Jaguar changed its strategy. The I-Pace will always be remembered as a pioneer that broke the rules and changed the course of the electric revolution as Jaguar gets ready to release a new generation of EVs in 2025.
