Jaguar I-Pace Review

Performance

With two electric motors which together produce more power than a Porsche 911, the Jaguar I-Pace is always going to feel like a fast car. In the real world i t actually feels even quicker than a traditional performance car, as the power is available from the moment you touch the accelerator pedal and just keeps coming, with no stutters for gear changes. As there is a motor at the front and back of the car, it has four-wheel-drive. This, together with electronic controls, make is easy to use the performance in all conditions too, as it has excellent grip.

People will inevitably compare the I-Pace to the Tesla Model X and Model S, and it’s slower – both to accelerate and in top speed. While that might make a difference in a drag race at a track or if you are bragging at the pub, in reality the Jaguar is as fast as you could want a car to be.

Drive

It might not be as fast overall as a Tesla, but where the Jaguar fights back is in the way it feels while you are driving. Whereas the Teslas can feel a bit out of their depth going quickly through corners, the I-Pace feels far more fun and in control.

The steering feels less artificial and the suspension does a better job of soaking up bumps without making the car feel ‘floaty’. There are two options for way the car is sprung, either conventional steel springs or a more expensive and sophisticated air suspension system. Both do a decent job, but if you want the ‘bling’ big wheels then we’d recommend the air set-up to keep the comfort bearable. 

As the I-Pace doesn’t make any engine noise it’s almost silent, especially compared to a conventional petrol or diesel. The tyre roar is often the only sound, but that is easily ignored once the radio is playing.