Jaguar I-Pace Test Drive

Back in the beginning of November, the good folks at The Sharpe Collection were kind enough to let take a quick test drive in one of the Jaguar I-Paces they had on had for the local launch party. The vehicle I drove was a loaded Jaguar I-Pace First Edition in Photon Red. This color leans towards orange in person, but is bold and attractive all the same.

Starting with my initial impressions, the seats are very comfortable, and the entire cabin is roomy with a premium feel. The small storage area under the rear seats is a nice trick for those riding in back extended periods of time. The infotainment display is crisp and responsive, offer a myriad of options for you an individual to see exactly the info they want. I was especially impressed by the small graphical interfaces in the climate knobs. The display is seamless, fluid and instantly responsive.

Speaking of instantly responsive, the acceleration is phenomenal. Though not quite as otherworldly as the Tesla Model X P100D I drove over the holidays, the Jag offers very impressive takeoff power. It will easily out accelerating the average car your are likely to line up against at a stoplight, Corvettes and muscle cars included. With all-wheel drive and a flat-shaped battery, under the floor and between the wheels, handling is on point. Accelerating through some corners, I ran out of corner long before I ran out of grip. Merging onto the expressway is a pleasure and a game of deciding how far ahead of traffic you’d like to be. 

Regenerative braking is strong, but lacks a regen-on-demand paddle that some other EVs offer. The Heads-Up-Display is delightful, full color with sharp graphics, and offering a selection of options to suit your preferences. As you might expect in a Jaguar, the ride is smooth and cosseting in spite of the performance and handling capabilities on offer. 

Personally, I really like the styling. The vent along the top of the grille that turns into an air duct exiting the hood to push air up over the roof is very cool in person. The rear trunk offers a good amount of cargo room, but the front compartment is reserved for a large purse, briefcase, or backpack only.