Car Talk testers have had the distinct pleasure of testing all of the brand’s models over the past five years. That includes meaningful track time and real-world public road testing. While each tester has his or her own opinions on which Jaguar may be best for them, one thing is hard to miss when you compare notes. The I-PACE is not just Jaguar’s best EV, but its best vehicle, period.

Few vehicles we have tested have made as deep of an impression on us as the Jaguar I-PACE. We tested it when it launched and then again a couple of years later and were impressed with just how good this vehicle is. Remember, the I-PACE predated the Tesla Model Y.

The I-PACE is what all Jaguars should be: Fun, fast, and luxurious. That one sees so few is just icing on the cake. At the price EVs in this segment sell for, the total experience should be special, and Jaguar delivers.

The Tesla Model Y is so spartan inside it hardly feels special. While it has some solid specs on paper, the Jaguar feels more alive and invigorating. The Model Y offers an optional third row of seating. Tesla also created the world’s only decent public charging network. However, starting in 2025, Jaguar I-PACE vehicles will be welcome in that same Tesla network without an adapter.

Like so many of Ford’s vehicles, the Mustang Much-E is a broad model family with many different flavors. At the high end, it can match or beat the Jaguar’s performance. At nearly every trim level the infotainment system is better than Jaguar’s. If you like Ford’s vibe, it is hard not to cross-shop these two.

Hyundai and Kia now offer four EVs similar in size and shape to the Jaguar I-PACE, all built on the same platform. They have a better charging profile, meaning they charge up quicker on DC fast chargers, and they are built by the current leaders with regard to reliability. We’ve tried them all, and have to say, these are great vehicles. We strongly suggest cross-shopping them against a Jaguar before committing.

The GV60 is Genesis’ version of the EV all three of Hyundai’s brands now produce using many shared components. This is the best vehicle in its class, and we would strongly suggest checking it out before buying the Jaguar I-PACE. Even the ownership package of a long warranty and included maintenance rivals Jaguar’s.

There is just one main trim of the Jaguar I-PACE on sale today, and it’s called the R-DYNAMIC HSE EV400. The price range is from $74K to about $84K depending upon how crazy you go with options. There are paint colors that add $7,500. Included in the price is Jaguar’s fantastic ownership experience consisting of a 5-year or 60K-mile-long warranty and an included maintenance period. How come Tesla doesn’t offer included maintenance?

Jaguar seems to have pared down its trims to just one for 2023. The Jaguar I-PACE is relatively unchanged since it was introduced.

The Jaguar built its brand on its driving experience and gorgeous styling. Jaguars are so fun Pink Floyd signs about it. The I-PACE carries on all of Jaguar’s traditions. We found it to be one of the best-driving vehicles of any style, at any price point. Acceleration is muscle-car strong. On public roads, the Jaguar I-PACE handles very well in all situations. The AWD system seems perfectly dialed in. Like all great Jaguars, this is a vehicle you will take out in your free time just to enjoy the drive.

The I-PACE uses a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which offers an EPA-estimated range of 246 miles on its standard tires and just 217 miles on its optional 22-inch tires. It will take about 12 hours to charge from nearly empty to 100% state of charge at home on a 40 amp Level 2 charger and will charge from about 20% to about 80% SOC on a public 100kW or stronger DC fast charger in roughly 40 minutes. Winter range will be lower, and winter charging times longer.

Due to its low volume of deliveries and high price, neither IIHS nor NHTSA has crash-tested the Jaguar I-PACE. It was tested by the European safety agency known as Euro NCAP and it did quite well.

There is not sufficient data for us to comment on the reliability of the Jaguar I-PACE. In the 2023 J.D. Power Dependability study, the Jaguar brand scored near the very bottom.

The I-PACE is similar to most Jaguars in that you do configure it to your taste. Plan to sit with an advisor and select many of its design options. You will choose exterior and interior color schemes along with some safety and driver assist choices. You may find one in stock, but that is not typical of how new Jaguars are acquired. It is hard for us to see how the $7,500 paint color options are a good value, but perhaps for some buyers, they are worth it.

Jaguar offers one of the best warranties in the automotive industry. Pretty much everything, including maintenance, roadside assistance, and telematics subscriptions, are included for five years or 60,000 miles. Jaguar calls this EliteCare, and it seems aptly named. The idea is that you lease a Jaguar for five years and never pay a penny more than your initial cost and monthly payment.

• Basic/New vehicle limited warranty (years/miles) - 5/60,000
• Complimentary maintenance (years/miles) - 5/60,000
• Battery Warranty (years/miles/state of health) - 8/100,000/70%
• Powertrain Warranty - 5/60,000
• Roadside assistance (years/miles) - 5/60,000
• Warranty corrosion (years/miles) - 6/unlimited
• Telematics (years/miles) - 5/unlimited

As much as we love the I-PACE, the idea of owning one outside of its new vehicle warranty period is downright frightening. The only other possible way we would envision buying one is if it was a certified pre-owned vehicle and under its CPO warranty, which we would try to extend with an optional extended warranty if one were available directly from Jaguar. We would recommend anyone own one outside of its battery warranty.

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