Sep 22, 2020, 10:29 AM by Michael Garland

Jaguar leapt into the electric car niche last year with I-PACE, the company’s first all-electric vehicle, and an EV SUV/crossover as well. This fun-to-drive sports-ute had non-traditional electric car sportiness, luxury amenities inside and out, and 394-horsepower performance. Jaguar’s first full battery-electric vehicle has an EPA estimated range of up to 234 miles from a single full charge of its 90kWh lithium-ion battery, and a new software upgrade developed from its eTROPHY racing analysis can improve its real-world range to up to 246 miles.

The software upgrade is part of minor augmentation for 2020, as Jaguar chose to stand pat for the most part, in the second year of I-PACE’s initial run. Also new for 2020 are changes to the torque distribution between the front and rear motors in AWD to deliver greater efficiency when driving in ECO mode. Jaguar has also made refinements to thermal management control to make greater use of the active radiator vane system, closing the vanes more frequently to enhance aerodynamic performance more of the time. Additionally for 2020, changes to the predictive range calculation algorithm delivers a more accurate and consistent estimate of vehicle range, while being more reflective of an individual’s driving style. In addition, regenerative braking now harvests energy more efficiently when the battery is in a high state of charge, and the amount of energy recovery improves at lower driving speeds to maximize efficiency and range.

The all-electric SUV has also uptweaked with a complimentary 4G data plan, a 360-degree camera system, wireless charging, and an onboard app that displays where the nearest charging stations are and how long it should take to restore the battery. Regarding charging, I-PACE’s new 11.0-kW onboard charger has improved charging, and can complete a full recharge from a dead battery in 8.6 hours – last year’s system took 12.6 hours to recharge from zero.

The stylish and sporty I-PACE looks like a luxury sedan up front and your only get the SUV demeanor when looking at it from the side or rear. Definitely not a boxy sports-ute, I-PACE shows off a fixed panoramic roof, Gloss Black door claddings and valance, Gloss Black grille with Satin Chrome surround, tailgate spoiler, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated rear window with timer, 3-flash lane change indicators, LED tail lights, rear fog lights, Automatic Headlight Leveling System and “Follow me home” lighting.

Weighing in at a robust 4784 lbs (curbweight), the sporty I-PACE fits its midsize crossover niche with dimensions of 184.3 inches long, 61.3 inches high and 79.2 inches wide on a 117.7-inch wheelbase.  Ground clearance is 5.6 inches at maximum load.

I-PACE melds Jaguar’s iconic sleekness outside and interior luxury with Big Cat muscle -- 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque while attaining an EPA-rated driving range of up to 246 miles on a full charge. When drivers do not have 8 hours for a full charge, rapid public charging from 0-80 percent can be accomplished in less than 40-minutes, with a 15-minute charge delivering a 60-mile range. Full charges can be undertaken at public sites or at home with an AC wall box (7kW).

Smooth acceleration, track-worthy handling and dynamics are part of Jaguar’s sportscar DNA, and I-PACE delivers with effortless passing at speed, easy conquering of uphill grades and auto-cross dominating steering. From a standing start, my test I-PACE accelerated to a 4.5-second hand-timed zero-to-60mpg sprint and finished off a quarter-mile in a sports sedanlike 13.1 seconds (hand-timed).

The well-appointed cabin speaks of Jaguar lavishness, from its high-quality materials, three information displays and touch-capacitive controls, to its fit, finish and infotainment. The center console’s floating-bridge design is bold, cockpit-like and well above the traditional SUV insipidness. I-PACE seats five, though front headroom is a bit tight at 39.9 inches with only 38.1 inches in row two. Legroom is relaxing in row one at 40.9, but snug at 35 inches in row two, and shoulder room is 57.6 in front and 54.6 inches in the rear seats.

As is characteristic with an electric vehicle, the cabin is quiet, though you do get some tire and road noise on the highway, and the touchscreen takes a beat to respond. Sightlines are good up front and on the sides, but the small rear window and rear shoulders create a blind zone.

The 2020 Jaguar I-PACE starts at $69,850 for the Base model (I-PACE S) and tops off at the HSE trim at $80,900. My I-PACE in SE trim based at $76,250 (about $400 higher than last year). Caesium Blue exterior paint added $710 and the trim came with 20-inch 6-spoke wheels, Ebony grained-leather sport seats with an Ebony interior, 10-way electric memory front seats, soft-grain leather sport steering wheel and 11-speaker/12-amp channel Meridian sound system. A high-res head-up information display added $970; the Driver Assist Pack with 360-degree surround camera and adaptive cruise control added $1300; the Cold Weather Pack with heated windshield, heated washer jets and heated steering wheel added $530; front fog lights were $100; a reduced section alloy spare wheel was $150; cabin air ionization added $100; power gesture tailgate added $100 and delivery and destination charges added $1150 for a sticker-as-tested of $81,360.

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Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>