Month: June 2018

Rebecca Chaplin puts the new Jaguar I-Pace to the test on road, track and off road to find out if that claimed 298-mile range is realistic and if electric motoring is finally easy for anyone to live with.

What is it?

Electric cars have seen huge growth in their first decade as a readily available mode of transport – but they’ve still not made it into the public consciousness as a viable vehicle for everyday life. Try now to forget all your preconceived ideas about EVs. Forget the gimmicks and concept-like design, and instead imagine a performance Jaguar with enough practicality to suit your nuclear family.

Not only has Jaguar produced a car that looks as desirable as any other car from the marque, it’s apparently capable of travelling up to 298 miles on one charge, takes just 45 minutes to charge to 80 per cent and it’ll be available from just under £60,000 with the government grant. You’re right, it sounds too good to be true.

What’s new?

The I-Pace is a completely new car, designed from the ground up specifically for Jaguar. It’s the first electric car created by the brand – if we forget about the one-off electric E-Type – and follows on from the design language of the Big Cat’s existing SUV ‘Pace’ range. That said, while it is recognisable as part of the family, this electric vehicle has a unique style as it’s been created with maximum range in mind.

What’s under the bonnet?

For the technically minded among you, the I-Pace has two permanent magnet electric motors that each produces 197bhp, putting power directly to each wheel and giving you all-wheel drive. The battery has a capacity of 90kWh.

But what does that actually mean for those who buy one? It means Jaguar has taken the best of both worlds in this car. Performance cars have become synonymous with worsened economy figures, and I’m not going to pretend that if you put your foot to the floor it won’t hurt your range, but this car will manage up to 298 miles on one charge if driven sensibly. That’s paired with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it acceleration thanks to the instantly available 696Nm of torque. There’s only one powertrain available and it has 395bhp.

What’s it like to drive?

If you put all of the numbers to one side, there are two key benefits to driving an electric car that you really have to feel to understand. Firstly, because torque is available as soon as you put your foot on the accelerator, power delivery is nearly instant, giving that 4.5-second time of 0-60mph. Then there’s the regenerative braking – something that you can switch between high and low if it’s too aggressive for you on the I-Pace – which means as soon as you pull back off the accelerator pedal the car will start braking for you and you’ll find you rarely need to use the actual brake pedal.

Thanks to the air suspension on the First Edition and available to specify on other models, the I-Pace floats down the road. The stability is increased too by the batteries that sit as low as possible in the car and reduce its centre of gravity. Handling is responsive, although this can be switched up as well by putting the car into Dynamic mode, but Comfort and Eco modes are also available.

How does it look?

There are some key style points that make the I-Pace stand out from other Jaguars. It might be billed as an SUV but it doesn’t really look like one. Designer Ian Callum explained that to accommodate the batteries the car had to be taller, which led to this profile, but at 1.5m the I-Pace still has a sleek, sporty look. The wheels sit flush with the body of the car, giving it a stockier appearance but aiding with the aerodynamics too. It’s also got a cutaway in the bonnet for cooling that you might not even notice unless you’re standing next to the car.

What’s it lke inside?

The interior is unmistakably Jaguar, with a leather finish in the First Edition cars. The dashboard protrudes into the car as if someone had pinched it in the middle and pulled, further giving a feel of elegance and speed inside. Sporty seats in the front and three in the rear give space on a par with other C-segment saloons and SUVs. There are 656 litres of space in the boot – however, it’s high and flat with the boot lip because of those batteries and motors. At my measly height of four inches over five foot, lifting something heavy from the ground into the boot isn’t easy.

What’s the spec like?

While the whole car might be new, you’ll recognise the infotainment as very JLR. In particular, the dual touchscreen on the centre console is from the Range Rover Velar. You also get a third screen behind the wheel and can specify the car with a head-up display. These features all look the same, but for an EV there are some extra touches to make life simpler. If you’re planning a route, the I-Pace can tell you how much battery will remain at each destination and this data will update as you drive. It also has other electric-specific features, such as a false futuristic noise you can have pumped around the cabin as you drive. If you’d rather just enjoy the silence, though, you can turn this off, which acts as an exterior noise canceller too.

Verdict

With 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, a range of 480km and zero tailpipe emissions, New #Jaguar #IPACE is the EV drivers have been waiting for. Discover our first all-electric performance SUV: https://t.co/sv0yU9mSGR pic.twitter.com/yOuN34gujE

— Jaguar (@Jaguar) March 1, 2018

What’s the best thing about this car? Once out on the open road you could soon forget that it’s an electric vehicle at all if it weren’t for the dials showing your electric range rather than fuel remaining. While the price will still make it unattainable for a lot of drivers, let’s not forget it’s still a Jag and a luxury one at that. However, compare it with the only other all-electric SUV on the market, the Tesla Model X, and this car is a bargain even in this high-spec First Edition guise. With genuine performance credentials and more range than most owners would ever need, the Jaguar I-Pace makes an extremely convincing case for EV driving.

Model as tested: Jaguar I-Pace EV400 First Edition
Price: £81,495
Engine: Two permanent magnet electric motors
Power: 394bhp
Torque: 696Nm
Max speed: 124mph
0-60mph: 4.5 seconds
MPG: n/a
Emissions (g/km): 0g/km
Range: 298 miles

Whatever cars people look for, they don’t just want it for one thing. It may be for inner-city practicality and style, or opulence and comfort – but there are those who are after a vehicle that can act as both the perfect day-to-day car and holiday vehicle all in one.

Here, we list our favourite options that can really make that weekend getaway much easier — as well as an awful lot of fun.

Volvo V90 CrossCountry

The Swedish brand is well-known for producing functional family cars that in recent years have started to look really smart as well. When you take the large V90 estate and add some plastic cladding, you get a car that looks rugged enough to tackle most off-road situations, but the practicality of the estate remains.

With an off-road mode in the drive selection menu, the V90 XC doesn’t just look like it can go off the beaten track, but it can prove it too. As one of the largest family cars on sale, space isn’t an issue, and with Volvo’s recent safety record, you’ll have a good peace of mind in the process.

Suzuki Jimny

If you’re after a bog standard 4×4 that offers plenty of character — yet is still more than capable of driving on the rough stuff — then the Suzuki Jimny is a great place to start looking. With its rugged, boxy exterior and simple structure, the mini 4×4 has all the characteristics of a fun lifestyle choice.

With a towing weight of 1,300kg, the Jimny is surprisingly strong and comes with a low range transfer gear so you can take it anywhere. There are few cars that can offer what the Jimny can with such a reasonable outlay.

Subaru Forester

The Japanese brand is well-known for producing activity-angled vehicles, and the Forester is its current SUV that is built for taking on almost anything. Although the CVT gearbox may be very annoying in certain circumstances, the off-road capabilities of the Forester are where the Subaru excels.

Coming with permanent all-wheel drive and enough space to get all your weekend gear in, the Forester offers a rugged package that you will be more than happy to take on trips as it’ll get you pretty much anywhere.

Mercedes E-Class Estate

There’s one simple reason why the E-Class is one of the top cars for weekend adventures – its frankly cavernous boot. As one of the largest family cars, the E-Class Estate has a 640-litre boot in the standard layout, and that can be extended by folding the rear seats flat to 1,820 litres of load space. If you want more room, you’ll need a van.

Besides that, you have a well-built and well-balanced car that is great to drive, and comes crammed with all mod-cons, such as a large central touchscreen, air conditioning, LED headlights and active parking assist.

Toyota Hilux

Although it was a much older version, the Hilux is renowned for surviving pretty much anything after appearing on Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson at the wheel. The latest version is just as indestructible and has been built to withstand anything after being tested in the North Pole, Antarctica and on the slopes of volcanoes – according to Toyota.

Coming with tech such as active traction control, up- and downhill assist controls, and trailer sway control, the Hilux is ready to go wherever you want to take it, and the new 2.4-litre D-4D diesel engine provides more economy than before so you can get where you need for less.

Volkswagen California

Volkswagen and campervans go hand in hand, may that be in the form of the legendary T1 ‘Splittie’ or the T2 ‘Bay’. The brand’s specialised California camper is the modern equivalent of those iconic forbearers and it comes with all the kit you will ever need for a camping trip.

Available in two trim levels – Beach and Ocean – each model comes with enough space for four to sleep in comfort, tonnes of storage and flexible seating configurations so you can take up to seven people on a single trip. The top-end Ocean model even comes with a kitchen setup – so what’s not to like?

Land Rover Discovery

As lifestyle SUVs go, the Discovery is arguably the best – even if the looks of the latest version are a bit marmite. It features a towing capacity of 3,500kg, seating for seven that can be altered via an app, the latest Jaguar Land Rover infotainment and safety technology, and the off-roading capabilities of every iconic Land Rover before it.

Coming with up-to-date driving systems to ensure stability on and off the tarmac, the fourth-generation Discovery is the safest version yet and, as with most other Land Rovers, the interior finish and quality is up there with the very best.

Porsche 911 Carrera

Is this an obvious choice for this list? No – but bear with us. As one of – if not the – best four-seater sports cars on the market, the 911 Carrera has been an icon of the Porsche line-up for a considerable time. But what makes this car even more desirable is the performance on offer – 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 183mph. Even better, you can fit surf, bike and ski racks to it.

Although it has a high starting price – £77,891 in fact – nothing can match the thrill of owning a practical sports car like a 911.

Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35

There is something about pickup trucks that make them almost perfect for getting to and going on holidays, as they are practical, tough and dependable. Well, this version of the D-Max was developed by extreme off-road specialists Arctic Trucks – and that means it’ll go pretty much wherever you want to.

With a massive load space in the back, all-around LED lighting and plenty of tech to keep you entertained on long journeys, the D-Max AT35 can be your faithful companion on to any and all weekend destinations.

Mini Countryman

If you’re after style as well as substance with your lifestyle vehicle, then the Mini Countryman could be the car for you. With room for five, all-wheel drive and a large storage space in the back, you can also choose this car as a hybrid for that added peace of mind.

But if that wasn’t enough, you can spec a £2,400 roof tent to fit your Countryman, that folds neatly into a roof box while on the move, then pops up when you need it at camp. It is one of the many quirky options you can get with the compact SUV that makes it even more interesting to own.