A Week With: 2022 Jaguar I-Pace HSE

The all-electric Jaguar I-Pace doesn’t pop into the minds of most consumers when mentioning battery electric crossover SUVs. That may even be true of Jaguar aficionados, as the vehicle remains the least popular of its crossovers.

With sales declining 31% to 1,409 units in 2021 from 2,046 units in 2020, Jaguar is offered solely in HSE trim for 2022. Despite being its top-of-the-line model, the I-Pace now costs $11,000 less than last year.  

Overview

Having debuted four model years ago, the Jaguar I-Pace gets some updates for 2022. Typically, this might involve noticeable styling changes, but the sole update is modest at best; a new Atlas Grey finish of its grille pins.

The bigger changes involve its tech package, which now comes with the newest version of Jaguar’s Pivi Pro infotainment system, including standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new system uses a twin sim-card design allows background functions to run, even during calls or while streaming content. It also allows for over-the-air software updates.

Other new standard features include a 360-degree surround-view camera, a rearview camera mirror, a cabin air ionization system, a complimentary 4G data plan and wireless charging. A new 11-kW onboard charger delivers quicker at-home charging than last year’s 7-kW charger.

Exterior

The styling of the I-Pace has always been a change of, um, pace for the brand, with styling typified by cars like the E-Type, XJ and F-Type, cars with styling that pushes the visual weight of the car rearward. Being a battery-electric vehicle, there’s no need for a long hood, yet sports car design influenced its look with Jaguar’s signature flowing waistline accentuating its haunches. Its proportion is a new one, staking the territory between car and crossover all the while bypassing the overcaffeinated styling that afflicts too many modern vehicles. 

“I think being different is easier than beautiful. We could’ve done a (BMW) i3, but we chose not to because I like beautiful things,” former Jaguar design director Ian Callum said at the vehicle’s launch in 2018. “There are a set of rules that we live by aesthetically, and I think that holds us to what you see here.”

Interior

The aesthetic is certainly true inside, where two large high-definition screens anchor the instrument panel, augmented by a pair of rotary switches. A full-color head-up display projects key information onto the windshield in front of the driver. As is the case with EVs, the lack of components up front allows designers to take advantage of the space they would normally require. So despite this vehicle’s 184-inch length, cabin space is enormous for its size, a feeling enhanced by the panoramic glass roof. And the leather seats prove to be the perfect place for piloting the I-Pace, with a good driving position and good outward visibility. 

The I-Pace provides 25.3 cubic feet of luggage space, 53.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. There’s also small additional cargo compartment up front.

Thoughtfully, the climate control adjusts airflow to the number of passengers. Air doesn’t blow on empty seats. The cabin can also be pre-conditioned while charging, rather than drawing power to do it while driving.

Powertrain

The I-Pace uses a Jaguar-designed electric motor on each axle that transmits its power through a compact, single-speed transmission and differential, enabling power delivery to all four wheels. A standard air suspension lowers the car by 0.4 inches above 65 mph or raises it 2 inches when in off-road mode. 

The I-Pace provides an EPA-rated range of 253 miles, although even fully charged, the battery never reached 253 miles. A full 0-100% battery recharge takes about eight hours. The I-Pace maintains the battery pack’s optimal temperature while charging to deliver the most range.

Safety and technology

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2022 Jaguar I-Pace. Driver assistance safety features include Lane-Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Assist, Emergency Braking Assist, Driver Condition Monitor, Rear Collision Monitor, Rear Traffic Monitor, Parking Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Jaguar’s Pivi Pro infotainment system consists of two screens. An upper 10-inch screen for navigation, entertainment and connectivity, and a five-inch lower screen for comfort and climate control options, flanked by two large knobs. Wireless charging is now offered, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. 

The navigation system considers the topography of routes, your driving style and the available range while calculating routes, noting the charging locations along the way.

Driving Impressions

As you’d expect of a car with such a huge battery pack down low, the I-Pace inspires confidence while cornering, feeling planted and secure, a feeling enhanced by its all-wheel drive. There’s modest body lean, and the ride feels fairly firm, yet does a great job of absorbing the worst our crumbling infrastructure dishes out. Its ride is not cushy; the car is a true Jaguar. Feeling much like a sports car, and proving to be just as fast, its regenerative braking provides for one-pedal driving while lack of any mechanical commotion common to gas-powered cars imparts a welcome silence. 

Its combination of performance, modern spacious interior, build quality, good looks and relative rarity make it a good choice over a comparable Tesla.

2022 Jaguar I-Pace HSE Specifications

Wrap Up

The 2022 Jaguar I-Pace remains a remarkable car. A breakthrough in proportion, and boasting a practical, yet sensuous design aesthetic, this is truly a landmark Jaguar, one that sets the stage for the shift to all-electric propulsion planned for 2025.

Most EV buyers overlook it, but don’t make the same mistake.

2022 Jaguar I-Pace ­HSE — Frequently Asked Questions