What's the difference?
Imagine jumping in the time machine, zapping back to the late 1970s and bringing the team that produced the original Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen into 2025 and showing them where their creation has landed close to half a century later.
They’d be amazed a vehicle looking so much like their military-focused, first-generation model even existed! And once they’d absorbed that incredible fact they’d be stunned to see what lurks under its familiar bodywork.
Because this is the most recent iteration of what’s now referred to as the G-Glass, the pure-electric G580 featuring four individually controlled electric motors - one at each wheel - collectively producing enough energy to power a small town.
Stay with us as we explore this take-no-prisoners EV 4WD that has multiple show-stopping, high-tech party tricks lurking up its sleeve.
What sets the most iconic Jaguars apart?
Here’s a theory. Consider history’s greatest: the 1948 XK, its 1961 E-Type replacement and the first XJ of 1968. We’re talking about a grand tourer, sports car and luxury sedan respectively that broke ground in each of their segments.
Despite being a sales disappointment, let’s add the 2018 I-Pace to this elite group.
Like the others, it was a pioneer, this time in the luxury electric vehicle (EV) SUV field, beating most competitors and seemingly influencing newer ones ever since, from the excellent Kia EV6 to the coming Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.
Now, five years and a comprehensive update later, we revisit the 2023 I-Pace to see if it’s still a standout.
As per the 1979 original, the current G-Class is produced by Magna Steyr in Arnie’s home town of Graz in Austria. And many fundamental things haven’t changed since then. But clearly this EV monster’s exotic electric powertrain is a huge departure.
It retains impressive off-road ability and straight-line speed. But will it hit the mark with top-end luxury 4WDers? Short story, this thing is wild, and it will be irresistible for a likely narrow band of tech-focused ‘must have the latest and greatest’ buyers. Nothing like impressing friends and family with a tank turn.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
In the 1960s Jaguar used to promote its range as providing “grace, space and pace”. Nowadays, the I-Pace may as well also be known as the I-Grace and I-Space, because all three terms still ring true.
Jaguars were never cheap but the greatest hits felt like exceptional value because they were special. The same applies here. Five years might seem like an eternity, but age has not yet wearied the British luxury EV SUV nearly as much as you might imagine. Especially when optioned up as per our test vehicle.
Bereft of any post-modern brand baggage, the I-Pace remains a modern great. If only more buyers would catch on to that.
Okay, so Mercedes-Benz says, with a straight face, that “with the aim of optimising the vehicle’s aerodynamics” classic G-Class elements have been revised, including the reprofiled bonnet, ‘air curtain’ vents in the flares over the rear wheel arches, A-pillar cladding and the small spoiler on the edge of the roof.
At the same time, the 20-inch wheels are also claimed to be "aerodynamically optimised” and underneath, a 26mm underbody casing made from a mix of materials, including carbon-fibre (attached to the ladder frame with more than 50 steel screws), protects the battery from dust, dirt and rocks.
In ticking off the Edition One, car-spotters should look for black rims with blue brake callipers behind them, blue inserts in the exterior protective strips as well as black door handles and a new rectangular design box on the rear door for storing items such as charging cables, tools or snow chains. If you want a spare wheel, choose the standard model.
An optional black-panel radiator grille ($3800) features tinted lighting units as well as an animated LED light band and chrome surround. The light band can be activated as a running light or an animation when locking and unlocking the vehicle.
And it’s worth noting Mercedes-Benz and the car’s contracted manufacturer, Magna Steyr, have invested much time and many Euros in retaining the car’s classic handle and door lock design. G-Wagen owners will recognise its sound from several kilometres away.
Inside the G580 it’s clear this is one area where the G-Class has progressed enormously over the decades. It’s still quite upright in terms of the dash design, but you’re confronted by twin 12.3-inch screens, supporting the Mercedes-Benz user interface.
All very high-tech, but that’s balanced by an old-school grab-handle for the front passenger to latch onto during off-road work.
The signature turbine-style air vents are located within squared-off panels, and in the limited Edition One you have a blue fleck running through carbon-fibre inserts on the centre console, door cards and that front grab handle. In the standard car it’s a (very attractive) walnut open-pore wood rather than carbon.
A luxurious interior for sure.
Five years on, from the bold cab-forward silhouette to the high-riding crossover proportions, the I-Pace is a distinctive and handsome machine, offering progressive, flowing aerodynamics that have as much to do with function as they do with form. This is an out and proud EV.
But there’s the rub. Perhaps the disappointing sales reception is down to it being too removed from what many consumers might expect a Jaguar to look like.
Grille-aside, there isn’t enough connection with stablemates like the woefully-underrated XE or F-Pace, while traditionalists – many of them Americans – wanting classic XJ or XK retro schtick are also plum out of luck. Cover the badge and the styling could be from any (forward-thinking) carmaker.
Or maybe it’s because the I-Pace, whose body is 94 per cent aluminium to help offset the weight of the batteries, looks compact in photos, like a crossover hatchback, when in reality it is surprisingly large, belying its sleek styling by packing in plenty of space inside.
Speaking of which, let’s take a closer look.
For the record, the G63 is just over 4.6m long and a little more than 1.9m wide with a 2890mm wheelbase. So, not huge, but its close to 2.0m height is hard to ignore.
In the front there’s lots of breathing space, and in terms of storage you have generous bins in the doors with plenty of room for big bottles. Then there’s a centre armrest, which doubles as the top of a deep storage box housing a USB-C port inside.
A sliding roller cover in the centre console reveals two cupholders, another two USB-C sockets, a 12-volt outlet and a wireless charging pad. Add in a big glove box and you’ve got plenty of options in terms of storage, power and connectivity.
In the back, sitting behind the driver’s seat set for my 183cm position I’ve got tons of foot and legroom and, no surprise, lots of headroom.
There’s a fair bit of sculpting in the rear seat, which is as nice as it is unusual (makers often avoid bolsters on the rear seat as it makes the backrest harder to fold flat). And in terms of three-abreast accommodation, a smaller adult will be okay in the centre spot for shorter journeys. Three up to mid-teenage kids will be swimming in it.
Then, for practicality you again have generous bins in the doors. And if you need even more capacity, fold down the centre armrest which houses two different size cupholders.
In the rear of the centre console you’ve got two USB-Cs, a 12-volt power outlet, individual climate control and directional vents.
There are map rockets on the front seatbacks and more air vents in the B-pillar. So, when it comes to comfort, powering up devices and storing ‘things’ you’re well taken care of.
The side-opening tailgate door opens from right to left, which isn’t ideal when parallel parked on the left hand side of the road, but boot volume is over 600 litres (VDA) with all seats upright, expanding to nearly 2000 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seat lowered.
There are multiple tie-down hooks, a netted pocket, two lights, a 12-volt outlet as well as a ‘ski-port’ door and sliding cargo cover to enhance practicality and security.
As mentioned earlier, the full-size spare in the standard model, but the Design Box replaces it on the Edition One, although Mercedes-Benz says it’s aiming to make a spare available as an option later in the year.
Yes, compared to the vast mega screens invading most new models of today, the I-Pace’s dashboard layout is looking, well, off the pace. On first glance at least, this is definitely a product of the previous decade.
But as far as design elegance and functionality are concerned, Jaguar seems to have created a timeless piece of crafted automotive interior architecture that – consequently – holds up very well.
Or, in other words, the I-Pace provides a welcome sanctuary away from the infuriating folly of today’s faddish, fiddly and infuriatingly distracting touchscreen interiors. Maybe some old-school XJ smarts live on in this EV after all.
Look past the dated dashboard design, and the cabin’s overriding impression is of solidity and quality. No cheap plastics or rough surfaces here, just restrained luxury.
While electronic displays with very-analogue-style dial options amid digital driving data take care of the instrumentation ahead of the driver, a modestly-sized touchscreen is set at a lower plain so as to not dazzle and distract the job of vehicle controlling with data-overload, while under that is smaller display for climate control. More on that later.
Part of the Pivo Pro multimedia system, that central touchscreen is switched on and ready for use before the ignition button is even pressed, for immediate action.
No delaying-tactic welcome fanfare as the system boots up as per almost every other carmaker’s set-up, either. Just instant gratification, ironically. This dash is starting to feel like a resto-mod, with all the latest tech behind that Boris-era façade.
Plus, besides being fast, it is logically laid out and avoids confusing sub-menus. Nice swipey action, too. Some familiarisation is required at first, but the system makes sense. And if you need volume adjustability, you turn a physical knob. As the ergonomics lords intended. Easy.
Speaking of which, let’s get the sensible stuff out the way. Because it sits at near-SUV height, the I-Pace is easy to get in and out of as long as you’re aware of the swooping roofline out back. And you sit up high, affording excellent forward vision ahead.
Sinking yourself into the front seats, the Jaguar lives up to its old luxo-barge reputation in that they’re sumptuous yet firm in back-location and support, providing hours of comfort if required.
The driving position is superb, with ample adjustment and those thoughtfully-placed switchgear and controls coming into play.
Storage is ample, with deep door pockets, a sizeable centre console bin and even a secret cubby underneath the rear seat.
The Jaguar provides five USB outlets and two 12V sockets. And ventilation is as effective as you need it to be.
Problems? Pleasingly, our Graz-built Jaguar suffered from no breakages or squeaks. It is as well-screwed together as you’d expect from a luxury SUV, so there are no issues there to moan about.
However, rear vision is poor due to the tapering rear windows and shallow tailgate glass. In turn, the back-seat area can seem a bit dark and hemmed-in without the (optional) fixed glass roof.
The glove box is disappointingly shallow. And, though simple in execution, the climate control can be fiddly to figure out at first.
Of greater concern is the counter-intuitive transmission selection, since the ‘DNRP’ buttons are placed in descending order, putting ‘Drive’ up top and ‘Park’ down at the bottom.
On several occasions, ‘D’ was selected instead of ‘P’ or ‘R’, nearly leading to unintended forward acceleration into parked cars or walls directly ahead.
As mentioned earlier, our test HSE features the optional suede dash and pillar covers; along with the beautiful woven grey flannel-like trim on Alcantara-like seats, they add a distinctive classy ambience – and that’s something that translates out back, too.
While you wouldn’t call it a large wagon, it is more than sufficiently spacious for two adults, while middle-seat space is A-OK for smaller folk only as the ceiling tapers a bit too much for taller passengers. Legroom is exceptional, thanks in part to a stretchy near-3.0-metre wheelbase.
The bench seat itself does not slide or recline, but the 40/20/40-split backrest seems sufficiently angled for comfort and support, while the cushion is sprung enough not to lead to achy thighs, even for longer-legged occupants.
Amenities include rear-facing air vents, a centre armrest with two cupholders, two USB and a single 12V port, overhead grab-handles and reading lights, (quite shallow) door pockets, four coat hooks and some under-seat storage.
Further back, the Jaguar’s boot area is set up high, so requires some lifting to get heavier objects in, but the floor is long and flat, and the overall volume is quite practical. Capacity varies from 656 litres to 1453L with the backrests dropped. You can fit a 1797mm by 1244mm object in two-seater only mode.
There’s storage underneath for charging cables, as well as straps and hooks to secure loose items. And, as mentioned earlier, buyers can order a space-saver spare if the tyre-repair kit is undesirable. Note, too, that a sizeable ‘frunk’ front trunk is good for a couple of soft overnight bags.
Overall, then, equipped as our $180K HSE was, the I-Pace’s interior is likely to impress.
The new Mercedes-Benz G580 is priced at $249,900 and a more highly-specified limited Edition One version comes in at $299,900, both before on-road costs.
That’s a price territory where the BMW X5 and X6 M Competition ($244,900 & $250,900) as well as the Range Rover Autobiography ($233,961) live. Not to mention competition from the G580’s still available and appreciably pricier twin-turbo V8 Mercedes-AMG G63 stablemate ($365,900).
As you’d expect, the standard features list is substantial and the highlights are Burmester 3D Surround Sound audio (with digital radio), leather upholstery, keyless entry and start, a multi-function steering wheel trimmed in Nappa leather, power front seats with memory function, heated and cooled cupholders, and wireless smartphone charging.
There’s also dual 12.3-inch driver instrument and central media displays, ambient lighting and adaptive LED headlights as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
As well as cosmetic changes, covered shortly, the Edition One steps up to ‘Silver Pearl’ and black Nappa leather trim (with blue contrast stitching).
There’s also a range of optional packages bundling up everything from exterior body elements to interior trim and additional multimedia, the latter especially for back-seaters.
The ‘Night Package’ ($4300) includes black exterior mirror housings, black running boards and wheels as well as darkened exterior lights and a radiator shell that can be illuminated for an impressive profile while driving.
A ‘Superior Line Interior Plus Package’ ($14,500) brings full Nappa leather upholstery, ‘Active Multicontour Seat Package Plus’ and grab handles in leather. Then a ‘Manufaktur Exterior Package’ ($4100) finishes the roof, bumpers and wheel arches in ‘Obsidian Black’.
But the one that will score you maximum brownie points with the kids is the ‘Interior Comfort Package’ ($8500), featuring a rear seat entertainment system, including two integrated 11.6-inch touch displays.
Unveiled for the 2021 model year elsewhere but finally released just this year in Australia, the updated I-Pace EV400 (denoting the maximum power output in braked horsepower) brings minor visual changes, but more important ones underneath, too.
Most noteworthy are a larger onboard charger (from 7.0kW to 11kW) to substantially increase charging times, an advanced new-from-the-ground-up multimedia system, improved climate control, better surround-view camera options including integration with the rear-view mirror (dubbed 'ClearSight') and wireless charging updates.
They help smother some of the Austrian-built Jaguar EV’s wrinkles against a growing army of fresher alternatives, including the EV6, Audi e-tron (soon to gain the Q8 prefix), BMW iX, Lexus RZ and Mercedes-Benz EQC.
Kicking off from $148,800 (all prices are before on-road costs), the ‘24MY’ (2024 model year) EV400 SE is the latest I-Pace’s opening gambit, though we’re testing the HSE flagship version from $165,600.
Both grades feature an electric motor on each axle for all-wheel drive, a 90kWh battery pack and Jaguar's R-Dynamic pack.
Standard features include LED automatic headlights, electric/heated door mirrors, flush exterior door handles, an acoustic and heat-deflecting windscreen, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry/start, a rear-view camera, part-leather upholstery, front sports seats with electric adjustment and driver’s side memory plus adaptive cruise control with lane-assist.
There's also dual-zone climate control with remote cabin pre-conditioning, configurable ambient cabin lighting, electronic instrumentation, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, digital radio, wireless charging, over-the-air updates for the 'Pivo Pro' multimedia system, voice control, a public charging cable, perimeter alarm and three-year subscription to Secure Tracker car finder, a powered tailgate, a bicycle-carrier preparation kit, 20-inch alloy wheels and a tyre-repair kit.
There is no spare wheel fitted but a space-saver is available at extra cost.
Stumping up another $16,800 for the HSE nets you upgrades like leather trim, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, suede headlining, fixed panoramic roof, animated indicators, approach lights in the exterior mirrors, a head-up display (HUD) and different wheels.
On the safety front, both grades feature six airbags and a decent level of driver-assist technologies including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as expected at this price point. More on those in the Safety section below.
Now, the I-Pace EV400 HSE R-Dynamic we tested was a 23MY model, which differs from the above in that it started from over $5000 less at $160,217, but isn’t as well equipped as the 24MY.
It also included a number of options that bumped the price up to a tad under $180,000, starting with the $5008 'Premium Black Pack', ushering in air suspension, a rear spoiler, black exterior trim highlights and 22-inch glossy black alloys.
Other goodies included a fixed panoramic roof ($3580), adaptive dampers ($2405), four-zone climate control ($1820), carbon-fibre trim finish ($1521), that ClearSight rear-view mirror ($1131), full-colour HUD ($1040), Privacy Glass ($845) and no-cost 'premium textile' (non-animal derived) upholstery.
The point is, to specify your I-Pace to what you see in our images, you’ll need to add nearly $20K to an already hefty starting price.
This is par-for-the-course for most premium brands, though paying extra for cupholders, a HUD and rear-seat climate control when some carmakers include them seems mean at these prices.
The G580 is powered by four permanently excited synchronous motors, each delivering around a CLA200’s worth of power and torque to each wheel for overall outputs in excess of 432kW/1164Nm.
Each motor has its own two-stage transmission and power electronics for almost infinite fine-tuning of the direction and amount of drive sent to individual wheels. Merc calls it ‘individual-wheel drive’.
Built around a standalone architecture with no internal combustion engine versions, the I-Pace EV400 is fitted with two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors – one above the front axle and one located on the rear axle. Each produces 150kW of power and 348Nm of torque, for a system output total of 294kW and 696Nm.
Tipping the scales at 2226kg, this means the EV400 has a power-to-weight ratio of a very healthy 132kW/tonne, helping this electric crossover cross the 100km/h marker in 4.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 200km/h.
With a single-speed transmission sending torque to a motor on each axle, the I-Pace has permanent all-wheel drive.
The I-Pace’s standard suspension is double wishbones and coils up front and an integral link independent set-up out back.
Nowadays, the standard wheel size in the SE is 245/50R20, though ours was fitted with 255/40R22 – along with air suspension and adaptive dampers. These profoundly alter ride comfort. Towing capacity is 750kg braked or unbraked.
Ground clearance is usually 174mm, but with the air suspension, that increases to a handy 241mm in its maximum height setting. At speeds over 105km/h I-Paces with air suspension drop a further 10mm to aid efficiency. Which brings us to…
Housed in a torsion-resistant casing and embedded low down in its ladder-frame chassis, the G580’s 116kWh two-tier, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack delivers a WLTP-rated range of 473km, or 567km on the more lenient NEDC scale.
‘Eco Assistant’ and ‘Range Monitoring’ functions provide continuous information on battery status, energy consumption and estimated range.
Maximum system capacity is 400 volts which enables 200kW DC charging, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent fill in as little as 32 minutes. Maximum AC charging capacity is 11kW.
Claimed energy use is 23.1kWh/100km, and we saw an average of 28.6kWh across urban and highway running on the launch drive program.
Not exactly a ‘green’ EV choice, then, but it’s worth noting a one-year Chargefox subscription is included to off-set the car’s energy appetite.
With a 400V architecture, the I-Pace EV400 has the charging capability of most EVs, but not the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6, Kia EV5, EV6 and EV9, Genesis GV60 and Porsche Taycan/Audi e-tron GT fraternal twins, which have an 800V capability.
Under the floor is a 90kWh lithium-ion battery, with a useable capacity of 84.7kWh.
For AC charging, it uses a Type2 connector with 11kW capacity, or for DC fast charging, it has a maximum 104kW capacity via a CCS port. Both are located in the left-hand-side mudguard.
Jaguar says the official combined average consumption is 23kWh/100km. Our car’s trip computer showed we averaged 24.2kWh/100km.
The WLTP range is 408km, or 446km under the more-lenient NEDC regime. Fully charged, our vehicle indicated 407km of range in normal mode and 415km in 'Eco' mode.
After 345km, our distance-to-empty read 14km, meaning we averaged a very reasonable 359km under absolutely normal urban conditions, with some freeway driving thrown in.
Using a 150kW DC fast charger, we added 200km of range in exactly 30 minutes. It cost us around $31.
For the record, AC charging from empty to full using a regular household socket will take nearly 44 hours, or 13.5hr and just 9.25hr if you have access to a 7kW or 11kW Wallbox, respectively.
Meanwhile, a 50kW DC fast charger needs 75 minutes to go from 10-80 per cent full, or 45 minutes with anything above a 105kW charger, as that’s the Jaguar’s maximum capacity.
So, with 432kW and around 1160Nm, even though the G580 weighs in at around three tonnes, you’re talking 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. And this car gets up and goes… like a beast.
What you don’t get is that traditional Merc-AMG G63 V8 rumble, because, of course, no engine.
But you do get what Mercedes calls ‘G-Roar’, essentially a sound bar at the front of the car also using the audio system inside to give it what is not exactly an engine noise but some sense of the car progressing. And you can turn it off for completely silent running.
‘Electric Dynamic Select’ changes the parameters of the motors, transmission, suspension, ESP and steering as required. On-road that means ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Individual’ modes, with off-road comprising ‘Trail’ and ‘Rock’. In the Comfort setting drive flows primarily to one axle for optimum energy efficiency.
Suspension is by double wishbones at the front and a De Dion-style live (rigid) axle at the rear. You’ve got the same adaptive-type set-up as per other G-Class models, so ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’ modes and of the many traditional G-Class traits this car exhibits, ride quality is one of them.
Even in Comfort you’ll find even little bumps and thumps making their way up into the seat of the pants and the cabin. It is after all a body-on-frame, ladder-chassis type vehicle and that’s not unusual.
In terms of steering, it’s accurate and road feel is good. You’ve got 275-wide Falken Azenis FK520 tyres that are more on- than off-road focused. The car feels stable and nicely planted on the road.
The physical brakes are by ventilated discs front and rear, and the big rotors are the same size (353mm) all around. They work nicely and feel like a conventional set-up.
Regenerative braking kicks in as soon as you lift off the accelerator pedal. The powertrain is harvesting energy as the car decelerates and there are four levels you can adjust with the steering wheel paddles up to a quite aggressive level - not quite, but close to a single-pedal set-up.
Off-road, the G580’s ‘G-Steering’ system allows the wheels to turn at different speeds to induce slight ‘drift-like’ oversteer and tighten the turning circle. It works beautifully and the car’s fording depth is 850mm, a full 150mm more than internal-combustion G-Class models.
A three-speed off-road crawl function is adjustable to speeds as low as 2.0km/h, and the car is claimed to remain stable on sideways slopes up to 35 degrees.
Torque vectoring is used to create ‘virtual diff locks’ and there’s a ‘low-range’ setting. Switch to the ‘Offroad Cockpit’ and data including gradient, lateral inclination, compass readings, tyre pressures and the selected G-Mode appear.
A ‘Transparent Bonnet’ function creates a virtual view of what’s approaching and passing under the front wheels to help the driver pick their way through steep ascents or declines.
For the record, the G580’s approach angle is 32 degrees, departure is 30.7, breakover is 20.3 and ground-clearance is 250mm.
And of course, with the wheels independently powered, the G580’s signature move is what Mercedes-Benz calls a ‘G-Turn’ but the rest of the world calls a tank turn.
If you encounter an obstacle that makes forward progress impossible, the system spins the left- and right-hand wheels in opposite directions so this brute can turn on the spot like an M1 Abrams. You can’t help but crack up laughing when executing this extreme party trick!
In terms of miscellaneous observations around ergonomics and the car in general, it has a 13.6-metre conventional turning circle. So if you’re not using the G Turn function in the car park be ready for a sizeable turning arc.
Also, those aero tweaks here and there seem to have had an effect. Wind noise, especially for such an upright, squared-off design is surprisingly modest. And overall, from a build point of view, this car feels as though it’s been carved from a solid piece of metal. In every aspect it presents as a quality item.
One of the great EV questions is just how premium brands like Jaguar, BMW and Mercedes-Benz can justify their higher prices, when comparatively inexpensive alternatives from BYD, Hyundai and Kia rely on similar electric motor tech.
Indeed, a Tesla Model Y Performance offers the same acceleration and a higher top speed at nearly $100K under our EV400 HSE as tested.
But then you snuggle into that opulent cabin, buckle up, and realise that – just as the original XJ changed big luxury sedans forever back in ’68 with its sophistication and lush ride – the I-Pace still sets the tone for luxury EV SUVs.
Push the D button and – even in 'Comfort' mode – the Jaguar steps off the line briskly. A long-travel accelerator pedal tune disguises the fact that the EV400 is actually sensationally fast, as it swiftly yet silently streaks towards triple digits in no time at all, accompanied by a dull turbine-like drone.
Select 'Dynamic' mode, and the I-Pace’s performance lives up to both the make and model names, offering instant, pinned-back-in-your-seat thrust as well as ample muscle as it glides along.
Flex your right foot and you're already tailgating Mercedes AMG and BMW M-Sport SUVs in no time. Immediate, addictive speed.
A low centre of gravity; that double wishbone and multi-link suspension layout; near 50/50 weight distribution – we’re expecting something special here, and happily, the I-Pace as optioned up with air suspension, adaptive dampers and 22-inch wheels refuses to disappoint.
The sheer urgency from the twin electric motors is matched by reassuring grip and control, even over the rain-soaked hills we belted along.
Beautifully weighted steering, offering lots of road connection, adds to the sense of confidence and calm, as the Jaguar handles corners with a flat, contained composure.
It’s only when you’re really fanging it through tight and twisty turns that this EV SUV starts to feel its considerable mass.
Keep in mind that our HSE included the optional air suspension and adaptive dampers, because together they provide impressive suppleness and sweet isolation (in Comfort mode, obviously) to go with the I-Pace’s unassuming agility.
They allow for those oversized alloys to swell out the arches without resulting in a ruinous ride – something you’d get a taste of if you switch to Dynamic mode, where everything stiffens up noticeably.
Thus specified, we’d imagine the softness would be well off the scale on the standard 20-inch rubber.
As tested, our HSE is one of the most enjoyable luxury SUVs to drive and travel in at speed, regardless of what sort of fuel you’re using.
Downsides? Around town, the limited side and rear vision mixed with the Jaguar’s two-metre width makes manoeuvring a little daunting at times.
The turning circle is on the larger side. And the traffic sign recognition tech is far from reliable and doesn’t work in concert with the adaptive cruise control so can’t automatically alter speed to what’s signposted.
Yet our biggest gripe is the lack of greater single-pedal braking when lifting off the throttle.
A set of paddles to alter the regeneration braking force as per Hyundai’s set-up would be appreciated.
This is one of the single biggest giveaways to the Jaguar’s advancing years.
Still, as a hushed, refined, comfortable and forcefully quick luxury EV SUV experience, the I-Pace, with the choice options as fitted, remains a fierce opponent against newer alternatives. Especially from behind the wheel.
Although the Mercedes-AMG G63 carries a maximum five-star ANCAP safety assessment from 2018, the pure-electric G580 is unrated. But crash avoidance tech includes active cruise control, ‘Active Steering Assist’, high-speed AEB, traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver fatigue monitoring as well as a 360-degree camera view and ‘Active Parking Assist’.
And if a crash is unavoidable, there are no fewer than 11 airbags on-board, including driver and front passenger front and side, rear side, full-length curtains, driver and passenger knee and a front centre bag.
There are three top-tether points for child seats across the second row, with ISOFIX anchors on the two outer positions.
Tested in 2018, the I-Pace scored a maximum five-star ANCAP crash-test rating.
It managed to do well in all four of the independent body's disciplines, especially so for occupant protection at 91 and 81 per cent for adults and children, respectively, while vulnerable road users (cyclists and pedestrians) fared worst with a still-adequate 73 per cent rating.
Six airbags are fitted (dual front, head/side front and head/side rear outboard occupants), along with a raft of driver-assist systems, including AEB, lane-alert, lane-assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear-collision monitor, rear-traffic monitor, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, driver fatigue monitor, tyre pressure monitors, emergency call out and traffic sign recognition with adaptive speed limiter tech.
Note the AEB operates from 5.0km/h to 85km/h, and functions in day and night conditions in all cases including cyclists and pedestrians. The lane support systems operate from 50km/h to 180km/h.
Additionally, you’ll find anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake-assist, as well as stability and traction controls.
Two outboard rear-seat ISOFIX latches are fitted, along with a trio of top-tether anchorage points for child seats.
No front occupant knee or centre-front airbags are fitted.
The G580 is covered by Mercedes-Benz Australia’s five-year/unlimited-km warranty, which remains the standard offering in the premium part of the market and an eight-year/160,000km drive battery warranty.
Service intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km with service plan pricing available over three ($2645), four ($3980) and five ($4670) years. In approximate terms, each workshop visit will cost ‘around’ $900. Not exactly cheap, especially for an EV, but this is no ordinary electric vehicle.
The I-Pace is covered by an industry-average five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, along with five years of roadside assistance.
Additionally, owners will enjoy five years/130,000km of free scheduled servicing. These are at 12 months or 26,000km.
Jaguar says the EV traction battery is covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty, with a minimum of 70 per cent state of health.