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Driving the Jaguar I-PACE

For this electric car adventure, I decided to head to Narva, pushing the limits of the Jaguar I-PACE on a 500 km round trip. It doesn’t matter if it’s a familiar route or a journey to the edge of Estonia—500 km always brings enough miles to test an EV thoroughly. As always, I started the trip with a fully charged battery, ready to see how far it would take me.

On a full charge, the I-PACE promised a range of 383 km. With a decent range like that, I could relax and enjoy the drive without anxiously drafting behind buses to conserve energy. The speed limit on the Peterburi highway goes up to 120 km/h, so I kept my foot steady, knowing the I-PACE would handle it effortlessly.

driving-the-jaguar-ev

Setting Off to Narva

Our journey kicked off at 8 am on a beautiful day, with just the right mix of cool morning air and the warmth of summer sunshine. From the start, the Jaguar was impressed with its responsive handling and precise steering. In any driving mode, it felt lively, with a fun, V6-like hum when accelerating. Up front, I found it easy to adjust everything to my comfort, with all controls within reach, while the back seats had plenty of room to stash gear. In terms of design, the driver’s area felt cleaner and more minimal than other EVs, which I appreciated.

Upon reaching Narva, the display showed 150 km of range left, confirming the range estimates were highly reliable for longer trips. The 220 km journey to Narva was smooth and worry-free, with the range indicator proving accurate—a welcome reassurance for anyone planning similar routes.

Charging Pit Stop at Fama Center

With tasks complete in Narva, I headed to Fama Center to recharge both myself and the car. According to the SharePoint map, this was the only CCS charger available in Narva’s downtown. In just 20 minutes, the I-PACE gained enough charge to make it comfortably to my next destination, Tõrvandi, near Tartu. Since I hadn’t fully charged the battery in Narva, I kept an eye out for more chargers in Tartu, but in the end, I didn’t even need to top up.

Arriving at Tikupoiss with 8% battery left, I plugged in the car and got a small scare when the charger suddenly stopped. On the second attempt, though, it worked smoothly, delivering up to 100 kWh—the I-PACE’s maximum fast-charging capacity. By the time a meeting wrapped up in the car, which went a bit longer than expected, the battery was already at 99%. For this route, a quick 20-minute coffee break would have provided more than enough charge to make it home. In fact, I finished the trip with 73% battery remaining, so this 500 km journey barely required charging stops.

The Jaguar I-PACE: Electric Luxury and Sporty Performance

Jaguar’s 2021 updates to the I-PACE brought several new features: 4G connectivity, a 360-degree camera system, wireless charging capability, and more options for interior luxury and comfort. The navigation system was also upgraded to display charging stations en route, and the onboard charger now supports 11 kW AC charging, cutting charging time to about 8.5 hours, four hours faster than before.

However, there were a few quirks, likely fixable with future software updates:

After shutting off the car, the display briefly switches from kilometers to miles, which feels like a British throwback.
The navigation system occasionally shows an incorrect speed limit, like displaying 90 km/h in 110 or 120 km/h zones, and it’s a bit picky when entering exact addresses.
The rearview mirror was initially a bit limited, but the camera feed option on the mirror display offered a sharp, wide-angle view for excellent visibility. The sound system provided crisp audio, even at low volumes, isolating road noise well. A highlight was the tinted panoramic glass roof, giving a clear view of the sky from one angle and serving as a reflective ceiling from another.

Key Takeaways: Efficiency, Range, and Cost Savings

Once again, this trip reinforced how effortless it is to travel with an electric car, especially in a luxurious, sporty EV like the I-PACE. Charging was straightforward and never required much planning, even on this longer route.

A few final thoughts:

No charging delays: I never had to wait to charge on this trip.
Cost-effective travel: Covering 500 km in a conventional gas car would cost about €55, but with the Jaguar I-PACE, the entire trip only costs around €12.

Sporty performance for any journey: The I-PACE is a strong choice for those who want a premium electric car with room for family and gear, without sacrificing style.

Overall, if you’re looking for a luxurious, high-performance electric vehicle, the Jaguar I-PACE makes a great option. It’s an eye-catching, efficient, and powerful EV that doesn’t skimp on space or comfort. This journey proved it can handle long distances with ease, making it an excellent fit for anyone serious about electric travel.