My 4-Year Jaguar I-PACE HSE Review: Real-World Electric Driving

I am Michael MacCarthy, and this is my real-world review of the 2021 Jaguar I-PACE. I drive the HSE model, which is the top specification, equipped with an 84.7kWh usable battery. This is my first electric car, and I have owned it for between four and five years. I currently average between 5,000 and 10,000 miles annually, and the car has just reached 51,000 miles on the clock.

Why I Chose the Jaguar I-PACE

I chose this EV mainly because I loved the design. I had previously owned two Jaguars, so brand loyalty played a part, and the fact that it was voted car of the year when released made the decision even easier.

Performance, Comfort, and Everyday Driving

The driving experience is fantastic. The car is very comfortable and features a slightly higher driving position, which makes it very easy to get in and out of. When you need power, it is very fast.

From a technology standpoint, the Apple CarPlay integration is excellent, allowing me to get literally any music to play via Spotify. My absolute favourite hidden feature is a configurable shortcut button on the steering wheel; I have it set to instantly turn on the heated seat, which is brilliant for daily driving.

Battery Health, Range, and Charging

Despite having covered 51,000 miles, the battery is performing exceptionally well, and I am still getting the same range as when the car was bought nearly new. From an 80% charge, I typically see a range of 272 miles during the summer months, which drops nearer to 240 miles during winter. Recently, a safety recall limited the maximum charge to 90%, but I am still achieving a highly usable 234 miles of range.

I charge the car at home using a Pod Point charger, which I have had installed with no issues. I am on an Octopus Energy tariff and take advantage of their cheap rate from 12:30 am to 5:30 am, paying around 8p per unit (prices correct as of October 2026). I also have solar panels, making my overall running costs very cheap. I don’t use public charging networks very often—only when completing a long journey—and I have no preference for any particular network when I do.

Running Costs and Reliability

This EV is saving me a considerable amount of money. My previous car was a diesel Audi that cost around £200 per month on fuel, a figure that would be closer to £300 per month today. The I-PACE is also surprisingly easy on tyres; I managed to get around 35,000 miles out of the original set.

I personally insure the car with Admiral. It was the best quote I could obtain, and while the premium is around £800, it is actually down on last year’s price.

In terms of issues, I have only experienced one fault: a leaking windscreen, which was efficiently sorted under warranty.

The Downsides

While I am very happy with the car itself, there are a couple of negatives. Unfortunately, I have found the main dealer to be mainly hopeless. Additionally, high depreciation on the vehicle is a big problem.

What’s Next on My EV Radar?

If I were looking to change cars tomorrow, the Audi A6 Avant e-tron or the VW ID.7 Touring would be at the top of my list. They are both good cars, though the VW is considerably cheaper.