2019 Jaguar I-Pace: An EV that's ready for prime time [Retake]

Living with an electric vehicle for a week is a lot different than driving it for a day in a controlled situation with drive routes tailored to maximize range.

But as battery packs get larger and range extends further, it gets easier to see these disruptors as a viable option for everyday living.

Enter the 2019 Jaguar I-Pace.

When I drove it 6 months ago for the press preview, I loved it. I thought it was the future of electric cars as we know it, with the U.S. standard SAE Combined Charging System, the 200+ miles of range and the sexy design.

After a week with this vehicle, I still feel the same way.

And I say that as someone who doesn’t have a home charger and used a measly 110v wall jack to charge up a 90 kWh battery pack.

Of course, it took me a solid weekend to get the vehicle charged 100 percent after a couple of 30-mile drives. But this vehicle perfectly suited my urban lifestyle with several short jaunts and a few longer highway drives thrown into the mix.

I never went below 60 miles of range, and I never felt the dreaded range anxiety that lower-range EVs might bring.

While I didn’t worry about juicing up via a wall jack for the test week since I rarely drive more than 120 miles in any given week, I also recognize the benefit of having an at-home Level 2 charger that will cut your charge time by one third.

Jaguar estimates that a Level 2 charger will take about 12.5 hours to reach 100 percent charge, while a regular wall jack will take about 35 hours.

I wasn’t able to test the veracity of this because the vehicle I drove still had a prototype charge cable, and I assume the vehicle itself was still pre-production.

I did note, however, the range was definitely affected by the near-freezing temperatures and the use of heated seats and HVAC systems.

For example, during one cold 10-mile drive, I used 16 miles of range while turning on the heated seats and using the heater on high to warm up the cabin before turning it off.

What I really like about the I-Pace is the range impact screen, which shows you how you can add more range by turning off various vehicle features. At one point the screen showed that if I turned off my HVAC and my heated seat, I would potentially gain 36 miles of range.

Also, if you do need to travel longer distances or get more range quickly, the good news is I-Pace will be available with fast-charge capability, which will get you to an 80 percent charge (or about 150 miles of range) within 40 minutes.

Outside of the whole EV-ness of the I-Pace, there’s a lot to love in this vehicle from the elegantly designed interior to the wide stance and standard all-wheel drive.

During the press preview, we tackled everything from mild off-roading to racetrack driving, and the I-Pace did surprisingly well in a wide range of conditions.

After a full-week test, we were able to add smooth ride and handling over pockmarked city streets to the list of the I-Pace’s capabilities.

The I-Pace comes with firm and supportive seats that both my husband and I liked, and the test vehicle came with the high-end Kvadrat fabric alternative, which warms quickly in cold weather.

I-Pace also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, passive entry, 6 USB ports and a very sleek dual-screen setup called Touch Pro Duo.

For an everyday driver, I appreciated the number of cubby holes and cup holders as well as the extra storage space in the “frunk” (front trunk), which is perfect to hide laptops, purses and briefcases.

The 23.2 cubic-feet of cargo space in the back is flat-loading and usable because the battery is housed underneath the vehicle rather than in the trunk.

The Jaguar I-Pace will have four trims for the 2019 model year, including a First Edition model, which ceases in 2020.

S ($69,500): Includes Luxtec Sport Seats, two-zone climate control, electric cabin pre-conditioning, 18-inch wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, panoramic glass roof, keyless entry, push-button start, Touch Pro Duo with 10-inch upper and 5.5-inch lower touch screens, navigation pro, WiFi hotspot that can accommodate up to 8 devices, 6 USB ports, emergency braking, rearview camera, cruise control, lane keep assist, 360-degree parking aids, rear traffic monitor and traffic sign recognition.

SE ($75,890): Adds grained leather sport seats, 10-way power adjusting seats, 20-inch wheels, power tailgate, auto high-beam assist, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and high-speed emergency braking.

HSE ($80,500): Adds Windsor leather sport seats, 18-way heated-and-cooled front seats, heated rear seats, gesture-control tailgate, Meridian surround sound system, 360-degree camera and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.

First Edition ($85,900): Adds First Edition badging, a full extended leather upgrade, suede headliner, four-zone climate control, heated windshield, head-up display, activity key, adaptive dynamics and adaptive surface response.

The test vehicle was an HSE an added a significant number of options, including the carbon fiber exterior pack, premium textile pack, 22-inch 5-spoke wheels, head-up display, adaptive dynamics, four-zone climate control, suede headliner and metallic paint – among other things – for an as-tested price of $94,657.

The I-Pace hit U.S. dealers in October of 2018.

The Bottom Line:

It’s very easy to love a vehicle when you get a brief, curated glimpse at all its best attributes. But it’s quite another to love it after living with it for a week.

The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace is a very versatile vehicle with usable storage space, comfortable seating and plenty of range that will take care of 99 percent of your driving needs.

While this vehicle might be tough for someone who lives in an apartment or condo without a dedicated Level 2 home charger, it’s not impossible -- especially in an urban area with a slew of public fast chargers that can keep the juice flowing.

Backed by a manufacturer that knows how to mass produce vehicles and some pretty cool technology, the Jaguar I-Pace has some serious potential to raise the EV bar well over the head of Tesla.

Want more information on the Jaguar I-Pace? Be sure to read our first-look review and articles about cool tech features and things to know about the I-Pace. Want more photos? We have a 65-photo gallery available as well.