Jaguar I-Pace | PH Fleet
Terrific tyres and a troublesome transmission
Let’s make no bones about it: Jaguar I-Paces are cheap. On PH they start from £10,000, and there aren’t very many for sale at more than £35k. Like many a 400hp Jag from days gone by, they’ve depreciated abruptly, making them appealing secondhand. But the I-Pace’s trajectory has been especially savage; there are 2024MY road tests out there with test cars priced at almost £85,000. What bargains they must be by now. And we all know why this reality exists: along with the general wariness about EVs right now, plus the uncertainty around Jaguar, there’s the fact that the I-Pace doesn’t have the best reliability record. The confidence isn’t there, so neither is the residual value.
Which is a long way of building up to saying that the lovely Jag had a bit of a wobble. Nothing major - an inconvenience more than anything else - though certainly a blot in its otherwise flawless copybook. With toddler screaming and dog stressed on the way home from a trip to see family (cars always go wrong at the best of times), the I-Pace wouldn’t go out of Park at a services. When it finally went into reverse, it then wouldn’t go into drive, as cars were queueing up behind for the space. Wonderful. After lots of frantic turning off and on again, we got into drive and were able to continue, with a ‘Transmission fault’ warning on the dash.
Fortunately the rest of the journey didn’t require any more maneuvering, but the problem was most certainly still there at home. Just getting off the drive became a mission, so reluctant was the transmission to change from going backwards to going forwards. Jag Assist was called, the diagnostic check showed a fault had been logged, but by this time - you guessed it - the car was behaving like nothing had ever happened. Park, drive, neutral and reverse all working as they should, no hesitation and no warning light on the dash. Nothing similar to report since, either. Very peculiar. My only (uneducated) guess would be that something got wet when it wouldn’t stop raining earlier in the year that caused the transmission tantrum. Who knows. We bought the I-Pace knowing a JLR retailer was our nearest detailer and the car came with a warranty, but it’d still be nice not to make use of either…
So not a great thing to update on, though hardly the end of the world. A day of stress, then back to normal. Disappointing rather than totally demoralising. And it didn’t take long after that episode for Jaguar affection to be totally restored, so perfectly suited is it to what we need from a family car right now. A roofbox might even be on the shopping list next.
The most significant recent change has been the fitment of Michelin CrossClimate 2 tyres for the 20-inch wheels. There’s nothing like a tyre swap to be grateful you didn’t go for the biggest wheels! The rear Goodyears were 2021 dated, and so probably the original rubber, therefore definitely in need of replacement. As a four-wheel drive car, it made sense for all of them to be done at the same time (before any more faults were thrown up).
The CrossClimates are a similar price to the Eagle Sport All Season that were on before, have a similar remit - Eagle F1s and Continental PremiumContact 6s are available as sportier options - plus rank similarly on noise and wet grip. So while new with old can never be a direct comparison, it was little surprise to find very similar characteristics with the tyre swap. The Jag hadn’t suddenly become a hard riding grip monster, or a wallowy, vague mess, it was just usefully enhanced in all the areas it was already so impressive: there’s less road noise (so it’s even more refined now), crisper turn in, and better traction. The scrabble that once accompanied any overenthusiastic getaways has been eliminated, making acceleration keener still. Even with far from the most competitive stats these days, an I-Pace remains brisk for as long as it’s needed. One of the US magazines timed one at 12.8 seconds through the quarter mile at 107.4mph - and that seems more than fast enough.
Indeed OZD remains such a likeable EV that it was a surprise not to find one in Jag’s recent ‘Spirit of Jaguar’ PR push for the new electric GT. No, really. Because all those attributes that are abundant in the old stuff and which Jag wants in the new EV - long distance comfort, effortless performance, generous driver engagement - are absolutely present and correct in the I-Pace. As Jaguar’s only electric car thus far (and a very good one at that), it seemed a strange omission. If an XJS can be considered a great part of Jag heritage now, an I-Pace certainly can. Though I will concede maybe a bit of bias…
Let’s hope the new car, despite its wild performance potential, can improve on the I-Pace’s efficiency. Having reset a trip computer that had been running for 5,600 miles (and with a 96 per cent driving score, it says), the Jag has averaged 23mph and… 2.5mi/kWh. Which would make for 225 miles running a 90kWh battery to empty. Manageable, and probably to be expected given those miles have been through the coldest months, if thoroughly outdone by the latest WLTP claims. Still, seeing what a new EV might cost makes me feel a little better. Some warm weather and maybe greater use of Eco mode should improve things. As is unfortunately habit at the moment in Jag ownership, fingers crossed…
FACT SHEET
Car: 2021 Jaguar I-Pace HSE
Run by: Matt Bird
On fleet since: August 2025
Bought for: £21,700
Mileage: 45,665
Last month at a glance: Transmission trouble
Previous reports
- To EV or not to EV - now the question’s answered
- Grace, space, pace - it’s a Jag alright
- Crappy cold charging at Christmas
2.5m/kWh seems pretty inefficient and am I not sure about the comment about driving it through the coldest months when the trip meter display is dated September 2025.
Yes they are cheap but for a very good reason. They are unreliable and Jaguar as a brand has committed suicide. Unless you are someone who enjoys a unhealthy dose of self abuse (both physical and financial) buy a similar aged polestar or Tesla.
First the decision to stop selling all Jag's until the new generation of cars is launched which has depressed all newer Jag residuals in the short term at least. Orphaning a vehicle never is good for residuals (nor closing about half the dealers)
Secondly, and linked to the first, the car was manufactured at Magna in Austria under contract and JLR needed to get out of the contract and this seemed to involve building a certain number which they then effectively dumped on the market. About 6 or 12 months ago (I forget) you could buy I Pace for about £40k~£45k either brand new or pre-reg'd with 20 or 30 miles on them. So they were being knocked out with effectively 50% or so discount which obviously has a massive impact on the residuals of all the older cars
sure the reliability is not great but i think the discontinuation and last vehicle discounting had a much bigger effect
These are not the actions of any normal OEM who cares about residuals but JLR (or at least the J bit) is far from normal at the moment
But, they are comparatively worse than a Tesla Model 3 that you can buy for less money, the Jag uses pretty much twice as much electricity to cover the same distance. Then it only charges at half the speed or less. Ok its a luxury model with 400 bhp and a bit heavier and you expect a Jag to be a bit worse on fuel, but half as efficient, for an EV ? If it was 10/20 percent you could forgive it bu 2.5 vs 5.0 mile per kwh is a massive difference.
The reliability issues are a worry as well plus its older, less developed EV tech. I am sure its a much nicer car with a nicer interior but I am not sure that makes up for it being not as good as an EV.
Had a quick go in a friends one and was impressed, the way they get off the line is rapid, but then thats kind of an EV thing, not been in a Model 3 but a Model S years ago did something similar.
Dying to see the new Jag EV GT, only 5 months or so to wait now.
From early 2024 Jaguar were selling new pre-reg I-Paces for £40k, which means the '£85k new price' mentioned is largely irrelevant, and comes back to the point many make on new EV's : No one pays the new RRP price !
2.5m/kWh seems pretty inefficient and am I not sure about the comment about driving it through the coldest months when the trip meter display is dated September 2025.
Yes they are cheap but for a very good reason. They are unreliable and Jaguar as a brand has committed suicide. Unless you are someone who enjoys an unhealthy dose of self abuse (both physical and financial) buy a similar aged polestar or Tesla.
2.5m/kWh seems pretty inefficient and am I not sure about the comment about driving it through the coldest months when the trip meter display is dated September 2025.
Yes they are cheap but for a very good reason. They are unreliable and Jaguar as a brand has committed suicide. Unless you are someone who enjoys an unhealthy dose of self abuse (both physical and financial) buy a similar aged polestar or Tesla.
PS Mine is 4 years old and has been faultless (kiss of death....). Economy wise I get 2.8 miles / kWh but do a lot of motorway driving. Range seems as good as when new. And I have just replaced the 12v. Easy to do DIY if you follow one of the many YouTube videos.
Its been absolutely brilliant in that it feels like the interface we're used to, as opposed to no instruments just a massive iPad stuck in the middle, it just feels nice vs everything we drove at that price point felt very like it was made as cheap as possible.
We've only ever charged it from home, so never worry about the speed of charging. Its our town car so don't think we've taken it more than 80 miles from home, have others cars that do that better. Like everything right tool right job.
It's comfortable, happily takes two massive dogs, happily does a tip run, yet have taken people in the back seat in comfort.
I've never done the conversation but looks like I do about 2.4-2.8 miles/kwh my wife 2.9-3.2
The only downside is it makes my desire to get another car harder to justify even with man maths
Its been absolutely brilliant in that it feels like the interface we're used to, as opposed to no instruments just a massive iPad stuck in the middle, it just feels nice vs everything we drove at that price point felt very like it was made as cheap as possible.
We've only ever charged it from home, so never worry about the speed of charging. Its our town car so don't think we've taken it more than 80 miles from home, have others cars that do that better. Like everything right tool right job.
It's comfortable, happily takes two massive dogs, happily does a tip run, yet have taken people in the back seat in comfort.
I've never done the conversation but looks like I do about 2.4-2.8 miles/kwh my wife 2.9-3.2
The only downside is it makes my desire to get another car harder to justify even with man maths
Its been absolutely brilliant in that it feels like the interface we're used to, as opposed to no instruments just a massive iPad stuck in the middle, it just feels nice vs everything we drove at that price point felt very like it was made as cheap as possible.
We've only ever charged it from home, so never worry about the speed of charging. Its our town car so don't think we've taken it more than 80 miles from home, have others cars that do that better. Like everything right tool right job.
It's comfortable, happily takes two massive dogs, happily does a tip run, yet have taken people in the back seat in comfort.
I've never done the conversation but looks like I do about 2.4-2.8 miles/kwh my wife 2.9-3.2
The only downside is it makes my desire to get another car harder to justify even with man maths
The relative inefficiency is only an inconvenience as it limits the range, but its still going to cost a fraction to run of an ICE car with similar performance. I like the packaging too, as its a higher ride height and practical but still decent looking, IMHO.
Taycans are considerably more expensive, big and not as practical, albeit the standard as a driver's EV, and would scare me more out of warranty, but I do like them.
Its hard to see past a Tesla Model 3 for value and efficiency, but I just don't find them appealing at all as a personal ownership proposition
Having spent a brief period with one, I haven't driven another EV that gets close to the refinement and ride comfort with such superb handling and dynamics (I haven't driven a Taycan any real distance which is the only comparable I imagine), yet in the short time I had the car the faults ranged from niggles (Air Con started blasting when I selected Reverse), to downright ridiculous (major brake issue) interspersed with various dash warning lights.
Obviously this is only my opinion but as a heavy user of EVs (20k + per year), for me the range / efficiency is simply not good enough. Whilst I acknowledge it is an older platform these days, 225 miles from a 90kwh battery is poor. It would take over 2 full "cheap window" overnight charges at home to fill, and out in the network where you can regularly see 89p per Kw, you are looking at £80 to fill it up.... for 225 miles of range!
Having said all that, for what it is and if you are brave enough / it fits your lifestyle, they are unbelievably good value used!!
The design still looks so fresh today and is a shape that could only be achieved with an EV platform, making it quite a special thing.
The design still looks so fresh today and is a shape that could only be achieved with an EV platform, making it quite a special thing.
Imo the best looking jag of the last decade after the F type, I think it's going to be a future classic. Yes, the early cars were shocking for reliability, even for jag, stupid faults like windsceens leaking like you'd expect in a temu version, and obviously the major battery issue and I've read about many brake issues, but 2023 cars onwards are supposedly sorted. I'm expecting shed to get one in 2036.
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