Jaguar I-Pace Malaysia first drive: Finally, an EV that’s fun to drive

Three months after the Jaguar I-Pace was launched in Malaysia, we were given our first taste of what the new premium electric SUV is like to drive. The Leaping Cat is fighting at the sharp end of the segment, with a starting price well north of RM400,000—putting the I-Pace up against some stiff competition from the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and now Audi.

As a refresher, the I-Pace is available in two variants—the Black Edition at RM460,800 and the HSE as tested here at RM498,800. That money buys you dual electric motors that provide all-wheel drive and a combined output of 295kW (394hp) and 696Nm of torque. This propels the car from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 200km/h. A 90kWh battery provides a range of 470km, and it accepts up to 100kW of DC fast charging that will bring it from zero to 80% charge in 45 minutes.

The I-Pace is around the same size as the much-cheaper BMW iX3, but it’s far lower, giving the car a sportier look. The interior is a little dated now, but it still offers no less than three screens—a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch central touchscreen and a separate five-inch touchscreen for controlling the air conditioning. You also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a Qi wireless charger and a 16-speaker, 750W Meridian 3D sound system on the HSE.

But the I-Pace has really been designed from the outset to be an entertaining steer. To that end, the aluminium structure has the highest structural rigidity of any Jaguar, and it’s been bolstered by torque vectoring by braking and the trick adaptive air suspension on this HSE model. Has it all worked? Watch the video below to find out.