IT'S been a winner from day one, but an update from the original Jaguar I-Pace test means it now has a much quicker charging capability, making owning and driving it easier than ever.

Since its debut the I-Pace has won more than 80 global awards, including the Scottish Car of the Year title in 2018, the 2019 World Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year and World Green Car – true testament to the driveability and the sheer power coming from its home-designed electric motors on each axle, producing exceptional combined performance of 396 bhp and 696Nm. This gives a pretty staggering performance capable of the 0-62mph times run in 4.8 seconds.

Added since I first tested the latest I-Pace, the newer models feature the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system which has enhanced EV navigation that can show you if nearby charging stations are available, or in use, what they cost, and how long it will take to charge.

Good news for farmers with a three-phase electricity supply as a new 11kW on-board charger fitted as standard means that you can get significantly faster charging. When connected to an 11kW wall box 33 miles of range per hour can be achieved and a full charge from empty will takes only 8.6 hours, which was much better than the model I tested and reported on last year.

A full 100% charge should be good enough for around 235 miles but as with official fuel consumption figures, that can be taken with a pinch of salt. Expect more like 190-200 miles under normal driving which, though, still makes it one of the better, larger EVs about. For those on the go, a high-speed charger that you can find in a few rest stops these days, even at some hotels, can give you a 25% charge in just over an hour.

 

Topping up is easier now for those with three-phase electricity

Topping up is easier now for those with three-phase electricity

 

And go it does. The model tested did the 0-62mph timed run in just five seconds, which is quite a feat. As with all heavier EVs, they do handle a bit differently given the change that the battery pack makes to the dynamics of the way the chassis reacts to changing road conditions – but just like changing from a rear-wheel-drive motor to a front-wheel-drive one, you get used to that fairly quickly.

Another thing to get used to is the regenerative capability of the I-Pace to self-top up its batteries during things like braking. There's a 'high regen' mode available, which might catch you by surprise when you take your foot off the 'gas'!

Inside, you'll find the usual refinement of a Jaguar cabin that's slightly racier than the following Jaguar pack, but still has that unmistakable quality about it. Leather and brushed aluminium, or even a veneer or two.

 

Not a typical Jag layout, but still filled with its unmistakable quality

Not a typical Jag layout, but still filled with its unmistakable quality

 

The test was done on the HSE model, which added nearly £10,000 to the 'starting' price of the 'S' model's £65k. Other add-ons, like the active air suspension (nice!) pushed the price up to £76k-plus. But there's no such thing as a cheap EV car, so if this is what you want to tick a box or two, then there's fewer nicer, or pricier ways to do it.

But the fundamental problem with leccie cars is range and the associated 'range anxiety. A round-trip from home to Brechin was not possible without a fairly lengthy top up stop – luckily I had to hand a really quite excellent Dacia Sandero Stepway to get me there and back – which it did with lots left in the tank.