We drove an $87,000 Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV to see if it can take on Tesla, Mercedes, and Audi. Here's the verdict.

• The Jaguar I-PACE first luxury crossover SUV to hit the market.
• The I-PACE is driven by dual electric motors that produce 394 horsepower.
• According to Jaguar, its EV can do 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
• The Jag has a 90kWh battery pack that and a range of 234 miles on a single charge. 
• The I-PACE will be the only electric compact crossover available until the Audi E-Tron, Mercedes-Benz EQ C, and Tesla Model Y hits showrooms.
• The 2019 Jaguar I-PACE starts at $69,500 while our top-spec HSE variant starts at $80,500. With options and fees, our test car came to $86,720.

Electric cars are the future. Even though people have been saying this for years, only recently have the world's mainstream automakers really taken this to heart. Sure, relatively affordable EVs have been on the road a decade now. But for far too many brands, going electric was more of a strategically prudent way to satisfy increasingly stringent emissions standards than a true commitment to electric mobility.

Things are different now. Tesla can't make enough of its electric cars to keep up with demand. GM and Nissan are fully committed to production EVs. While luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche have all prepared purpose-built EVs set to hit the market in the near future. 

And then there's Jaguar.

Once the byword for stodgy British retro luxury, Jag is now all-in on electric. In fact, Jaguar beat out its rivals to become the first mainstream luxury brand to have an EV with enough range to legitimately compete against Tesla. 

Read more: We drove a $211,000 Porsche Panamera to see if it's a hybrid supercar with room for the whole family. Here's the verdict.

The Jaguar I-PACE enters the market in a unique position in that it's the only car in its segment. Including the I-PACE, there are only four luxury EVs on the market and three of them are the Tesla Model S, Model X, and Model 3.

With the Model X the only other SUV. However, it should be noted that the Model X is a larger, mid-size three-row crossover SUV and doesn't compete directly with I-PACE that is significantly less expensive. 

Specifically, the Jag will be the only electric compact crossover available until the Audi E-Tron, Mercedes-Benz EQ C, and Tesla Model Y hits showrooms.

Recently, Business Insider spent a week with a 2019 Jaguar I-PACE EV400 HSE test car in Corris Gray. The 2019 Jaguar I-PACE starts at $69,500 while the top-spec HSE variant starts at $80,500. With options and fees, our test car came to $86,720.

Here's a closer look at the 2019 Jaguar I-PACE EV400 HSE:

SEE ALSO: We drove a $50,000 Infiniti QX50 luxury SUV to see if it's ready to rival Audi, Acura, and BMW. Here's the verdict.

FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!

Earlier this year, we had the chance to drive the I-PACE at Jaguar Land Rover's North American headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey. However, it was just for a few minutes and around a track in their parking lot.

So, we brought the electric Jag back for a more in-depth experience.

The I-PACE is currently the lone player in the in the electric luxury compact crossover SUV segment. However, it won't be for long.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Contributer : Tech Insider https://read.bi/2Vb7a6n

Something that you might miss to see?