The Jaguar I-Pace EV, its first EV, is an enigma. A conundrum. A paradox in a world swiftly shifting toward exactly what the I-Pace is. But Jaguar just can’t sell them. Consumer Reports calls it the “first real challenger to Tesla.” After six years, it is still one of the best designs out there. And it handles and has the power one expects from Jaguar, or maybe a Dodge Hellcat Charger. 

Is the Jaguar I-Pace problem price, range, or both?

With that said, its sales are sinking fast. Some say it is its devastating launch that saw customers complaining about less-than-stellar range. Many could not get near the 300-mile range Jaguar touted. And a litany of electronic gremlins plagued it. Early buyers had trouble getting their I-Pace EVs fixed because dealer technicians were not trained yet. And then there is the price.

When it first hit our shores in 2019, the base price was $80,000. And most had enough options to see that price jump past $90,000. Few were willing to pay that much for an untested EV with marginal range and problems right out of the gate. 

Has Jaguar done anything about it?

So Jaguar hit many of the problems one by one. It developed updates and replacements for issues finding their way in ever-increasing numbers on forums. They increased the range to 222 miles, never able to get to the magic 300-mile mark. And it dropped the price.

A base I-Pace now sells for right at $70,000. It’s still a lot, but a Tesla Model X starts at $110,000. A Model S is $96,630. Cadillac’s Lyriq is just shy of $60,000, but you won’t be able to find one for under $75,000. 

What is still wrong with the Jaguar I-Pace?

There are still downsides to I-Pace ownership. Even a Chevrolet Bolt has more range. Front passenger seating can be a bit cramped for some, though the leather seats themselves are so comfortable. And some still get hung up about its neither SUV nor station wagon persona. 

It has plenty of power with its two motors coming out to about 400 hp and 512 lb-ft of torque. But, being a luxury Jaguar, it’s heavy at almost 5,000 lbs. Still, that’s nothing like a 7,100-lb Rivian R1T, or an almost 10,000-lb GMC Hummer. 

How many have sold in the U.S.?

There just doesn’t seem to be anything Jaguar can do at this point. There’s that Jaguar reputation for breaking that follows every sale. It is generally just an EV outlier in 2023 and mostly forgotten. Jaguar sold 1,409 I-Pace EVs in the U.S. in 2021. In 2022, that number tanked to 321. We expect that Jaguar will soldier on with the I-Pace, but not for long. 

If you’re willing to take a chance, and you would consider a used EV, you may want to look at the I-Pace. We looked at used I-Pace EVs for sale around the country. There are plenty of very-low mileage examples for under $40,000. That is five-year-old Tesla Model 3 asking prices.  Just sayin’.