WE LIKEDramatic design, smooth performance, balanced ride and handling
WE DON'T LIKEReal-world driving range falls short
Toyota, please note: The future does not have to look ugly. The I-Pace's superbly executed exterior design may well define Jaguar's identity in the 21st century as emphatically as the E-Type did in the 20th.
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"The I-Pace might be Ian Callum's masterpiece," Christian Seabaugh said. "Debate all you want whether it's an SUV, but it's arguably the best-looking and most original automotive design in years." The interior likewise won kudos from judges for design and materials selection, though JLR's infotainment interface drew criticism for being slow and finicky to use.
There was no argument about the drive experience, however. "Pure joy!" Stefan Ogbac enthused as he stepped out of the electric Jaguar, echoing the sentiments of many of the judges. "It's a lovely handling machine with instant electric power and torque. There's next to no body roll and plenty of composure on the turns, excellent high-speed stability, and great steering that's accurate and precise."
The I-Pace was easily the fastest of this year's contenders on the winding road, quicker even than the mighty Mercedes-AMG G 63. Off-road, with its height-adjustable suspension and terrific traction, the Jag handled our sand pits and steep dirt hill better than most.
Concerns over value—and the I-Pace's real-world driving range falling well short of the claimed 234 miles (without access to Tesla's Supercharger network)—were the key factors that stopped the I-Pace from becoming our first all-electric SUVOTY. "Never has there been such a philosophical battle for the award," Frank Markus said as he contemplated the spaceship Jaguar parked next to the old-school Jeep Wrangler. That says it all. It's the future, now.
READ ABOUTCONTENDERS:
READ ABOUT 2019 SUV OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
- Acura RDX
- Ford Expedition
- Hyundai Kona
- JeepWrangler
- Lincoln Navigator
- Range Rover Velar
- Subaru Forester
- Volvo XC40
READ ABOUTCONTENDERS:
- Buick Regal
- Ford Mustang
- Ford TransitConnect
- Hyundai Accent
- Hyundai Elantra
- Honda Clarity
- Kia Forte
- Lexus ES
- Lexus LS
- Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota Avalon
- Toyota CorollaHatchback
- Volkswagen Jetta
READ ABOUT 2019 CAR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
READ ABOUTFINALISTS:
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated by cars. My father was a mechanic, and some of my earliest memories are of handing him wrenches as he worked to turn a succession of down-at-heel secondhand cars into reliable family transportation. Later, when I was about 12, I’d be allowed to back the Valiant station wagon out onto the street and drive it around to the front of the house to wash it. We had the cleanest Valiant in the world.
I got my driver’s license exactly three months after my 16th birthday in a Series II Land Rover, ex-Australian Army with no synchro on first or second and about a million miles on the clock. “Pass your test in that,” said Dad, “and you’ll be able to drive anything.” He was right. Nearly four decades later I’ve driven everything from a Bugatti Veyron to a Volvo 18-wheeler, on roads and tracks all over the world. Very few people get the opportunity to parlay their passion into a career. I’m one of those fortunate few.
I started editing my local car club magazine, partly because no-one else would do it, and partly because I’d sold my rally car to get the deposit for my first house, and wanted to stay involved in the sport. Then one day someone handed me a free local sports paper and said they might want car stuff in it. I rang the editor and to my surprise she said yes. There was no pay, but I did get press passes, which meant I got into the races for free. And meet real automotive journalists in the pressroom. And watch and learn.
It’s been a helluva ride ever since. I’ve written about everything from Formula 1 to Sprint Car racing; from new cars and trucks to wild street machines and multi-million dollar classics; from global industry trends to secondhand car dealers. I’ve done automotive TV shows and radio shows, and helped create automotive websites, iMags and mobile apps. I’ve been the editor-in-chief of leading automotive media brands in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States. And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The longer I’m in this business the more astonished I am these fiendishly complicated devices we call automobiles get made at all, and how accomplished they have become at doing what they’re designed to do. I believe all new cars should be great, and I’m disappointed when they’re not. Over the years I’ve come to realize cars are the result of a complex interaction of people, politics and process, which is why they’re all different. And why they continue to fascinate me.Read More
