• Electric motor has 400hp and 696Nm of torque
• Very fast, but equally as easy to drive
• 0-60mph sprint takes 4.5 seconds

What power options are there?

There’s just one. It’s a twin motor set-up allied with a 90kWh battery pack for 400hp and 696Nm of pulling power (torque). Translated into real-world language, that means instant lag-free acceleration when you want it, for a 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds and all the effortless overtaking you’ll ever need.

Electric cars provide instant acceleration, and the I-Pace feels eager and responsive to throttle inputs. But it’s never excessively edgy during gentle manoeuvres. But it’s not all about speed. Press the ‘D’ button on the centre console and the I-Pace glides from its parking space into urban traffic, apparently silently from inside the cabin, but with a low hum to warn pedestrians.

More intriguing is the one-pedal driving it offers. Simply releasing the throttle results in a relatively strong braking effort as the electric motors harvest electricity to replenish the battery. You can tone down the strength of this via sub-menus in the touchscreen and rely more on the brake pedal, but while it takes a small amount of time to adjust to one-pedal driving, it soon feels natural.

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What’s it like to drive?

• One of the best handling EVs on sale
• Huge grip but playful chassis
• Agile and quick steering

The most surprising thing about the I-Pace is how enjoyable it is to drive. Considering it’s a heavy electric SUV, it’s a delight to pilot down a challenging road. Its balance of strong grip, quick steering, instant performance and body control are deeply impressive.

On tight B-roads, there’s no disguising this car’s bulk, though. Turn into a tight corner too quickly and you’ll feel a lot of bodyroll. But when up to speed, the I-Pace shrinks around you, and is a real joy to use. And it’s not all about its impressive acceleration – far from it, in fact. Its combination of talents will keep you amused for some time to come.

It’s also comfortable. On standard 20-inch alloys, the I-Pace feels impeccably cushioned and controlled, even over the roughest surfaces. The smooth ride defines the driving experience at higher speeds, along with wind- and road-noise that’s impressively suppressed, right up to high motorway cruising speeds, where it remains a very quiet cruiser.

Air suspension is available on higher-spec I-Paces, but the standard coil spring set-up is excellent, and we challenge most buyers to tell the difference. Yes, you get more driving modes and height adjustment with the air set-up, but if you’re not likely to use these and plan to stick with the standard-sized wheels, you might want to consider saving the money and going with the standard set-up.