Should I buy a Jaguar I-PACE or a Tesla Model 3?

Electric cars like the Jaguar I-PACE and Tesla Model 3 are now legitimate alternatives to traditional premium and luxury purchases.

While many consumers have questions about the ownership experience of battery-powered vehicles -- scared they might become stranded or unable to recharge the battery conveniently or concerned about the long-term reliability of new technologies -- the reality is either of these cars comprehensively answers those issues. And at the same time, asks their own question loud and clear; why NOT go electric?

So, if you’re an early adopter, understand the benefits of an electric car and are looking at helping fast-forward the future of motoring, does Tesla’s experience with battery-powered vehicles make the Model 3 a better option than Jaguar’s first foray into the EV world?

Or, has Jaguar used a century of car making know-how to build a higher-quality machine than the Silicon Valley upstart?

Well, let’s plug-in both options and see which is the best battery-powered luxury car.

Let’s start with the basics, because, although the Tesla Model 3 and Jaguar I-PACE are among only a handful of fully-electric cars currently available in Australia and it is therefore quite easy to consider them as natural rivals, they would normally be classified in different segments of the market.

The Model 3, for starters, is a mid-sized luxury sedan -- around the same size as a BMW 3-Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Therefore, it costs from $66,000 for the entry-level Standard Plus variant with a single electric motor, and rises through a Long Range model with two electric motors and a bigger battery pack that costs $85,000 and tops out with the flagship Model 3 Performance that uses the same mechanical layout but trades some of its driving range for additional power and better acceleration.

The Jaguar I-PACE, on the other hand, is more of a crossover-style SUV that is a size bigger than the Model 3. And, unlike Tesla’s line-up, which is dictated by steps in performance, all Jaguar I-PACE models feature the same battery pack and dual-motor set-up.

Instead, the Jaguar I-PACE is offered in three trim levels,S, SE and HSE, the cheapest of which kicks off at almost twice as much as the Model 3! The entry-level I-PACE S costs from $119,000, with the SE costing $130,200 and the flagship HSE asking $140,800.

So, is the Jaguar worth the extra dollars? The answer depends on where you sit.

In its most basic form, the I-PACE S has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, fake-leather trim, a wide screen infotainment system with sat nav and Meridien audio as well as low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), semi-automated parking, traffic sign recognition and lane keeping assistance.

The SE adds larger 20-inch alloys, genuine leather trim, a powered tailgate and more safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, high-speed autonomous braking and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality in heavy traffic.

At the top of the range, the HSE has exclusive diamond-turned finish on its unique 20-inch alloys, higher-grade Windsor leather trim, Matrix LED headlights, a 360-degree camera and a more powerful Meridien audio system.

The Model 3 Standard Plus, by comparison, also has 18-inch alloys and fake-leather trim as standard but has just a single 15-inch display in the centre of the car that acts as both the instrument cluster and infotainment portal. A high-end audio system and sat nav are standard, as are heated front and rear seats.

As is Tesla’s ‘trademark’, the base Model 3 also has internet connectivity and Tesla’s comprehensive Autopilot suite of active safety systems as standard. But the capacity for having ‘Full Self-Driving Capability’ in the future (when it becomes available and legal to use in Australia) is a $7100 option.

The Model 3 Long Range adds a Premium Interior package and a full-length sunroof along with the bigger battery pack and additional front-mounted electric motor while the Model 3 Performance brings a different visual character with 20-inch alloys, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, lowered sports suspension, upgraded brakes and a track mode.

Both the Tesla Model 3 and Jaguar I-PACE are built around the same concept, with a battery pack mounted in the floor of the car and electric motors at either end.

In the Jaguar I-PACE, all models feature the same powertrain configuration with a 90kW/h lithium-ion battery and a combined output of 294kW and 680Nm. The twin motors give it an advanced, computer-controlled, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive set-up. Jaguar says it can slingshot from 0-100km/h in 4.8sec.

The Tesla Model 3 Standard Plus, on the other hand, has a 54kW/h battery and a single electric motor on the rear axle that generates 211kW. Tesla claims it can reach triple figures in 5.6sec.

The Tesla Model 3 Long Range gets a larger 75kW/h battery and an additional front-mounted motor with 307kW of power and reduces its ability to hit triple figures in 4.6sec.

The top of the range Tesla Model 3 Performance uses the same battery as the long-ranger but upgrades the motors to generate a combined output of 353kW. This makes it the most powerful option, and the quickest too -- it can hit 100km/h in 3.4sec.

The Model 3 Long Range (as its name suggests) is the most efficient option of our head to head line-up, with a claimed real-world driving range of 620km from a full battery. At a claimed range of 560km, the Tesla Model 3 Performance isn’t that far behind, however.

The Standard Plus has a claimed driving range of 460km.

Despite having the largest capacity battery, Jaguar says the I-PACE has a range of 480km/h on a full charge.

The Jaguar has a Type 2 plug and the capacity for 100kW ultra-rapid charging, which means it can use the increasing number of public DC charging stations being installed in major shopping centres, metropolitan areas, key regional cities and along significant highways that link capital cities.

Jaguar says the battery can be replenished to 80 percent in less than 40 minutes using an ultra-rapid charger and a 10-minute top-up will provide an additional 100km of range. An optional 7kW wallbox charger can be installed at your home and/or office and will fully replenish the battery in around 10 hours (or overnight).

All Tesla models, including the Model 3, have a proprietary plug for the company’s network of high-speed 120kW Superchargers, as well as lower-powered Destination Chargers.

But, unlike the bigger Model S sedan and Model X SUV, the Model 3 also has a Type 2 port, which means it has access to the entire electric vehicle charging network.

The American brand says the Model 3 Standard Plus can, using a Tesla Supercharger, be topped-up to 80 percent within half an hour, while the Long Range and Performance models need more juice and take around 45 minutes. You can expect it take slightly longer on the more common 100kW or 50kW public chargers.

Using a Tesla Wallbox at home or the office, you can recharge the Model 3 in less than 12 hours.

As we’ve said, if the Jaguar I-PACE and Tesla Model 3 weren’t both electric cars, they likely wouldn’t be shopped against each other. But, until EVs become more widespread, we understand that is what makes them attractive, and therefore appealing to the same buyer group.

In fact, we’ve been asked this question, many, many times…

In this context, if all you want is the electric car experience, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range is the most compelling option with unrivalled value for money. It has more than enough performance to satisfy a keen driver and a driving range that is almost on-par with a conventional, petrol-powered sedan of the same size.

From there, if you want to eliminate the anxiety of driving range then the Model 3 Long Range is the perfect antidote, or, if you want to beat supercars away from the traffic lights, the Model 3 Performance is addictively quick.

But, the Tesla Model 3’s minimalist interior may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and there’s a few rough edges in its overall quality.

That is where the Jaguar I-PACE comes into its own, and at least partly justifies its price, as the cabin fuses modern technology with classical touches in such a stunning way -- especially in top-spec Jaguar I-PACE HSE form.

The Jaguar looks and feels special — as a genuine luxury car should — but, at half the price, the Model 3 is all the electric car you need.