Luxury crossover SUVs are logical candidates for electrification. Electric vehicles (EVs) are more expensive to build than the equivalent model with an internal combustion engine (ICE). Still, the luxury customer has demonstrated a willingness to pay more for added smoothness, quietness, and prestige. At the same time, the American luxury buyer has shown a distinct preference for crossover SUVs versus traditional 4-door sedans. All this makes luxury customers prime targets for the two crossover contenders in this two-vehicle comparison—the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace and the 2022 Tesla Model Y.
Of course, these two models have a great deal of competition in the segment, and it is growing on what seems like a daily basis. In addition to the I-Pace mentioned above and Model Y, the premium crossover battery-electric vehicle (BEV) space now includes the Audi Q4 E-tron, BMW iX, Cadillac Lyriq, Genesis GV60, Mercedes-Benz EQB, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, and Rivian R1S. Challenging newcomers from non-premium brands include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID.4.
Jaguar was early to toss its top hat into the luxury BEV ring with the I-Pace, correctly sensing that EV market leader Tesla could use some competition from a traditional luxury brand. The I-Pace was the first salvo in the venerable English auto brand's efforts to become an even stronger competitor in the luxury market—one that is increasingly turning to electric power. The I-Pace entered the U.S. market for the 2019 model year and skipped the 2021 model year as Jaguar prepared a mid-cycle refresh for 2022. For the 2023 model year, the I-Pace is virtually unchanged from its 2022 reincarnation.
While the I-Pace comes from a very traditional import luxury brand, the Tesla Model Y is a crossover from an American brand that one might say had luxury thrust upon it. The high price point and technical wizardry of the Tesla Model S turned that car into a de facto luxury sedan favorite. And Tesla's Elon Musk followed up with the Model X and Model Y crossover SUVs.
If you're a luxury crossover customer hankering to try an electric vehicle, the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace and 2022 Tesla Model Y should logically be in your consideration set. In a market that still is very young, both models have lengthy track records. Here is a comparison of the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace versus the 2022 Tesla Model Y.
Beginning with the 2022 model year, Jaguar made the I-Pace a one-trim model. The I-Pace is only available as an up-level HSE, a trim that includes a great deal of content. Pricing for the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace HSE is $72,575, including the $1,275 destination charge. Standard upscale equipment includes 16-way heated and cooled leather-upholstered front seats, a power-operated tailgate, LED headlights with automatic high-beam assistance, and 20-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels. Additional options like upgraded wheels and more plush interior trim can add several thousand dollars to the eventual purchase price.
Jaguar offers I-Pace owners five years of complimentary connected services. The Jaguar InControl Remote & Protect combines basic infotainment features with driver assistance. Additional features that include a stolen-vehicle locator are optionally available at additional cost.
Compared to the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace, the base 2022 Tesla Model Y has a lower suggested retail price. (At this writing, pricing for the 2023 model-year Tesla Model Y is not available.) The lower-priced of the two Model Y trims is the Long Range. It has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $67,190, including the $1,200 destination fee. The pricier Performance trim has a suggested retail price of $71,190.
Both the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace and 2022 Tesla Model Y offer standard all-wheel drive (AWD). While the I-Pace can accommodate five passengers, the Model Y offers an optional third row of seats, enabling it to transport seven. Adults will find the third row very confining, but it will accommodate children.
The Tesla Model Y revels in its connectivity. The manufacturer offers standard connectivity for eight years, including leading-edge features such as digital key and remote access that turn smartphones into key fobs. Also included are automatic collision notification and remote tracking.
Recent federal legislation has made the availability of tax credits and other incentives cloudy for both the Tesla Model Y and the Jaguar I-Pace. Prior to the recent legislation, Tesla, having sold 200,000 EVs in the United States, did not qualify for the $7,500 federal income tax credit. Jaguar, having sold far fewer EVs in the U.S., did. But now, indications are that Tesla vehicles built in the United States will qualify for a tax incentive while the Jaguar I-Pace, manufactured overseas, will not.
In terms of resale value and value retention, the Tesla Model Y is the highest-ranked model in the Premium Electric segment of the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards.
The Tesla Model Y holds a clear advantage over the Jaguar I-Pace when viewing initial cost and value retention. On the other hand, those seeking traditional luxury-vehicle amenities will find more of them in the I-Pace.
The Jaguar I-Pace is not among the three highest-ranked models in the J.D. Power 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership. In that study, the Jaguar brand ranks below the industry average. The Jaguar I-Pace also failed to rank among the top three models in its segment in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). The Jaguar I-Pace comes with the following standard warranty coverage:
The Tesla Model Y is too recent a model for inclusion in the 2022 VDS. J.D. Power did evaluate the Model Y in the 2022 IQS. Still, it is ineligible for awards because Tesla Motors does not allow J.D. Power access to owner information in the 15 states that require the automaker's permission to be given. The Tesla Model Y ranks second among Premium BEVs in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study, which examines satisfaction among EV owners. The 2022 Tesla Model Y comes with the following warranty coverage:
From a mechanical point of view, the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace is a uni-spec model utilizing much the same components it has used since its U.S. introduction as a 2019 model. All 2023 Jaguar I-Paces have an electric motor at each axle offering AWD. Both electric motors deliver 197 horsepower and 256 pound-feet of peak torque, so the combined output is 394 hp and 512 pound-feet. Like most EVs, the I-Pace uses a single-speed transmission.
A 90-kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides power for the electric motors. Jaguar says the usable battery capacity is 84.7 kWh (94.1 percent of total capacity). The liquid-cooled battery array weighs 1,329 pounds. The battery voltage is 388, and it uses nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry.
On a full charge, the Jaguar I-Pace offers an EPA-certified 234 miles of total range. The EPA-estimated energy consumption is 44 kWh/100 miles. The EPA fuel-economy ratings are 80 MPGe city/72 MPGe highway/76 MPGe combined. Starting with the 2022 model year, Jaguar improved the I-Pace's charging times by substituting an 11-kW AC onboard charger for the previous slower charger.
Jaguar says the I-Pace can replenish up to 63 miles of range in 15 minutes by connecting to a 100-kW DC fast charger. According to Jaguar, going from a zero-percent to an 80-percent charge with a DC fast-charger takes about 40 minutes. Using a 240-volt home charger to accomplish the same task will take up to 10 hours. Owners can control battery management and charging remotely using a smartphone equipped with the Jaguar app. The Pivi Pro infotainment and navigation system also points out available charging stations and estimated charging times.
In terms of overall performance, the Jaguar I-Pace feels more agile and quick than its 4,784-pound curb weight would suggest. Its manufacturer says it will accelerate from a standing stop to 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds. Jaguar claims the I-Pace's electronically limited top speed is 124 mph.
As with the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace, all 2022 Tesla Model Y EVs have a dual-motor AWD system. But unlike the I-Pace, the Model Y uses a less powerful motor on the front axles, while a more powerful electric motor drives the rear wheels. In the Long Range trim, a 91-kW electric motor drives the front axle, while a 200-kW electric motor drives the rear wheels. The Performance trim uses a 133-kW electric motor at the front and a 179-kW unit at the rear. Tesla is cagey with its horsepower figures, but one can reliably estimate total power for the Model Y Long Range at 384 hp.
Tesla says the Model Y Long Range can accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. As you would guess, the Performance trim is even quicker, with zero-to-60 mph in a claimed 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Tesla fits the Long Range version with an 80.5-kWh lithium-ion battery array. The EPA says it will offer 330 miles of total range and consume 27.6 kWh per 100 miles. The Performance trim is EPA-rated at 303 miles of range on a single charge. It consumes 30.5 kWh per 100 miles.
One of the keys to Tesla's success has been its exclusive-to-Tesla charging network. But the automaker has indicated a willingness to open that network to other brands in the future. Tesla's substantial investment in charging infrastructure is a significant benefit to its vehicle owners.
Jaguar equips the 2023 I-Pace with various advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). The standard array includes adaptive cruise control with steering assist and stop-and-go capability, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning. All 2023 Jaguar I-Pace models also have lane-keeping assistance, a safe-exit system, driver monitoring, and traffic-sign recognition with an adaptive speed limiter.
To improve all-around visibility, the I-Pace has a clear-sight television-monitor-style rearview mirror that uses a camera to give an unobstructed view of the road behind the vehicle. It solves for the fact that people or cargo inside the car can obscure a conventional rearview mirror. A surround-view camera system to aid parking is also available.
At this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has evaluated and rated the crashworthiness of the Jaguar I-Pace.
In contrast to the good but rather pedestrian ADAS array in the Jaguar I-Pace, the 2022 Tesla Model Y pushes the envelope. It includes typical ADAS systems like forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The curiously named Autopilot system offers not self-driving but Level 2 driving assistance leveraging adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering. An available Enhanced Autopilot system brings automatic lane-change ability and active parking assistance.
The Model Y's most advanced driver-assistance feature is arguably the Full Self-Driving package, which perhaps promises more than it delivers. It reads traffic signals and can automatically slow or stop the vehicle when circumstances warrant it. Like most current driver-assistance systems, Full Self-Driving requires the driver to monitor the car closely.
Tesla achieves the highest yet unofficial score in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Tech Experience (TXI) Study. Included in the industry calculation for the first time, Tesla has a top-ranking Innovation Index score of 681 on a 1,000-point scale. However, because Tesla Motors does not grant J.D. Power access to owner information in 15 U.S. states, Tesla models remain ineligible for awards.
The NHTSA has yet to rate the crashworthiness of the 2022 Tesla Model Y. However, the structurally similar 2021 version earned the top rating of 5 stars in all crash tests, as well as 5 stars for rollover resistance. The 2022 Tesla Model Y earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.
When Jaguar refreshed the I-Pace for the 2022 model year, its maker addressed many of the shortcomings of its infotainment system. The new Pivi Pro infotainment system on the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace offers simplified menu structures that allow drivers to access up to 90 percent of common tasks from the home screen in just a tap or two of the touchscreens. The I-Pace has two of them: a 10-inch upper screen and a 5.5-inch lower screen. The lower screen is primarily for climate controls. An 825-watt Meridian audio system is standard equipment, as is a head-up display.
The I-Pace infotainment system offers standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. You can connect two smartphones via Bluetooth simultaneously, allowing one to supply music while occupants use the other as a telephone. The system's navigation function can show available charging stations and estimated charging times at each one. You can also add charging station locations to each navigation route automatically. Pivi Pro can also display the optimum chargers to minimize downtime and the predicted charge level on arrival at each waypoint. It uses over-the-air functionality to stay up to date.
The 2022 Tesla Model Y uses a conventional single touchscreen infotainment system, but at 15 inches, the screen is larger than most. While this size seems more than ample, the touchscreen doubles as the instrument panel because the Model Y doesn't have a conventional instrument cluster.
Navigation, natural voice recognition, and wireless device charging are all part of the Model Y's standard repertoire, but if you are an Apple CarPlay or Android Auto fan, beware—the Model Y's system excludes them. But it does feature apps typically not offered in automobiles, including Netflix and YouTube. And gamers can have fun while they charge at a Tesla Supercharger.
The Jaguar I-Pace offers the more conventional infotainment experience, while the Tesla Model Y excludes some standards like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, choosing instead to provide other apps not necessarily suited to the car.
As a utility vehicle, the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace has pluses and minuses. Shorter in overall length than the Model Y, one benefit is excellent agility. In many ways, the I-Pace handles like a midsize sedan versus an SUV. But that comes home to roost in terms of overall interior space and cargo-carrying ability.
There is no doubt that the I-Pace, in its high-luxe HSE trim, is a delightful space in which to spend time. The seats are sumptuous, easily adjustable, and covered in rich leather. The overall ambiance is reminiscent of an exclusive British club. Seating for all five passengers is roomy and comfortable. The infotainment system requires a bit of learning, but it works well once understood.
In terms of cargo space, the I-Pace offers 25.3 cubic feet of room behind the second-row seats. That jumps to 51.0 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded.
The 2022 Tesla Model Y offers an entirely different ambiance than the I-Pace. Instead of a conventional luxury car, it has a light, airy, and open feeling reminiscent of a hip coffee bar. In keeping with its ethos, Tesla uses synthetic upholstery and fabrics rather than animal hides.
One key functional advantage is the optional third row of seats. While not especially comfortable, the seats will accommodate a couple of children with few problems. In standard trim, the Model Y seats five quite comfortably.
Compared to the Jaguar, the Model Y offers more cargo space. It has 30.2 cubic feet behind the second row in the 5-passenger versions and 26.6 cubic feet in 7-passenger models. With seats folded, maximum cargo space is 72.1 cubic feet in the 5-passenger model and 67.9 cubic feet in 7-seaters. The Model Y also has a front trunk, or "frunk," that will hold an additional 4.1 cubic feet of gear, which is considerably larger than the I-Pace's 0.95-cubic-foot frunk.
If you'd like to learn more about these battery-electric luxury crossover SUVs, be sure to read our expert review of the Jaguar I-Pace and research the 2022 Tesla Model Y. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please keep in mind that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on September 15, 2022, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
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