2019 Jaguar I-Pace gets milestone warranty

JAGUAR will cover its fully-electric I-Pace SUV with a five year warranty when it arrives in Australia in November this year, beating the deal it offers on all other models by two years.

The company has also confirmed the zero-emissions leaper will arrive with an eight-year, 160,000km warranty for its massive lithium ion battery. And if you needed any more convincing, its five-year warranty will be matched by a five-year service plan and roadside assistance.

Pricing starts from $119,000 for the base variant S, with the mid-range SE costing $130,200 and the range topping out at $140,800 for the flagship HSE. Act quickly enough however, and you could grab an example of the First Edition which will be available for 12 months after launch for $159,700.

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A five year warranty is almost unheard of in the luxury segment with virtually all brand rivals including Audi, BMW and Mercedes offering three years on their cars.

While the German ‘big three’ have electrics and PHEVs in their ranks, a more logical comparison is made with Tesla, which offers the all-electric Model X crossover.

Like the Jaguar, Tesla’s battery also has an eight-year warranty. However unlike the Jag, it is unlimited in kilometres and extends to the drivetrain as well. All other electricals and mechanicals are covered by an eight-year 160,000km deal backed by Tesla.

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Jaguar says the extension of the warranty is “to encourage the adoption of EVs and build greater market appeal for these vehicles.” Subsequently, there are no plans to roll the longer plan out to combustion-powered models in its ranks.

Relatively speaking, an EV’s simpler powertrain has fewer moving components and serviceable items, while regenerative braking reduces the wear and tear on conventional brake parts. It’s likely the I-Pace’s sophisticated but physically less complex construction has, contributed to the economic feasibility of an extended warranty.

The news comes as a different warranty battle plays out in more mainstream brands, where increasing numbers of manufacturers are shifting from three-year to five-year deals as standard factory warranties. The once-commonplace three-year deal is now becoming the minority.