With 512 miles of range, the Lucid Air Grand Touring shatters EV records. But it’s much more than just the king of big batteries.
Electric cars are still in their infancy. The fact is that they’re still working up to a range, charging speed, and charging locations, that can eliminate the worries associated with range anxiety. Even the best EVs have 300 miles or so — and when you consider the fact that the average gas-powered car has a range of over 400 miles, EVs clearly still have a way to go. But there’s one EV that feels a little more mature than the rest. And that’s despite the fact that the car is the first car of a completely new car company.
The Lucid Air is a perfect example of what an electric car in 2023 should be. It has a 500-mile-plus range, offers a thoughtful balance of digital-versus-physical controls, and looks relatively futuristic and premium. And all that for only … $80,000 for the base model.
Sarcasm aside, the Lucid Air definitely feels like the first step towards longer-range, higher-quality electric cars. It isn’t perfect, but it’s getting close. I spent a week driving the car. Here are my thoughts.A sleek exterior and comfortable interior
The overall design of the Lucid Air is something that had to grow on me. After seeing pictures, and a few on the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, I admittedly wasn’t convinced that I loved the exterior of the car. Frankly, I still don’t love it. But I don’t dislike it either, and it’s hard to deny the smooth lines and low-to-the-ground look. And, the company has managed to build a nose that doesn’t look completely out of place, like the EQS. The rear of the car looks pretty good too, with a light bar that runs along the entire back.
Maybe my favorite part of the car’s design is the huge, expansive glass roof that stretches along the length of the car. On the inside, that means you have sunshades that are mounted directly to the glass but still look quite nice. The glass is interrupted in a few different areas, like along the center, but it still truly looks great both inside and out. Of course, this is not unique to the Lucid Air, but it’s still a trend that I hope to see catch on more.
The interior of the car is something that I immediately liked. The Air is spacious and comfortable, with premium materials and high-end features. Those include the likes of massagers, seat heating and cooling, and more. Really everything felt very nice, which was surprising for the first car from a new car company.
