2024 Lucid Air

Name: 2024 Lucid Air Review
Brand: Lucid

Release Date: Fall 2023

Estimated Price: Starting around $90,000

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2023
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Lucid Air for Sale

2022

2024 Lucid Air Review

byMichael Cantu^{Correspondent
Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at Edmunds and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.}

Pros

Excellent real-world range
Supercar-like acceleration
Comfortable and smooth in day-to-day driving
Spacious cabin with ample storage

Cons

Braking and handling aren't up to class standards
Interior quality and fit and finish might not meet expectations
In-car tech can be glitchy at times

What's new

High-performance Sapphire model
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging is now available
Grand Touring Performance model is discontinued
Part of the first Air generation introduced for 2022

Overview

The Air is an electric luxury sedan from Lucid, an EV startup company. It's about the size of a Tesla Model S and is the only vehicle Lucid sells until the new Gravity SUV enters production at the end of 2024. Many of the Air's rivals from legacy manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz have superior tech, better build quality and offer more luxury. But the Lucid makes up for that by providing some of the longest driving ranges in the industry and impressive acceleration, and it's one of the quickest-charging EVs you can buy. The new high-performance Sapphire model debuts for 2024.

Edmunds spotlight: The highly capable Sapphire

The Lucid Air Sapphire is unlike any car on the road. Its 1,234 horsepower makes it one of the most powerful production cars in the world, and its touted 1.9-second 0-to-60 mph time is only matched by rare hypercars. But the electric supersedan isn't just a drag strip brute; its handling prowess gives it the ability to keep up with some of the best sports cars on a track. The Sapphire, however, is also a family sedan that provides a luxurious ride around town and has a lengthy estimated range of 427 miles. Buying one will set you back $250K, but driving one of the quickest cars in the world is worth it to some. For EV buyers seeking value over performance, a base Lucid Air starts around $70,000.

Competitors to consider

If you're considering a Lucid Air, it's worth checking out the Tesla Model S, which is more affordable and gives you access to Tesla's extensive charging network. The performance-oriented Porsche Taycan should also be on your list, especially the 2025 model, which has been significantly improved. For a more luxurious driving experience, consider the Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan and BMW i5. The Mercedes EQS sedan and BMW i7 are larger, more expensive rivals. Check out our test team's thorough review in the Edmunds Expert Rating below to help you decide if the Air is right for you.

What’s it like to live with?

We bought a 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring for long-term testing and plan to put at least 20,000 miles on it. Check out our Lucid Air long-term road test to see what we think of the electric sedan's comfort, technology, performance and more. It also includes the Air's real-world range test results. Our Air has also been featured in several videos on our YouTube channel.

Am I Ready for an EV?

EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work ^{This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.}
If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station ^{With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.}
Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more ^{If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.}

Learn more about EV charging

Which Air does Edmunds recommend?

Unless you want sports car-like acceleration or need all-wheel drive, the entry-level Pure model provides the power, range and features that most electric luxury sedan shoppers are looking for. The money you save going for the entry-level model can be put toward optional features like the upgraded 21-speaker audio system, additional advanced driver aids, or the Comfort and Convenience package. For all-wheel drive, you need to upgrade to a higher trim level.

Lucid Air models

The 2024 Lucid Air is an electric luxury sedan available in four trim levels: Pure, Touring, Grand Touring and the high-performance Sapphire. Below is our rundown of what you get from each version, including power and standard features.

Pure
The entry-level Pure uses a single motor that drives the rear wheels and is powered by an 88-kWh battery pack. The combo has a total output of 430 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Pure has an EPA-estimated range of up to 410 miles on a full charge. Other feature highlights include:

19-inch wheels
Adaptive suspension dampers (enhance ride comfort and handling)
DC fast-charging capability of more than 200 kW (Level 3 charging)
Onboard AC charger with up to 19.2-kW capability (Level 2 charging)
Heated front seats
Synthetic leather upholstery
34-inch upper display
Lower retractable touchscreen display
Navigation system
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Alexa voice assistant
Nine-speaker audio system
Lucid Air smartphone app (provides vehicle information and remote functionality)
Hardware that supports future over-the-air (OTA) software updates

These advanced driver aids are part of the DreamDrive system that comes standard on all models:

Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front and can also react to traffic signs and set speed)
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Rear automatic braking (applies the brakes automatically to avoid an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
Road sign assistance (detects certain road signs and displays them on the instrument panel)
Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)

Touring
The Touring model uses a slightly larger 92-kWh battery pack and adds another motor:

620 hp, 885 lb-ft
EPA-estimated range of up to 411 miles
Maximum DC fast-charging capability of 250 kW (Level 3 charging)
Dual-motor all-wheel drive

Grand Touring
The Grand Touring trim includes more powerful motors and a larger 112-kWh battery pack that delivers a longer driving range. Additional features include:

819 h p
20-inch wheels
EPA-estimated range of up to 516 miles
Maximum DC fast-charging capability of 300 kW (Level 3 charging)
Comfort and Convenience package (see features below)

Sapphire
The high-performance Sapphire tops the Air lineup by way of a 118-kWh battery pack and:

An additional electric motor to raise output to more than 1,234 hp and 1,430 lb-ft
Claimed 0-60 mph acceleration time of 1.9 seconds
20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels with high-performance summer tires
EPA-estimated range of 427 miles
Akebono carbon-ceramic brakes
Bilstein adaptive sport-tuned suspension
Aluminum roof (for reduced weight and lower center of gravity)
Upgraded traction control system
Track drive mode (includes Dragstrip, Hot Lap and Endurance sub-drive modes)
Sport seats with heating, cooling and massage functionality
Leather and synthetic suede upholstery with blue stitching
Synthetic suede-wrapped steering wheel
21-speaker audio system
DreamDrive Pro (see features below)

The Air offers two upgraded DreamDrive systems that add:

DreamDrive Premium

Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Air and its surroundings in tight parking situations)
Blind-spot camera (displays an image of the vehicle's blind spot in the instrument panel when you activate a turn signal)

DreamDrive Pro (standard on Sapphire)

DreamDrive Premium features
Highway Assist (combines the adaptive cruise control and lane centering systems when driving on highways)
Lane centering system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Hardware to support future semi-automated driving features

The Comfort and Convenience package is optional on the Pure and Touring models and is standard on the Grand Touring and Sapphire. It includes:

Power front trunk
Heated windshield wipers
Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut)
Heated rear seats
Four-zone climate control
Heated steering wheel
Power rear and rear side window sunshades

The Air also offers these stand-alone options:

20-inch and 21-inch wheels
Panoramic glass roof
Pure Stealth package (dark exterior trim and wheels)
Two-tone interior with leather upholstery
Ventilated front seats with massaging functionality (standard on Sapphire)
21-speaker audio system (standard on Sapphire)

2024 Lucid Air videos

U-DRAG RACE: Acura NSX Type S vs. Lucid Air Grand Touring | Quarter Mile, Handling & More!

NOTE: This video is about the 2022 Lucid Air, but since the 2024 Lucid Air is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.

Welcome back to Edmunds U-Drags, our series of down-and-back drag races that incorporate a standing quarter mile, handling, and a rolling start all in one race! In this episode, our all-electric Lucid Air Grand Touring squares up against the hybrid Acura NSX Type S. Will the Lucid’s…

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2024 Lucid Air First Impressions

byEdmunds

•3/30/2023

What is the Air?

The Air is the first vehicle from EV newcomer Lucid Motors. It's a luxury super sedan similar to the Tesla Model S — an apt comparison since Lucid Motors CEO Peter Rawlinson was the chief engineer for the Model S way back in the day.

Like its Tesla rival, the Air puts out some eye-popping figures. It boasts more driving range than any other EV on the market, and in a straight line, it's one of the quickest cars in the world. In fact, the tri-motor Sapphire version due out later in the 2023 model year is expected to develop at least 1,200 horsepower and rocket from zero to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds. At the same time, Lucid continues to produce more affordable versions so more buyers can get in on the action. With the Air range primarily expanding to include more models, we don't anticipate major changes to the underlying vehicle for 2024.

That's somewhat of a shame, as the Air comes tantalizingly close to being one of the top picks in the luxury EV sedan class. You see, while Lucid dukes it out with Tesla for the performance crown, rival automakers wipe the floor with both in the luxury department. The Mercedes-Benz EQS and BMW i7, for instance, both offer beautiful cabins with high-quality veneers, leathers and switchgear, and the interior fit and finish is uncompromising. The Air, in contrast, feels a little downmarket. Those other vehicles also have intuitive infotainment systems, while the Air's, though improving, is a little difficult to navigate. We've also experienced a number of teething problems on the Lucid Air Grand Touring that we purchased for our long-term test fleet.

Is the Air perfect? No, but there's undoubtedly a lot to like about this super EV. And if outright speed is the only thing you're after, accelerating quicker than a Formula 1 race car in a five-seat family sedan is, ironically, quite a gas.

Edmunds says

While it doesn't always quite fully deliver on the luxury aspect, the Lucid Air brings a whole lot of heat when you mash the accelerator to the floor.

2024 Lucid Air

2024 Lucid Air Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: The highly capable Sapphire

Competitors to consider

What’s it like to live with?

Am I Ready for an EV?

Which Air does Edmunds recommend?

Lucid Air models

2024 Lucid Air videos

U-DRAG RACE: Acura NSX Type S vs. Lucid Air Grand Touring | Quarter Mile, Handling & More!

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