2023 Lucid Air  Overview

A number of startups have launched EVs in an attempt to disrupt the
transportation market, but the 2023 Lucid Air luxury sedan is one of the few
that has made a significant impact so far. Its large battery and compact
motors—both designed in-house—allow it to deliver unbeatable range and
excellent performance. The Grand Touring Performance model can sprint to 60 mph
in just 2.6 seconds or travel up to 516 miles when driven from rest—its
estimated driving range, according to the EPA. There are enough electrons left
over to go from Boston to Baltimore. More importantly, it has a longer range
than any other EV currently on offer.

 The Air’s stylish exterior and spacious
cabin add to its desirability, but its price tag had us expecting to find
plusher contents inside. Nearly all of the car’s controls are accessed via one
of several display screens that dot the cabin, a reminder of 2023 Lucid Air  Silicon Valley roots, and the software
interface in the early cars is still in the works. Otherwise, the luxury
four-door’s performance, driving range, and general affordability make it a
viable competitor to high-dollar EVs such as the Porsche Tycoon and
Mercedes-Benz EQS, as well as other high-impact EV disruptors, the Tesla
Model S.

What is new in the 2023 Lucid Air?

The 2023 Lucid Air has added a stealth-look package to the Air’s
option sheet for 2023. A $6000 package swaps out the Air’s exterior bright work
for a dark gray alternative and replaces the car’s 20- or 21-inch high-polished
wheels with black ones. The Black Outlook is available on all but the base Puretrim.
There is also a new Sapphire Performance model with a more powerful three-motor
drivetrain, but it won’t debut until the 2024 model year.

 

Pricing and Which to
Buy

Model	Price
Pure	$88,900
Touring	$96,500
Grand Touring	$127,100
Grand Touring Performance	$163,000

 

We’ll move on to the Turing model. It offers a lot to like and is
priced considerably less than the Grand Touring trim. The Touring offers
20-inch wheels, leather upholstery, in-dash navigation, and an approximate
driving range of 425 miles per charge. All Lucid models come standard with
three years of free charging via the Electrify America charging network. The
best Dream Edition models are officially sold out, but if you want to maximize
your luxury — and your out-of-pocket costs — the Grand Touring trim offers the
bulk of the dream.

EV motor, power, and
performance

The entry-level Air Pure and Touring models have dual electric
motors that provide all-wheel drive and produce 620 horses. Grand Touring makes
1050. We sampled the Grand Touring and Grand Touring Performance trims, and the
former delivered a brisk 3.0-second 60 mph time, easily repeated using the
Performance’s Launch mode. The lower-priced and underpowered 2023 Lucid Air  model ran from 0 to 60 mph in a similar 3.0
seconds. Pak followed in 3.5 seconds.

The power deficit for the Pure and
Touring models is more noticeable on the way to 130 mph, which the Touring
managed to dispatch in 12.0 seconds compared to the Grand Touring which did it
in 10.3. Despite riding on conventional steel coil springs rather than air
springs, the sedan felt quiet and smooth in the aptly named Smooth Drive mode.
Our main complaint was our example’s 21-inch wheels on low-profile performance
tires, which produced noticeable road noise over a section of rough pavement.

 

Fuel Economy and
Real-World MPGe

The most efficient 2023 Lucid Air  is rated at 131 MPGe combined and Performance
versions are rated at 111 MPGe combined. During our test drive of the Grand
Touring model, however, we recorded just 82 MPGe; The Touring did better,
resulting in 107 MPGe and the Pure gave us 101 MPGe. For more information on
air efficiency, visit EPA’s website.

 

Interior, Comfort, and
Cargo

Make no mistake, the 2023 Lucid Air  is meant to be a luxury car, and its elegant
interior is packed with rich-looking materials and cutting-edge technology.
Lucid is particularly proud of the sedan’s spacious passenger space, which is
highlighted by a large back seat. While the standard rear seat is said to be
comfortable for up to three adults, there is also an optional Executive Rear
Seating option that adds a recline function for ultimate comfort. The Air’s glass
roof makes it feel even more airy and helps with visibility.

 The sedan’s front
center console appears to offer generous storage space behind the retractable
lower touchscreen and within the large center console bin, which has cup
holders as well as slots for keeping smartphones. We’re also told that its
front trunk — or trunk — will have 10 cubic feet of volume.

 

Range, charging, and
battery life

According to EPA estimates. The Air has the longest range of any
electric vehicle on the market. Air K Grand Touring models have a 112.0-kWh
battery pack. The base Pure has an estimated driving range of 410 miles, while
the mid-range Touring is estimated at 425 miles per charge. On our 75 mph fuel
economy route, the Grand Touring drove 410 miles, making it the longest-range
EV we’ve tested. 

The Touring we tested went just 280 miles before recharging
and the Pure went 310 miles before the battery died. Plugged into a fast charger,
the sedan is said to be able to cover 300 miles in 21 minutes. There is no
limit to how often owners can charge their cars, as long as it is used for
personal and not commercial purposes.