Streamlined Lucid Air is an Electric Rocketship

This ultra-luxury sedan proves a compelling entry from a young automaker

By Gabe Shenhar

Published September 10, 2020 | Updated December 8, 2022

2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring driving — Lucid Air

The first model from Lucid Motors, a California EV startup, is the Air, a large ultra-luxury sedan, and an SUV is also in the works. The company may remind you of Tesla from a decade ago for good reason: Peter Rawlinson, who heads Lucid, was the chief engineer behind the Tesla Model S before departing for Lucid. It’s clear that a page or two from Tesla’s playbook is being used here.

Lucid’s distinction is with its in-house production of motors and accompanying electrical systems, along with the high energy density and efficiency of its batteries, which in turn yield the longest range of any EV so far at 520 miles for the top version. The system also relies on a 900-volt electric architecture that allows a maximum acceptance rate of 300 kilowatts at public DC fast-charging stations. As a comparison, Tesla claims a max rate of 250 kW on the Model Y Long Range. Lucid’s compact motors benefit packaging, thus maximizing interior space (shown below), and contribute to weight reduction.

The Air, which has been in production at a plant in Arizona since fall 2021, comes in a few different levels of power and range.

We rented a Lucid Air Grand Touring from the company for first impressions before we buy our own for a fully instrumented, comprehensive road test. After driving the Air on the streets of Manhattan and through the Connecticut countryside, there is no question that the Lucid is a striking looking car and a conversation starter.

We typically don’t address visual design aspects of a car. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That said, we found Lucid Air Grand Touring to be gorgeous in person—a streamlined, rolling sculpture. No matter how you slice it, the Air is an impressive first vehicle from Lucid. And it should be for the stratospheric $150,000 price tag. As such, it is aiming to challenge other six-figure EVs like the BMW i7, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Porsche Taycan, and the Tesla Model S.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the Lucid Air is available to you below. We will be putting our less expensive version of the Air through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including those that evaluate acceleration, braking, ride, handling, child car-seat fit, and controls. CR members will get access to the full road-test results as soon as they’re available.

If you haven’t signed up yet, click below and become a member to access this full article and all our exclusive ratings and reviews for each vehicle we buy and test. Joining also gives you full access to exclusive ratings for the other products our experts evaluate in several categories, including electronics and home appliances.

What we rented: 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring
Powertrain: 819-hp, dual electric motors; one-speed direct drive; all-wheel drive; 113-kWh battery capacity.
Base MSRP: $154,000
Options: None
Destination fee: $1,500
Total cost: $155,500

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