Lucid Air review

The single motor starter model Pure comes in at $69,900 which gets you rear-wheel drive, 19in wheels, 430hp to play with, and 420 miles of range. You’ll also get the 34in glass display, wireless Apple CarPlay, and 12-way power seats. Options include any color that isn’t black or white, the real-deal leather pack, 20-way massage seats and DreamDrive Pro.

Touring starts at $78,900 and is more reflective of the rest of the line-up: dual-motors, all-wheel drive and a number of the same options available on the Pure. The Touring brings home 620hp and 406 miles of range on the same battery. The receding roof is optional (and not available at all on the base Pure). Let’s hope that changes in time.

For the Grand Touring, it’s about the same, just more… grand. 819hp, an extended battery providing 512 miles of range, and a grand asking price of $110,900.

Sapphire! $249,000! No options because dammit you paid that much money, everything better be included. And thankfully, that is the case. 1,234hp and 427 miles of range so long as you’re not breaking every road law imaginable trying to use all of it.

Which one do I want?

You want the Sapphire, but if we’re being honest the Grand Touring really has everything you’d need, including ample horsepower. That and the range on offer will do even the most discerning driver just fine.

While it doesn’t have the Sapphire’s track-ready hardware, it also doesn’t need it, so the FOMO is easily banished. To go further, the Pure isn’t out of the running, either, with its more realistic price tag and real-wheel drive playfulness.

Alternatives?

The Tesla Model S is always on the table, but among other reasons, we prefer the Lucid for its ride quality and performance. The closest real competitor would be the Mercedes-Benz EQS, as it meets the same luxury sedan brief, with AMG models adding performance. The big difference here, though, is Lucid’s Air makes you a part of the drive, whereas the Merc insulates you from it.

Lastly, the boat-like BMW i7 has range, power and gadgets, though it eschews sportiness for the sake of luxury.