2023 Lucid Air Pure Review: Well Beyond Entry-Level

The Air is a bit quirky. But it’s also seriously impressive, even in base form.

Published September 6, 2023

Updated September 8, 2023

Every automaker — even Toyota, now — is trying to beat Tesla. Lucid Motors is the company challenging them most directly. Their quite airy-sounding Air sedan is a direct challenger to the Model S. And Lucid’s aim is not just matching Tesla where it counts — powertrain, battery tech and aerodynamics — but burying Elon Musk’s brand. The Air tops out at more than 1,000 horsepower and 516 miles of EV range — the latter more than a hundred over the Model S.

I’ve been looking forward to driving the Lucid Air for a while. I finally got behind the wheel of an Air Pure AWD edition, the current base model (to the extent such a thing exists at Lucid). The price point, currently, is only $82,400. It doesn’t quite hit the elaborate heights of performance its cohorts do, what with a “mere” 480 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. And it only packs a mere 410 miles of range, still more than the Model S.

The 2023 Lucid Air Pure: What We Think

The Lucid Air’s driving technology impresses. Even in this base spec, the Pure AWD is smooth and quick, and it offers enough range to eliminate range consciousness much less range anxiety. But this is Lucid’s first attempt at building a car. The company does not have the accrued user experience knowledge of an established manufacturer like Mercedes-Benz, and it shows in the design flaws and usability quirks.

If I were buying an Air, I would level up to the second-tier Air Touring Model. You don’t need the extra 200 horsepower. But the Air Touring allows you to choose the panoramic glass roof, which should make the cabin feel a bit less confined.

The Lucid Air Pure drives like a luxury sedan should

The base Air Pure has less than half the oomph of the Air Grand Touring model. Nonetheless, it accelerates ferociously. Lucid lists its 0 to 60 mph time as 3.8 seconds (Car and Driver clocked it at 3.5). However, you do have to click through a menu and confirm to the car that you are a “skilled, advanced” driver to tap all of that power in “Sprint Mode.”

Even in normal driving when you aren’t on it, the Air can still feel rocket-like. I left my dad in his 2016 Mercedes E-Class normally accelerating from a stop light in the dust. I even had a couple of close calls with accidents as I came up on other drivers far more quickly than they were anticipating.

I would not describe the Air is especially sporty. It’s hard to do that at 5,200 pounds. But with its direct steering, linear acceleration and smooth absorption of bumps, it has a commanding luxury sedan vibe.

I did wish the regenerative braking had more gradation. The two options were imperceptible and to-the-max — the latter wasn’t a hit when I had passengers. The Air also had maybe the most aggressive lane-keeping assist I’ve experienced. It permitted no reaction time when one lane split into two. And at one point it threw me so far across the lane it reactivated on the other side.

The Air Pure has a ton of range, and range is good

So, the Lucid Air Pure only offers 410 miles of range, which is still an abundance. My test vehicle showed up showing 384 miles — more than I’ve ever had with an electric car. And having that extra range makes a lot of difference.

I don’t have a Level 2 charger to top up overnight. But I still shuttled my kids to the pool, camps and birthday parties all week without a second thought. I still had enough range left to embark on a 110-mile test drive. While I could have made it, I did give the Air a 10-minute squirt on a fast charger while I stopped to call into a meeting. That added about 125 miles of range and canceled out my lengthy drive.

But the Air has several annoying usability quirks

The Air is Lucid’s first car, and it has several usability quirks that betray that fact. There’s no ignition switch; you park, get out and the car (hopefully) locks. Nothing takes the shine out of rolling up to a valet in your fancy car like having to explain to the attendant how the door shuts. And speaking of door-shutting, both my wife and I closed the rear door on our legs while getting our kids out because it was longer than you’d anticipate.

You control virtually everything through the touchscreen — to the point of absurdity. Having the drive mode and regenerative braking settings in there is one level of annoyance. But even opening the glove box requires a touchscreen menu. And you will forget to open the motorized charging door before exiting the vehicle and have to climb your way back in.

And the Air Pure does not offer the panoramic glass roof

The Air Pure does not offer the panoramic glass roof you can buy on other trim levels. And without it, the Air very much seems like a car that was designed to have a glass roof. It feels very low to the ground and enclosed without one, almost like you’re peering out from beneath a turtle shell. Visibility isn’t great out of the front with chunky A-pillars or the rear. My colleague Will Sabel Courtney notes that things can get toasty with the glass roof in warm weather … but I would probably still take my chances.

Lucid Air Pure: Alternatives

As noted, the closest competitor for the Lucid Air is the Tesla Model S. The Pure AWD trim starts at about the same price and range as a non-plaid Model S (as of this writing). Though DreamDrive Pro, when it becomes available, will be an additional $9,000, $12,000 less than Tesla’s full suite of driving aids (which can’t drive your car yet). The Air Pure also delivers better performance and range than the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ sedan, while starting more than $20,000 cheaper.

2023 Lucid Air Pure AWD

Powertrain: Dual-motor electric
Horsepower: 480
Torque: 443 lb-ft
EV Range: 410 miles
Seats: 5

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