REVIEW and VIDEO: All-Electric 2023 Lucid Air Touring

Note:  The written review has many more details than the video.

I am indeed a very lucky auto journalist.  Very few reviewers get to test drive the 2023 Lucid Air Touring, all-electric luxury sedan.

Performance

The Touring is in the midrange of the Lucid Air models.  Let’s look at the amazing stats:  0-to-60 in just 3.4 seconds, 620-horses, top speed of 200-miles per hour, range of 425 miles, and dual-motor all-wheel drive.

Exterior

I don’t recall ever reviewing a vehicle that commanded so much attention.  People are constantly taking cell phone videos and pictures and who can blame them?

The Lucid Air looks fantastic in Quantum Gray with a silver top, 20” Aero wheels, (with removable black inserts, but removing them creates drag) and a very sleek front end with LED lights.

 

 

 

As you approach the Lucid, the car’s door handles pop out and the car starts itself…there are no buttons on the key fob and no start button, something I’ve never seen before, but it’s handy.  I will say it is a little strange walking away from a running car, trusting it will turn off and lock itself.

Interior   

Then you enter the cockpit and it is amazing.  Everything is a mix of dark and light materials and heavily stitched with soft touch, rich materials all around.

There is a huge 34” driver info screen that runs about 3-quarters of the width of the car and gives you your speed, sign recognition, and a lot more info including percentage of battery used or the mileage of battery range you have left.  In a feature created by Hyundai, when you turn on either blinker, you get a camera view of the road behind you.

On the right side of the huge screen, you control audio, navigation, and Bluetooth.  Everything is easy to reach and self-explanatory.

Below that is the Pilot Panel, a tablet-think iPad of sorts-that pretty much handles everything else you need including apps, climate, and the self-parking system.

This is also where you adjust the power tilt steering wheel, the exterior mirrors, and how you open the glove box.  This is the screen which also controls the drive modes, which includes Smooth, Swift, and the insane power of Sprint, the equivalent of Launch mode. There are no knobs in this car, but you can adjust front climate and adjust radio volume without touching the screen.

One cool feature is the Pilot Panel screen will retract with the push of an arrow to reveal a hidden compartment.  Under that are cupholders, and a cell phone holder and charger.

Going to the back seat, it is cavernous and would easy seat 3 adults.  Head and leg room are fantastic, and there are power window shades and a shade for the rear glass.  Rear passengers get their own climate control and vents.

It has a large trunk, with an unusual opening, almost like a hatchback and it opens and closes with the push of a button.  It also has a power frunk (front trunk) that is actually quite roomy.  This is one EV you could travel in, there is plenty of room for luggage.

The thing that struck me the most was the glass canopy roof.  The windshield is constant and flows to the rear glass.  The sun visors are attached to the windshield, something else I’ve never seen.  Not sure how it would be in a hot Texas summer, but the canopy roof seems to be heavily tinted and gives the Lucid a very open feeling. 

Standard Equipment

Needless to say this luxury sedan has everything you could want, including a 23-speaker incredible sound system, self-driving capability, and every safety feature you can imagine.  The 3D camera is by far the best I’ve ever tested.

Charging

The 92-kilowatt battery Lucid provides is the fastest charging of all electric vehicles, and it comes with two years of free charging at Electrify America if you don’t have a Level 2 charger at your home.  As usual, the charging cable that plugs into a 110-volt outlet is quite slow and fairly useless.

Verdict

The Lucid Air Touring is an incredible driving machine, smooth and quiet with amazing acceleration and superb, balanced, handling.

It is rated at the equivalent of 121 miles per gallon combined city and highway.  MSRP as equipped is $128,550 and I can’t fault that price by today’s standards.

I said in a radio interview last week that it was a privilege to drive this car, and I really mean that.

1. What I liked most:  The appearance inside & out, range and power.
   
2. What I would change:   Not a single thing.
3. MSRP:  Base price:  $107,400. As equipped $128,550 with transportation.
4. Fuel Economy:  Rated at 121 MPGe city/120 MPGe highway/121 MPGe combined.   
5. Odometer reading when tested:   1,200 miles.
6. Weight:  5,236 pounds.
7. Spare Tire: N/A
8. Length-Width-Height: 195.9” long76.2” wide/55.4” high.
9. Fuel Tank Capacity: N/A.  Electric charging port on driver's side.
10. Official Color:  Quantum Gray Metallic.
11. Towing Capacity: N/A.
12. 2023 Lucid Air Touring in a few words:    THE most incredible EV I have ever reviewed with incredible range and super-fast charging.  This is the first electric I would consider purchasing.
13. Warranty:   4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, with roadside assistance, 8-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty including the high voltage battery. 
14. Final Assembly Location:  Casa Grande, AZ.
15. Manufacturer's website:  Lucid Motors