Pros and cons
Lucid Motors Air pros and cons — the honest buyer's verdict (2022)
4 min read·Last updated: 2022-01-01·By ev.care editorial team
TL;DR
5 pros, 4 cons. The Lucid Motors Air is best for us buyers wanting longest range + fastest acceleration in luxury sedan format — within that envelope it is one of the strongest picks in its segment.
The Lucid Motors Air is one of the more talked-about cars in its segment, and that means strong opinions on both sides. Stripping away the noise, Lucid Motors owners and ev.care technicians converge on a clean list — 5 pros worth paying for, 4 cons worth knowing about — anchored by the 830 km practical range.
Lucid Motors Air — the pros
If you are coming from a petrol car, the Lucid Motors Air hits hardest in these areas. Strength 1 — 516 miles EPA — longest in production. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 2 — 924V architecture is industry highest. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 3 — Sapphire is 1.89 s to 60 mph — beats most hypercars. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 4 — Frunk is largest in segment at 280 L. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 5 — Surreal Sound Pro is exceptional. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Anchoring all of this: a 118 kWh battery, 830 km range, and a USD 69,900 - 249,000 (US market) starting price that defines the Lucid Motors Air's value envelope.
Lucid Motors Air — the cons
The Lucid Motors Air is not flawless. Here is what holds it back. Weakness 1 — USD 69,900-249,000 pricing. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 2 — Lucid service network is sparse outside California. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 3 — Software still maturing vs Tesla. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 4 — Not sold globally. On the Lucid Motors Air specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. For a luxury electric sedan weighing 2160 kg with 270 km/h top speed, these trade-offs are within segment norms but worth pricing in.
Who the Lucid Motors Air is for
Lucid Motors pitches the Lucid Motors Air at "US buyers wanting longest range + fastest acceleration in luxury sedan format", and that framing holds up. If your driving fits that shape, the pros above land hardest and the cons fade fastest. 830 km of range is enough for most weekly profiles, and 10-80% in 22 min (300kW DC) of fast charging keep occasional long trips practical.
Practical next steps
Compare this list to the same list for two rivals. The Lucid Motors Air's shape becomes clearer when you can see what a different EV puts in the pros column instead.
Related Lucid Motors EVs
If the cons above are dealbreakers, look at tesla model s, mercedes eqs 580, porsche taycan — each makes a different set of trade-offs. The Lucid Motors Air wins more often than not in its tier, but cross-shopping protects you from buying the wrong shape.
Frequently asked questions
- Will the Lucid Motors Air hold its value?
- The Lucid Motors Air depreciates in line with the segment. The pros above are the ones that resale-buyers will also notice, so a well-maintained Lucid Motors Air with documented service history holds value about as well as any EV in this band.
- How does the Lucid Motors Air compare to its segment rivals?
- The Lucid Motors Air sits in the middle of its segment on most axes — not the cheapest, not the fastest, not the longest-range. Its win is balance. Rivals that beat it on one axis usually lose on another, so the comparison comes down to which axis you care about most.
- Should I wait for the next Lucid Motors Air refresh?
- Only if a specific con is a dealbreaker and you have reason to believe the next version fixes it. Otherwise the cost of waiting (lost EV running-cost savings, opportunity cost of an extra year on petrol) usually outweighs the upgrade.
- What's the most common Lucid Motors Air complaint?
- Look at the first item in the cons list above. That's the one owners mention first when ev.care surveys them at the 12-month mark. If you can live with it, the rest tends to fade.
For us buyers wanting longest range + fastest acceleration in luxury sedan format, the Lucid Motors Air is one of the most defensible picks in its segment. For other use profiles, the cons stack up faster than the pros — which is fine. No single EV fits every life.