Lucid Air passes the Canadian winter take a look at with flying colours

I had the chance to drive the Lucid Air Touring for somewhat greater than every week in the course of the holidays, and I can say with confidence that the California-designed and engineered electrical luxurious sedan passes the Canadian winter take a look at with flying colours.

I’m impressed. Let’s dive into it.

I had by no means had the prospect to drive a Lucid earlier than. Our personal Scooter Doll is our foremost reporter on the Lucid beat, and he’s a giant fan of the Air, to say the least. His foremost criticism has been the software program, which has been bettering as of late, so I used to be excited to present it a shot with a extra full model of the automobile.

Since launching in Quebec, they’d tried to get me in a automobile, however we couldn’t make it occur. Ultimately, they instructed me they’d one for me on December twenty third.

Although it was the vacations, I couldn’t go on the chance and went to select the smooth pink Air Touring for my vacation travels.

I’ve been following the corporate for a very long time. From their transition as Atieva, an electrical powertrain and power storage firm, to Lucid, an entire electrical automobile maker. Attending to drive one felt like a very long time coming.

Lucid Air Touring

Now, I say it passes the Canadian winter take a look at, and if you’re from the area, you would possibly say: “What winter?” Winters are certainly turning into milder round right here, however I had the automobile for simply over every week, and the timing was good for a real winter take a look at.

A number of hours after selecting up the automobile in Montreal, I needed to drive it again house to Shawinigan in the midst of a good snowstorm. Two hours within the snow and the left lane on the 40 East wasn’t even plowed.

Typically talking, a brand new automobile I’m not aware of plus a snowstorm equals being further cautious, and I used to be clearly cautious, however the Lucid Air’s spectacular driving dynamics rapidly gave me an unbelievable quantity of confidence.

At 5,200 lbs, it’s a heavy automobile, however it’s an extremely well-balanced 5,200 lbs.

The Air Touring is simply the third strongest model of Lucid’s flagship sedan, however I by no means felt like I wanted extra energy, and that is smart, contemplating it’s pushing 620 hp and might speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

I used to be capable of go autos simply, even within the snow, and at all times felt in full management of the automobile. It’s a enjoyable, snug drive.

Talking of consolation, the Lucid Air is a real luxurious sedan with all of the consolation options you’ll anticipate and extra. The extent of customization can be spectacular for the seats. You possibly can alter them for hours to get them good.

The backseat can be spectacular. Lucid did a fantastic job optimizing the inside. The backseat seems like a limousine:

It’s a fantastic automobile for drivers, for passengers, however the trunk house is the place some individuals criticize the Lucid Air.

I perceive why, however I might argue that trunk house isn’t an actual drawback. The trunk opening is one. This can be very small and brief:

Nonetheless, by way of quantity, it’s greater than respectable. You simply want to have the ability to get issues in. Because of Lucid’s extraordinarily compact motors, there are very deep hidden compartments on the backside of the trunk and frunk.

It leaves loads of room for baggage, however once more, it wants to suit the opening first.

For our travels, it was simply my girlfriend, our cat, and I, however I might see this automobile simply becoming 4 individuals and baggage for every week.

That’s a great factor as a result of it is a nice highway journey automobile, due to its unbelievable effectivity.

The Lucid Air Touring is rated at an EPA vary of 406 miles (653 km), however like another EVs or gas-powered autos, your mileage could differ, and the chilly impacts the mileage badly.

As I mentioned, our winters have gotten milder, however I had the proper Canadian winter take a look at situation on Christmas day. We drove from Shawinigan to Quebec Metropolis, drove across the metropolis, parked for hours within the chilly with out charging, after which went again to Shawinigan on a single cost.

General, it was simply over 400 km (250 miles) and I arrived house with 27 km:

Which may not appear too spectacular for a 400-mile automobile, however the temperature on the drive ranged from -18 to -8°C (-1 to 18°F). You probably have drivem EVs in these temperatures, you already know that that is spectacular.

What’s most spectacular is that I didn’t must adapt my driving due to the spectacular vary and effectivity.

After I drive lengthy distances in an electrical automobile within the chilly, I might usually cut back my pace as a way to lengthen the vary, however on this case, I bought a fairly good thought of the effectivity on the drive to Quebec Metropolis, so I used to be assured on my means again that I might make it with out stopping to cost.

It enabled me to drive on the freeway at my standard 119 km/h on cruise management and make it with out breaking a sweat.

Electrek’s Take

That’s a game-changer. There’s no compromise. At Electrek, we like to emphasise that vary isn’t all the pieces with EVs. Non-EV drivers are likely to assume that you simply want greater than 400 miles to have a viable EV. That’s unsuitable until you drive 400 miles or extra in a single go usually, which isn’t how most individuals use vehicles.

A 200-mile EV with fast-charging is a good resolution for most individuals as you get up with a full cost day by day and for the few occasions a 12 months while you drive lengthy distances, you’ll be able to cease for a fast 20-40-minute cost, which lets you drive 300-400 miles in a single day simply.

Nonetheless, issues change in excessive chilly. When you begin hitting temperatures under -15°C (5°F), the vary begins to be affected badly, and that’s when an extended vary turns into tremendous helpful.

Actually, I’ve been driving EVs within the Canadian chilly for nearly a decade, and it hasn’t been a significant challenge for me. If you happen to adapt your driving, you may be OK, and over that decade, I’ve additionally seen vary prediction and effectivity bettering, which assist with this challenge.

However now, when you’ve got the cash, you even have one other resolution: the Lucid Air. It’s actually a fantastic, no compromise automobile, so long as you may have the cash for the reason that Lucid Air Touring at $78,900 USD ($109,300. CAD).

If you happen to do, it could be exhausting to discover a draw back in comparison with different equally priced autos. As beforehand talked about, the software program has been a difficulty with early variations of the Air.

I’ve solely ever skilled the most recent model of Lucid’s software program and regardless of some points, I discovered it greater than respectable, particularly in comparison with legacy automakers.

It’s outfitted with Apple Carplay for many who prefer it, however the native navigation labored nice for me, and it additionally has a local Spotify app. Personally, I don’t want way more than that. It’s not all good although. On two events, I had challenge connecting my telephone to the automobile and I needed to disconnect and reconnect it a number of occasions for it to work.

There’s additionally loads of room for UI optimization. I want to see one thing like media controls for the passenger on the backside of the middle show or the suitable of the highest show.