Lucid Air passes the Canadian winter check with flying colours

I had the chance to drive the Lucid Air Touring for just a little 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 check with flying colours.

I’m impressed. Let’s dive into it.

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

Since launching in Quebec, that they had tried to get me in a automotive, however we couldn’t make it occur. Finally, they advised me that they had one for me on December twenty third.

Despite the fact that it was the vacations, I couldn’t go on the chance and went to choose the smooth purple 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 check, and if you’re from the area, you would possibly say: “What winter?” Winters are certainly changing into milder round right here, however I had the automotive for simply over every week, and the timing was excellent for a real winter check.

Just a few hours after selecting up the automotive in Montreal, I needed to drive it again residence to Shawinigan in the course 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 automotive I’m not conversant in 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 unimaginable 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 sensible, contemplating it’s pushing 620 hp and may speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

I used to be capable of go automobiles simply, even within the snow, and all the time felt in full management of the automobile. It’s a enjoyable, comfy 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 also be spectacular for the seats. You may alter them for hours to get them excellent.

The backseat can also be spectacular. Lucid did an excellent job optimizing the inside. The backseat appears like a limousine:

It’s an excellent automotive for drivers, for passengers, however the trunk area is the place some folks criticize the Lucid Air.

I perceive why, however I’d argue that trunk area shouldn’t be an actual downside. The trunk opening is one. This can be very small and brief:

Nevertheless, when it comes to quantity, it’s greater than respectable. You simply want to have the ability to get issues in. Due to 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 automotive simply becoming 4 folks and baggage for every week.

That’s an excellent factor as a result of this can be a nice highway journey automotive, because of its unimaginable effectivity.

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

As I mentioned, our winters have gotten milder, however I had the proper Canadian winter check 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 residence with 27 km:

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

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

Once I drive lengthy distances in an electrical automobile within the chilly, I’d usually cut back my pace with the intention to lengthen the vary, however on this case, I acquired a reasonably good thought of the effectivity on the drive to Quebec Metropolis, so I used to be assured on my approach again that I might make it with out stopping to cost.

It enabled me to drive on the freeway at my traditional 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 shouldn’t be all the things with EVs. Non-EV drivers are likely to suppose that you just want greater than 400 miles to have a viable EV. That’s flawed except you drive 400 miles or extra in a single go usually, which isn’t how most individuals use automobiles.

A 200-mile EV with fast-charging is a superb resolution for most individuals as you get up with a full cost day by day and for the few occasions a yr whenever 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.

Nevertheless, 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 subject for me. Should you adapt your driving, you’ll be OK, and over that decade, I’ve additionally seen vary prediction and effectivity enhancing, which assist with this subject.

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

Should you do, it will be onerous to discover a draw back in comparison with different equally priced automobiles. As beforehand talked about, the software program has been a difficulty with early variations of the Air.

I’ve solely ever skilled the newest 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 individuals 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 excellent although. On two events, I had subject connecting my cellphone to the automotive 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 wish to see one thing like media controls for the passenger on the backside of the middle show or the fitting of the highest show.