Lucid Air passes the Canadian winter check with flying colours

I had the chance to drive the Lucid Air Touring for somewhat greater than every week through 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 prospect to drive a Lucid earlier than. Our personal Scooter Doll is our primary reporter on the Lucid beat, and he’s a giant fan of the Air, to say the least. His primary grievance has been the software program, which has been enhancing as of late, so I used to be excited to present 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. Ultimately, they advised me that they had one for me on December twenty third.

Regardless that it was the vacations, I couldn’t cross on the chance and went to select the smooth crimson 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 in case you are from the area, you would possibly say: “What winter?” Winters are certainly turning into milder round right here, however I had the automotive for simply over every week, and the timing was good for a real winter check.

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

Usually talking, a brand new automotive I’m not accustomed to 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 may speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

I used to be in a position to cross automobiles simply, even within the snow, and all the time 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’d anticipate and extra. The extent of customization can also be spectacular for the seats. You could possibly regulate them for hours to get them good.

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

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

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

Nevertheless, 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 may see this automotive simply becoming 4 folks and baggage for every week.

That’s a very good factor as a result of this can be a nice street journey automotive, due to its unbelievable effectivity.

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

As I mentioned, our winters have gotten milder, however I had the right 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.

Total, it was simply over 400 km (250 miles) and I arrived house 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). If in case you have drivem EVs in these temperatures, you realize that that is spectacular.

What’s most spectacular is that I didn’t need to 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 velocity with a purpose to lengthen the vary, however on this case, I acquired a reasonably good concept of the effectivity on the drive to Quebec Metropolis, so I used to be assured on my method again that I may make it with out stopping to cost.

It enabled me to drive on the freeway at my regular 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 just isn’t all the pieces with EVs. Non-EV drivers are inclined to suppose that you just want greater than 400 miles to have a viable EV. That’s unsuitable until you drive 400 miles or extra in a single go typically, which isn’t how most individuals use vehicles.

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

Nevertheless, issues change in excessive chilly. When you begin hitting temperatures beneath -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 concern for me. Should you adapt your driving, you may be OK, and over that decade, I’ve additionally seen vary prediction and effectivity enhancing, which assist with this concern.

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

Should you do, it might be onerous to discover a draw back in comparison with different equally priced automobiles. As beforehand talked about, the software program has been a problem 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 geared up 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 far more than that. It’s not all good although. On two events, I had concern 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 best of the highest show.