CAR magazine UK tests the Lucid Aid EV against its closest rivals
A stunning US rival gives green-minded executives an intriguing new alternative to Tesla, Mercedes and BMW. Here, we test the Lucid Air against the Tesla Model S Plaid, BMW I& and Mercedes EQS.Online! Using contactless! And bitcoin! While wearing Apple Vision Pro Goggles!Lucid has the best luggage capacity front and rear, but the rear seat is uncomfortable.
The focus lately has been on the Model 3 and Model Y, both huge sellers in Europe, but Tesla has also found time to significantly overhaul the venerable Model S, now also available as the ultra-powerful, ultra-rapid Plaid. It’s much more powerful than the Air, while still being essentially what it always was: a big, comfortable, fast saloon.
With a claimed drag coefficient of 0.197, the Air Grand Touring narrowly eclipses the EQS , the Tesla and the BMW . Other USPs of the newcomer from Silicon Valley are the large 283-litre frunk, supplementing the sizeable 627-litre boot, a maximum charging power of 350kW, which promises shorter battery-juicing stops than the competition, and a very useful-sounding WLTP range of up to 524 miles.
Downsides? Even the lower of the two regen stages is quite aggressive and thus too close to the controversial one-pedal feel, which requires constant throttle adjustments to maintain a steady flow. The drive modes are not sufficiently pronounced to have an immediate effect on the dynamics, but that’s not a problem because with up to 885lb ft of torque the right hoof calls the shots and not the ECU.
While the Autopilot system remains a bone of contention there’s no denying Tesla’s software leadership and its multi-faceted advantages in the powertrain department. The constantly growing Supercharger network remains a big, fat asset. Hassle-free purchasing, competitive lease rates and strong resale values are further plus points, but the perceived quality could be better. And let’s not even mention the potentially off-putting Elon Musk effect.
Any Model S is a cool tool, and to drive the Plaid is particularly sensational. Accelerating to 62mph in a claimed 2.1sec is the sort of thing few civilians ever experience. And indeed on our test car’s 19-inch wheels and winter tyres, nor do we, but even so it’s gloriously quick, like the proverbial bat out of hell. Flooring the throttle from a standing start feels as if some physical superpower is tearing the tarmac backwards with a vengeance while at the same time sucking in the horizon.
Performance-wise, the Teutonic titans struggle to compete with their New World rivals. The stopwatch records a ho-hum 4.7sec 0-62mph time for the i7, but as soon as the hammer drops the predictive sat-nav starts altering the state of charge and recommended charge points at 30-second intervals, which is not our idea of relaxed presto highway cruising.
The BMW may not be much of a looker, but it has one big advantage over the others, and one that’s particularly important for this type of car: roomy and comfortable rear seats. Put the cars side by side and part of the explanation becomes obvious: the BMW’s traditional saloon shape leaves room for full-size passengers, whereas the EQS in particular is quite coupe-like.
The Lucid scores even fewer packaging points because of its uncomfortable rear bench. It is too short in the cushion, insufficiently padded, and it seats the passengers at an odd upright angle with the legs sharply bent and the knees up in the air – tall occupants are actually better off in the back of a Skoda Superb.
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