Lucid Air Dream Edition Vs. Tesla Model S Plaid: How The Two EVs Compare
The Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Dream Edition are high-quality EVs designed for those who aren’t held back by price. Which is the better buy?
The Lucid Air Dream Edition and Tesla Model S Plaid are among the leading choices for high rollers looking for quality, performance, and luxury EVs. Like conventional car brands, EV carmakers are catering to various buyer preferences. Affordable EVs are an obvious category, while a newer trend is the American pickup truck. Then there’s the luxury EV segment, where price is not a consideration.
Some of the most expensive EVs in the market today are made by BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, and Audi. There’s also the upcoming $200,000 Tesla Roadster, which the company claims will be the quickest car in the world. The Roadster is delayed until 2023, but there are still plenty of options out there.
Lucid Motors’ Lucid Air Dream Edition is a solid new competitor to Tesla’s Model S Plaid. The Lucid Air Dream comes in two versions – one built for performance, and the other tailored for range. Both models sell for $169,000 but how do they compare with a car like Tesla’s $135,990 Model S Plaid which is among the quickest accelerating vehicles in production? Range, performance, technology, and design set them apart.
Rethinking The EV Game
Range is one of the main differentiators between these two vehicles. The Lucid Air Dream, customized for range, can go 520 miles fully charged. Even its performance version has an incredible range of 471 miles. The Model S Plaid falls far behind in this respect. Fully charged, a Model S Plaid can stretch to 348 miles resulting in more than a 120-mile advantage for the Lucid Air Dream.
The Model S Plaid has a tri-motor all-wheel drive with top speeds of 200 miles per hour and goes from 0 to 60 in just 1.99 seconds. According to Teslarati, the Lucid Air Dream does 0 to 60 in 2.88 seconds and has a modest top speed of 168 miles per hour. The Lucid Air Dream does have more horsepower than the Model S Plaid (1,111 vs. 1,020), but is heavier on its feet and loses the quarter-mile performance race. The Lucid has Level 3 autonomous driving features and puts up a strong fight against Tesla, a global leader in self-driving.
In the end, the decisive factor may come down to design. The Lucid Air Dream Edition’s exterior is futuristic and elegant, making the Model S Plaid look outdated, generic, and in need of an upgrade. While speed, performance, tech, and a lower price are wins for Tesla, the Lucid Air Dream Edition’s design, originality, elegance, and range make it stand out, and might even force Tesla into rethinking its EV game.