In August we replaced our 2015 Tesla Model S P90D with a Plaid . . . and promptly found out that its acceleration capability is pointless except on a race track (where its brakes reportedly aren't up to the task). For starters, the front end of the car goes so light under hard acceleration that it's downright dangerous to go too deep into the throttle. (Tesla has tired to address the problem with a software recalibration of the suspension, but to only very limited result.) Second, getting hard into the throttle makes passengers queasy and quickly gets old for the driver, too. In short, the capabilities our Plaid has over the 3.2 seconds to sixty of our P90D is pretty much useless except as an occasional party trick.
There are far more usable reasons to pick the Lucid Air over the Tesla. And I say that liking Teslas enough to have bought two for our household and one for my brother.
Who has said that? Jonny Lieberman of "Motor Trend" noted that the car has a bit of desirable luxury car float in the "Smooth" driver setting. But when in "Swift" or "Sprint" modes, he said the car eats up curves and stays planted like nobody's business. This has also been the conclusion of "Transport Evolved", "Out of Spec Motoring", "InsideEVs", "Two Bit DaVinci", "Car & Driver", "Edmunds", and a host of other well-respected reviewers who have raved about the suspension's adroit combination of compliance and top-notch handling. Even Kyle Conner of "Out of Spec Motoring", after flippantly commenting that the Lucid Air was more a car for Florida retirees, later clarified his remark by saying Lucid did the best job among the Tesla Model S, the Mercedes EQS, and the Porsche Taycan of striking the perfect balance between luxury, comfort, performance, and handling. "Transport Evolved" said it was actually biased a bit more toward being a pure driver's car than a luxury car. And "Car & Driver" likened it to a BMW 550 sport sedan more than any other EV on the road.
