- The Lucid Air received more than 60 over-the-air software updates in the last three years.
- These significantly improved the car and made it a better all-rounder.
- The car has more real-world range after 26,000 miles than it had when it was new.
The Lucid Air is an impressive luxury electric sedan. It’s one of the longest-range EVs on the market, all while being very comfortable and posh inside. But as with most vehicles from startups, the Air wasn’t exactly airtight at first, with several software and build quality issues reported by Edmunds.
The outlet complained about the teething issues they had with a 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring, calling it one of the most troublesome cars they'd ever had. Now, things are quite different after three years and 26,000 miles. The vibe is much better, and the consensus is that the two-year-old luxury sedan is finally the car it was supposed to be from the very beginning.
That’s thanks in no small part to the aforementioned over-the-air software updates. As Tesla owners know, a software-defined car like the Model 3 or Lucid Air can be a different beast from one day to the next simply due to a wireless update installed during the night. Such updates can be as simple as adding a new animation to the digital screens, or as complex as altering the steering, acceleration, braking and suspension systems.
That’s exactly what happened with Edmunds’ Air, which is now mostly problem-free and works as intended. It's worth noting, however, that non-software issues like a squeaky steering wheel, loose buttons and poorly attached trim on the driver’s A-pillar were also trouble spots. The hood latches also needed to be replaced, as well as the driver’s door handle.
As for efficiency, the continuous software updates actually increased the sedan's real-world driving range. That’s counterintuitive because EVs usually lose range over time due to changes in battery chemistry. In the case of the Air, the first real-world range test ended after 425 miles. The second test upped the figure to 438 miles, and the third time, it was 465 miles. That’s still below the official EPA estimate of 516 miles, but few EVs manage to deliver what you see on the window sticker.
The elephant in the room, and what people fear most after spending their hard-earned cash on a new EV, is the battery pack. Because of a coolant leak, the high-voltage battery of Edmunds’ Lucid Air had to be replaced under warranty. However, this doesn't affect the improvements in range because those tests were done prior to the new battery being installed.
Speaking of software updates, the Air received more than 60 OTA updates over three years. At first, nobody at Edmunds really wanted to drive the Air because it would glitch out or ride poorly. On occasion, the doors wouldn't even unlock. Now, everyone is eager to get behind the wheel. That speaks volumes about the advantages of a software-defined vehicle.
That’s all well and good, but there’s another aspect to consider: depreciation. We’ve covered the issue of plummeting prices for the Lucid Air on the used market, and this particular example is no different. Edmunds paid about $140,000 in March 2022. Now, an equivalent new vehicle is roughly $20,000 cheaper. On the used market, this 2022 Air is approximately $57,000 down from its as-new price. That’s over $3/mile in depreciation alone.
