It’s a valid question - the answer is what I was told when as a child, I asked “What’s our dessert?”

”Good old fashioned Wait and see!”

 

For those Comparing :

This gets a 64 on the Dougscore, which is below the Lucid Air 73.

 

The Lucid Air looks like a fine EV but buying one brings with it some risk. Will parts be available if needed, will the company be around in 10 years, how good will resale value hold up, and so on? I wouldn't fault anyone for giving Lucid Air a try but personally I'd rather buy an EV from Mercedes or BMW who have many years of experience in the automobile industry.

 

Not surprised, the Lucid Air afterall is $169k and features a more unique and new take on EV's compared to the EQS. It looks like the Lucid was ahead in the weekend category due to it being faster, better looking, better handling, and more cool, while the EQS surpassed it in the daily category due to comfort, value, practicality, etc. That being said Doug also tested a pretty standard EQS450 versus Lucid Air Dream Edition which is the top of the line and has a difference of $40k+ between the two of them.

Not trying to excuse the EQS as I actually prefer the Lucid Air in many ways and would love one, but I'm not the type of person to try out a new car companies and deal with the experience if it were to be damaged or needing service, not to mention they are only delivering Dream Editions at the moment, not any of the cheaper variants yet. In LA its probably easier to service or check one out, but in MD I imagine its a bit different, I had to drive to Tysons just to get a look at one and then be told that they actually don't want people sitting inside the car. I'm not even sure how to even get a test drive of one.

 

I think if he had tested the EQS AMG the benz would have been on top. I am sure he will test the AMG at some point. It is too bad he did not test the 580.

I am going to go see the Lucid Air next week.

 

Nice, will be very interested to hear your feedback. Based on reviews I'm sure it'll be positive. I look forward to seeing how Lucid as a company will do and when these lower-tier Air models will come out.

 

The more expensive the car the higher the depreciation. In essence a car is simply a car regardless of price. Its a depreciating asset. There is always a newer shinier one next year. However, good expensive ones will retain a higher price even if the percentage of reduction is higher. Example my AMG 43 is still worth 45 k a depreciation of 50% in 5 years . However its still worth a lot more than a five year accord....

 

The more expensive the car the higher the depreciation. In essence a car is simply a car regardless of price. Its a depreciating asset. There is always a newer shinier one next year. However, good expensive ones will retain a higher price even if the percentage of reduction is higher. Example my AMG 43 is still worth 45 k a depreciation of 50% in 5 years . However its still worth a lot more than a five year accord....

 

 

 

Another comment (same as out of spec) about the brakes not providing confidence.

 

Don’t get ”out of spec.”

I have driven the car up and down a rather steep hill several times in the last 24 hours and have not experienced any problems whatsoever with the brakes,

 

He complains about the pedal travel and feedback but confirms the car brakes well. I guess can affect confidence even if the driver knew the car stops all right?

 

No complaints here.

 

What I don’t like?

Headrest pillow.

Middle back seat headrest blocks vision.

Will get rid of both.

 

Out of spec reviews

Start at 16:00

He seemed ok with the braking in normal mode not so much in sport mode. "I would have expected better brake pedal blending from Mercedes"...."It just doesn't feel right"

 

The pedal feel in normal regen is decent. Strong regen is a bit more difficult because it moves by itself.

 

Agree.

But I’m just learning how to use it.

 

Does it have the so called intelligent mode? Hold any of the paddles for a few secs. The indicator should change to "D auto"

 

Personally I don't see myself ever using increased regen unless I were driving down a steep downhill stretch. Not many of those in WI.

 

Yes, it does, as standard, I believe.

I’ve not tried it yet; been very happy with the normal setting.

 

Thanks, for clearing that up. Given that options vary from country to country I wasnt sure it was available in US. Did you find where the car raising setting was? Its supposed to be in vehicle settings.

 

I saw the Lucid Air Grand Touring a couple of days ago. Have to say I was impressed. It sort of fills the gap between the Taycan and the EQS. It is almost as big as an EQS (I think the size would be in between EQE and EQS). But it is very low and has the sports car ride height and seating position you get in the Taycan.

The interior quality was excellent. In the photos I was concerned they cheaped out on leather. They did not. Even the bins at the bottom of the door are trimmed in leather which is not something you can say or the EQS. I would say the EQS has more plastic surfaces than the Lucid. However in photos you don’t see that because the EQS has more visible stitching - e.g at the top of the doors. The leather quality is also much higher than Mercedes Nappa. They say they use the same supplier as Aston Martin. I believe that. You can tell from the touch and feel.




Notice it is stitched leather at the bottom there vs plastic in EQS

Nice dash design. Very low with great visibility. The instrument cluster is positioned high, mitigating need for HUD.



The rear seat position had the same issue as Tesla - too close to floor, and no foot garage in the battery. This would be better in the touring spec. But is an issue with the 500 mile range plus models. That said the back of my car typically only occupies one child seat so it isn’t an issue for me yet.

I like the software interface. It is almost as good as the one on the EQS (which I consider to be the best).

Where this car crushes the the EQS is on two things:
1) The exterior design. It is a beautiful car. Even more so in person. Much better looking than the EQS. The Lucid is a car people will stare at when it drives past. Also I love the exterior details like the brushed aluminum finish roof and door mirrors. The wheel design too.
2) power and range. For the same price as my loaded EQS580 I get 800hp and 512 miles of range.

I asked them how They would support the car in Atlanta where they have no service or sales locations. They said they have already delivered cars in Atlanta and they have field service there. They plan to open a sales and service location within 12-18 months. Personally I find the field service satisfactory. That’s what I use on my Tesla too. You barely need service with these cars anyway.

 

It does bother me as well but on the other hand, it's only because of the Apple shares I have owned for about 10 years that I can buy almost any car I want now. I LOVE Apple as opposed to you! I agree with Stealth Pilot on something else as well but I will not get into that. The bottom line is that I'm buying the EQS580 which is scheduled to be built later in January and hopefully it will be delivered to me sometime in February. I think the interior design of the LUCID sucks compared to the EQS580.

 

Same could be and has been (on numerous occasions) said about the EQS exterior.