After our amusing trounce of the Polestar, Justin asked what I would think of this great driving luxury sedan with simply reasonable acceleration and excellent, but not record-breaking range at less than half the price? It sounded like a winning combination to me and that’s exactly what Lucid has done with its Pure model. A single motor delivers 430 HP, enough to sprint to 60 MPH in 4.5-seconds, about the same as most full-size luxury sedans. And the 118 KWh battery is scaled down to 88 KWh allowing increased rear passenger space and lower vehicle weight while still delivering 410-miles of range. Did I mention the Pure’s $69,900 MSRP?

The current Lucid Air lineup offers four models from our Pure to Touring $77,900, Grand Touring $109,900 and Sapphire $249,000.  Of course they differ in content and performance, but after a week of driving that included transporting friends who own luxury vehicles, there wasn’t much missing that I would yearn for. I love good stereo, especially in a quiet EV cabin, and Lucid’s Surreal Sound, a nine-speaker, 500-watt system is included. But if you wish to go all in, new Pure models are available with the 21-speaker Pro system with Dolby Atmos for an additional $2,900. I’d need a convincing demo at the Lucid store before making that leap.

Other luxuries like leather seating are available, but the Mojave PurLuxe leather alternative was a perfectly fine alternative and aren’t we saving the planet with this EV decision? The panoramic glass roof found on Grand Touring and Sapphire models is replaced with a more than ample windshield sweeping into a metal roof and that works fine in my book. A dramatic 34-inch display screen that sweeps before the driver and a power retractable flat panel below it that uncovers a storage compartment are part of the standard fitment. The outside mirrors are heated and power folded. Even the charge port door opens and closes with a touch of a button.

The Lucid Pure sits low over its 19-inch wheels and the aerodynamic design delivers a class leading 0.197 drag coefficient. That profile might be a bit challenging for people who have lost a bit of flexibility over the years. Lucid’s new Gravity SUV is an alternative to consider if stepping in and out with ease is a requirement.

While I didn’t engage in drag racing contests during the Pure testing, I did make a safe pass on a two-lane road and the power and handling made the task effortless. And the 900-volt electric architecture easily accommodates fast charging on the road. Although traditional luxury brands offer new electric vehicles, the best head-to-head competitor is Tesla’s Model S that delivers similar range and MSRP.