Lucid Air vs. BMW I4 E40

[Grinner Ness]

Trying to decide. Lucid Air vs. BMW I4 E40? I currently have the BMW, there have been no issues until just recently involving a display screen glitch. I have no complaints about this vehicle other than it's range. (supposedly 311 but on average 280). I love driving my car, its sooo much fun but it's a Gran Coupe, not a Sedan like a Lucid. My real concern is all of the glitches, service, leasing issues I read about. Is Lucid THAT problematic? I have test driven a GT, great car but I want rear wheel drive, no glass roof and don't care about a seat massage. I want to DRIVE the car. Looking for input and possible reassurance! Thanks!

 

[MGRMLN]

Get an Air Pure. I came from multiple BMW's myself.
You'll never look back. Plus, the styling of BMW's lately are to my eyes, horrid.
Though admittedly, the i4 isn't the offender the iX and i7 are to me.

 

[L-Dude]

After months of reading a bunch about the Lucid, I recently took delivery of an Air Grand Touring. I've only driven it about 500 miles, but I REALLY like the car. I came from an Audi E-tron GT, which I also REALLY liked. The Audi was great, but the range wasn't great, the interior (and storage space in general) was tight, and getting it serviced was a huge problem. The Audi had a bunch of recalls, all of which took a lot more time and effort than they should have.

My AGT has been awesome. It is an absolute blast to drive (so was the Audi, but it was a different driving experience--it was almost like you were wearing that car). There have been a few bugs along the way. Sometimes I have to wait a couple seconds for the car to unlock. I get some spurious error messages (just like I did in the Audi) but nothing I find particularly bothersome. The AGT has a bunch of very advanced features, which I appreciate. The range is amazing. Getting it serviced is still a question.

I chose the GT because I wanted the extra range and power, but some of the other trims might be more to your liking. The GT feels heavy, but it is a beast (that's actually what I call it). I've got the 19" wheels, and I can feel them struggle at times when dealing with all that power (sprint mode is insane--you better know what you're doing behind the wheel). But I love driving this thing--perhaps even more than the Audi. Everyone who gets in the car is wowed by the interior--Lucid really hit it out of the park.

This forum has been an outstanding resource for learning about the car and various issues related to ownership. I bought my Lucid sight unseen--no test drive...nothin.

Good luck with your search!

 

[TriumphToo]

One data point: just had my GT repaired and the tech at the body shop was a former Lucid tech. He drives an i4 and recommended that I get one when I replace my GT.

Is Lucid that problematic. In my experience, from start to finish, yes. Others will weigh in.

 

[L-Dude]

One data point: just had my GT repaired and the tech at the body shop was a former Lucid tech. He drives an i4 and recommended that I get one when I replace my GT.

Is Lucid that problematic. In my experience, from start to finish, yes. Others will weigh in.

So you've had multiple problems with your late model Air?

 

[JoshG]

we have both. 2025 i4e40 a Air Touring. I'm on my 2nd Lucid - a 2025 Touring after my original '22 Touring.

Lucid drives great, I really love the driving experience, the handling, the comfort. I had far more problems with my '22 Air than I am with my '25, but there are still some glitches... door handles & key fob issues are still not solved, pretty unbelievably, sometimes reverse cameras just don't come on (10% of the time?), and sometimes it will lose Carplay connection for no reason at all. Nothing disastrous like I had with my '22 (3 MAJOR failures with tow-in and big system replacements) but still annoyances.

The i4 drives better than i thought, is not as comfortable (and not even CLOSE for back seat passengers)... and has its own weirdness with that new UI setup in the '25s+. So very german... tons of menus, odd organiztion... just trying to find the option or setting you're looking for is an annoying process. My wife is the primary driver of this car and she loves it in general, but doing things like scheduling charging to happen after midnight is so ridiculously convoluted in their UI as to be laughable. It has its own issues with driver profiles, especially if both of our phones are in the car. Its parking cameras aren't nearly as good as the Lucid's... (though they do always work), but the Europeans DO know how to make keyfobs that reliably unlock the doors when you approach... infallibly.

My sister also has an Air Touring, and she has the same glitches with keyfobs and entry as well... she says she'd like a car that is less "moody". Sometimes the car is like "hey, welcome! Ready to go", and other times it's like "f-off, go away, i'm not in the mood to go anywhere today." She jokes about it but says she's probably done with Lucid when her lease is up (and if they treat her end-of-lease like they did mine, she's definitely gone).

Both cars have their plusses and their quirks. If you're leasing, my own experience is to tell you to stay away from Lucid entirely... at least until they replace BofA as their lease partner.

 

[Bill AGT]

I have driven both and my buddy owns an I4. All agree the Lucid is BY FAR the better vehicle and better driving.

 

[tonybot]

Before I got my Air Pure RWD, I decided between the i4 and the Air. Air was hands-down the winner for me for all the reasons others have pointed out - especially the driving dynamics. The tuning, control, comfort, and range are all unparalleled. I recently got an iX 2025. Besides the looks (which I don’t see most of the time as I am on the inside!), it is a great car. My wife usually gets the new vehicles in our household. I got her Lexus RX when she started using Lucid. By tradition, she would have been the one driving the iX. She is unwilling to let go of Lucid and says she feels much more in control and comfortable in the Lucid than our iX - even with air suspension!

Go with Air. It is truly the new ultimate driving machine!

 

[Bill AGT]

Please let us know what you decide, and why.

 

[Grinner Ness]

After months of reading a bunch about the Lucid, I recently took delivery of an Air Grand Touring. I've only driven it about 500 miles, but I REALLY like the car. I came from an Audi E-tron GT, which I also REALLY liked. The Audi was great, but the range wasn't great, the interior (and storage space in general) was tight, and getting it serviced was a huge problem. The Audi had a bunch of recalls, all of which took a lot more time and effort than they should have.

My AGT has been awesome. It is an absolute blast to drive (so was the Audi, but it was a different driving experience--it was almost like you were wearing that car). There have been a few bugs along the way. Sometimes I have to wait a couple seconds for the car to unlock. I get some spurious error messages (just like I did in the Audi) but nothing I find particularly bothersome. The AGT has a bunch of very advanced features, which I appreciate. The range is amazing. Getting it serviced is still a question.

I chose the GT because I wanted the extra range and power, but some of the other trims might be more to your liking. The GT feels heavy, but it is a beast (that's actually what I call it). I've got the 19" wheels, and I can feel them struggle at times when dealing with all that power (sprint mode is insane--you better know what you're doing behind the wheel). But I love driving this thing--perhaps even more than the Audi. Everyone who gets in the car is wowed by the interior--Lucid really hit it out of the park.

This forum has been an outstanding resource for learning about the car and various issues related to ownership. I bought my Lucid sight unseen--no test drive...nothin.

Good luck with your search!

I did drive the GT and while it is an amazing vehicle it just didn't feel quite right. I love the power, etc, but it is probably more than I really need. I have not driven the RWD Pure. That's next. We'll see! Thanks for the input and details!

 

[Grinner Ness]

Get an Air Pure. I came from multiple BMW's myself.
You'll never look back. Plus, the styling of BMW's lately are to my eyes, horrid.
Though admittedly, the i4 isn't the offender the iX and i7 are to me.

Yea, I get sooo many compliments on my I4, a few folks have asked to take pictures. I drove the I7, may as well be a really fast enormous Buick. (Nothing against Buick!)

 

[Grinner Ness]

I have driven both and my buddy owns an I4. All agree the Lucid is BY FAR the better vehicle and better driving.

Thanks for the input! Better driving as in fun?

 

[Grinner Ness]

One data point: just had my GT repaired and the tech at the body shop was a former Lucid tech. He drives an i4 and recommended that I get one when I replace my GT.

Is Lucid that problematic. In my experience, from start to finish, yes. Others will weigh in.

What year is your GT, I've heard the 2023 models are the worst for issues.

 

[Steveinarizona]

To some extent you are comparing apples and oranges. The I4 is a compact sized raised sedan and the Lucid Air is a mid sized sedan. Even with the raised issue, I would have expected the I4 to out perform the Lucid in the twisties (smaller, presumably more nimble). The fact that it doesn't is a testament to Lucid's design . IMO the real comparison would be to the BMW I5.

 

[MGRMLN]

What year is your GT, I've heard the 2023 models are the worst for issues.

I have '23 GT but haven't seen any more or less number of issues than others.