Thoughts on moving from a Model 3 to Air Touring?

[Birdman]

I currently have a 2018 Tesla Model 3. I have had it since the beginning and while I still love the car because it is an early model it is a little on the loud / not so smooth side. But the size is perfect.

I have been looking at an Air Touring and took one for a short test drive. Loved many things about it but I am wondering whether those of you who have experience moving from something smaller to the Touring feel like it is “too big”. Visually it is low slung and long almost limousine like.

While there is tremendous space in the back seat I don’t typically take a lot of passengers. Does it “feel” big or does it drive small?

A little conflicted. Thx in advance.

 

[DeaneG]

The Air drives smaller than it looks. It's wonderful compared to my previous 2018 Model 3 performance. It is also the largest car I've owned and took a little getting used to.
It's the same exterior size as the Model S, but when sitting in the Air, it's generous interior room makes you think it's much larger.

The Air's throttle response is slightly more filtered than the Model 3's, so it won't have quite the same instant kick as you tap the accelerator from a standstill. But the Air's acceleration is immense and seems to build as your speed increases. At freeway speeds, it's jut hitting its stride - huge amounts of power are still available. I very much enjoyed my Model 3 perf's drive, though the rough ride did wear on me over time and was one of the reasons I wanted a better car. After driving the Air for a while, I realized that the Model 3 was rather like a kit car, rough and simple. The Air is a fully grown-up vehicle.

Be sure to get an Air with 360 cams (included with DreamDrive Premium). They make parking lot maneuvering very easy, even compared to the Model 3.

 

[PureJoy77]

Currently have both a ‘25 Air and ‘25 Model 3. Honestly, my face crinkles up when I have to drive or even be the passenger in the M3. As for the Air feeling too big, maybe, but in a good way. Hardly anyone rides in the back for me too, but I have found that the extra interior space comes in quite handy when randomly buying home improvement stuff. I have been quite impressed and delighted with how much mulch, river rocks, plants and IKEA furniture pieces I’ve been able to haul away in the Air with room to spare. And I absolutely agree with DeaneG, the Air drives much smaller than it looks and feels like a fully grown-up vehicle.

 

[Celeras]

I just did this move from a 2020 Swasticar3. You'll likely miss a lot of things, but one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that anything relating to the driving experience will not be one of them. It's night and day better and won't at all feel bulky like you're worried about.

It is lower as you observed though, and that did matter for me as there was one particular parking lot exit with a "dip" that causes the Lucid to bottom out where the Swasticar3 did not. But that's just knowledge.

 

[Birdman]

Thx for the replies. This is a great forum. Feels very much like the TeslaMotorsClub forum when I first got started back in 2018.

(Although with all due respect, I would prefer not to call or refer to the Model 3 or any Tesla, as a Swasticar. I don't mean to preach but using that term marginalizes all of those innocents who were truly victimized, brutalized, tortured and exterminated by the Nazi regime (may their name forever be erased)

 

[TonyLieske]

I test drove a Model 3 before buying my Lucid (along with a bunch of other EV's). IMHO the Model 3 was the second best driving EV of the bunch, so I give Tesla credit for that. The Lucid was better IMHO. I think on perfectly smooth roads they will feel about the same, but the Lucid handles road imperfections much better IMHO.

Again though, this isn't to say the Model 3 is bad, its just that the Lucid is really exceptional.

I would suggest test driving a newer model 3 if yours is from 2018. I have only driven the latest model 3 (the "Highland" model) so I can't this from experience, but many reviews of the newer Model 3 noted it was improved compared to the older version. Another thing I will give Tesla credit for is their "self serve" test drive process. The process to setup the test drive was ~20 minutes via their app, and then I was actually driving the car 10 minutes later. You are driving on your own which can have good and bad points. That being said if you are already familiar with Tesla UI it will probably be good. This was my first time driving a Tesla so I spent the first 10-15 minutes just figuring out how to drive it.

edited to add: I had an Audi S4 prior. The Lucid does indeed feel like a bigger car. The Model 3 felt very similar to the Audi.

 

[Birdman]

Thx - I test drove a new Model Y (Juniper). Obviously a higher seating position than my 3 and everything felt comfortable and very familiar. It is a small think but ventilated seats are a must have! The Y was miles ahead of my old 3 in terms of NVH, it just felt like a grown up more upscale version of my model 3. It also feels "smaller" than the Touring.

Part of the issue is that at least here in Canada the Lucid Touring is probably about $30K - $40K more than the Model Y (although it was shocking for me to realize that DD Premium doesn't even lane keep!) but the lease payments are pretty much the same. Tesla leasing is far from attractive. This should not be the measure, but cars from other manufacturers that are in a similar price point to the Lucid Touring (because of the very attractive Lucid lease deals right now) are $300 - $400 more per month than the Touring.

 

[AirQuality]

I test drove a Model 3 (Highland) before going with a 2023 Air Pure AWD (basically a software-limited Touring) just over a year ago. The pre-Highland Model 3 and Model Y were not in the picture because of poor build quality and overall "ordinary" feel. Model 3 Highland was better, but I still could not get over the center-screen-only design where you have to keep your neck permanently cricked to the right to look at information. It was clearly a situation where the company came first and the customer later.

Then I drove the Pure AWD and was blown away. Speed, smoothness, handling, power, space, efficiency -- the car had (and continues to have) everything. The car's ride has a "frictionless" feel -- while still having plenty of grip and excellent connectedness -- that is hard to articulate in words. Best car I have ever owned.

I understand that the Air is within 0.2" of a Honda Accord, but no one ever accused an Accord of being too long. In my view, it's an optical illusion that arises from two factors:
1. The incredible interior passenger and cargo volume means that it's pretty close to our previous X5 in terms of space, so your brain thinks that it *must* be a bigger car from the outside.
2. The low height and ground clearance make it look disproportionately longer than normal cars we're used to seeing.
Oh and once you and your family get used to the interior space of the Air, every other car will feel inferior (except the Gravity).

+1 for DD Premium. That's my only regret -- not getting the 360 cameras with the vehicle. I would definitely get the Surreal Sound Pro sound system too if you have more than a passing interest in music or good audio in general.

Good luck!

 

[TonyLieske]

...but I still could not get over the center-screen-only design where you have to keep your neck permanently cricked to the right to look at information. It was clearly a situation where the company came first and the customer later.

FWIW, this was also my biggest gripe with the Model 3. Interior just felt too cheap and I did not like the ergonomics of using the center screen for everything.

The one EV other than the Lucid that I really liked the interior and UI was the Cadillac Optiq. Really nice interior, really great UI. Only knock is they do not allow Carplay.

Of course the downside to the Optiq is that is doesn't drive as sporty as the Lucid or the Model 3. Its slower, you sit up higher, the suspension is softer, and you can tell its FWD biased if you push it.

Lucid really was the best of both worlds, but you also pay more.

 

[Coho]

At the risk of just piling on, I wouldn’t hesitate in getting the Air. I have been driving the AGT for almost 3 yrs and still marvel and how fun it is and how great it is. An in-law has the 3 and I just dont see any completion from that sector.

 

[Birdman]

This is all great info. In order to “qualify” for this great lease deal (and an added incentive if you own a Tesla) you can’t really offer the car to spec but you have to pick from what is on site or incoming.

I not looking at the Grand touring because that is just too pricey. So here is my thinking based on what is available in order to help me narrow down choices (Apologies if TLR)
- My first “must have” is real leather. This is because none of the incoming cars that have the “fake leather” have ventilated seats. While I would love the 20 way massage seats, not currently available on any of the in stock / coming soon Tourings. Because I want ventilated seats (I saw a video of an older review that said the seat cooling is not that strong ?) that basically means I have to pick a car with leather seats

I am looking for a short term lease so even though I live in Toronto and always get winter tires on my cars, I am trying to only rely on all seasons for the Touring. This means I have to get 19 inch because the 20 and 21 inch are summer tires which are a non starter in the winter. All seasons I can probably get by with.

Those 2 items taken together basically leave me with a couple of potential choices. A black car with DD Premium, comfort and convenience and regular sound, or a cosmos silver with the same specs except it also have sound pro. Because the Silver is $1k more for paint and the extra price for the sound pro it is $100 per month more than the black.

When I initially saw the black with the silver cap I didn’t like it - thought it really looked too limousine / old school but then the more I had it out in the sun on the test drive the more I warmed up to it.

Anyways, those are all my decisions. Thx for letting me share and adding value with your helpful comments. Still deciding.

Oh and the insurance is astronomical. Fully double the quote for a new model Y. Sigh.