Want a Base 2023 Porsche Taycan? Check Out the 2023 Lucid Air Pure First!

Buying an EV is no longer solely about being environmentally conscious. Thanks to Tesla's early push into this sector and its resounding success, legacy automakers and industry newcomers have poured their minds, souls, and money into making great cars that don't rely on processed dead dinosaurs. But if you're not a Chevrolet Bolt kind of person, you will likely be on the lookout for something much cooler, much more exciting.

The Lucid Air Pure and the Porsche Taycan are two of the most awesome EVs currently available in the US. They look good, pack plenty of power for daily use, boast a lot of new tech, and promise a driving experience that does not leave one wanting more. Except, of course, when a track is available. But that's another story altogether. So, let's see which of these two would fit you.

First thing first, power! The base Taycan (temporarily) puts out 402 hp (408 ps), while the Air Pure bumps that figure up to 430 hp (436 ps). The American-made EV, however, is also more capable regarding range. The posh rear-wheel-drive sedan can theoretically go 124 mi (200 km) farther than the Porsche. So, right from the get-go, we can see that Lucid has the upper hand.

That improved power figure and a more capable rear-mounted motor also give the Air the upper hand when accelerating from a standstill – the Lucid can reach 60 mph (97 kph) in 4.4 seconds. That's 0.7 seconds faster than the Porsche!

Speed and power!

But for a luxurious four-door zero-tailpipe emission cruiser, charging is also important. The Air Pure also takes the top spot here since it can add approximately 208 mi of range when plugged into a DC fast charger. The P3 Group analysis was done on an Air Grand Touring, but the cheapest Lucid sedan has a similar (88-kWh) battery pack, and its charging capability is not artificially capped.

The same source puts the Taycan (measured in GTS trim) in the sixth spot when it comes to fast charging. However, here things get trickier. If you don't pick the optional $5,700 Performance Battery Plus for the base Taycan, you are stuck with the smaller 79.2-kWh energy storage unit. You'll want the larger battery because the extra range is always good, especially if you want to use your EV for more than just commuting to the office.

But all these advantages aside, which one costs less? At this price point, a couple of thousand dollars might not matter much, but we still have to look at the best MSRP. Surprise-surprise, the Air Pure wins again with its $87,400 guaranteed MSRP. It's still a lot of money, but you get a lot of car and one year of free fast charging with Electrify America (if you take delivery before the end of October 2023)!

Meanwhile, the base Taycan has an MSRP of $90,900 (or $96,680 when equipped with Performance Battery Plus). Sadly, Porsche's starting price is not a sure thing because the Stuttgart-based manufacturer still relies on a comprehensive network of dealers. They establish the pricing policy and might not honor the lowest figure available. Plus, there's an annoying trend nowadays – dealers and manufacturers prefer to sell fewer but more expensive cars. For someone unwilling to splurge, that translates into longer delivery times or no guarantee for a vehicle.

As such, the direct sales model Lucid adopted is an advantage for customers who are not willing to haggle and just want to own a cool-looking EV.

But we can't stop here. We must look at the interior as well. The Lucid's 2.3-inch longer wheelbase helps maximize cabin space and provides increased comfort for those sitting in the second row. This is also reflected in the cargo space – the Air Pure delivers 1.8 cubic feet more volume than its rival.

The Air Pure might also feel roomier because of its generous windowed surfaces, while the Taycan went for a sleeker, sportier look.

One's too few, three too many

When it comes to technology and connectivity, Porsche takes the top spot simply because it has worked out a practical interface for its users. The Air's curved infotainment screen is not working very well with apps like Apple CarPlay because it displays them as a rectangle instead of ensuring they fit correctly with the screen design. Users have also reported some issues regarding the operating software, but the bugs are being actively fixed with each over-the-air update.

By now, nearly everything points in the Lucid Air Pure's favor. But there's a slight issue.

The base Taycan is available and can theoretically be ordered. The rear-wheel-drive Air Pure, however, is marked at the time of writing as being "available later." It's expected to reach customers in the third quarter of 2023, but there's no guarantee. What's known right now is that Europeans will get the single-motor Air in 2024. It would make sense to prioritize American deliveries. Still, we won't vouch for the automaker unless it specifically says it will put buyers in their "entry-level" Arizona-made EVs until the end of the current year. Fingers crossed, it happens!

But if you are not rushing to buy an expensive sedan that doesn't qualify for federal incentives, you may want to wait for the Taycan facelift. Porsche might introduce a more refined car, especially since it proved that it could maximize range with the Taycan GTS. If it's one thing we know for sure, is that the Germans aren't messing around. They're very serious about giving customers good reasons to upgrade.

The Lucid Air Pure remains a great option for prospective EV buyers. However, it is not a guaranteed home run. On paper, things can (and kind of do) look fantastic. What matters most is how you, the customer, feel when getting behind the wheel. Ultimately, the best thing you can do is test these two cars out. That's how you'll make up your mind and have no buyer's remorse.

Or, who knows, maybe you'll prefer the minimalist approach and end up owning a dual-motor all-wheel-drive Tesla Model S. After all, it's just $1,000 more than the rear-wheel-drive Air Pure and has access to the very well-regarded Supercharger network.