Take it from me – an electric vehicle industry analyst who has test driven both the Polestar 2 and Lucid Air – these new entrants are delivering seriously impressive alternatives for environmentally conscious luxury car shoppers. You really can‘t go wrong with either option. But behind the sleek exteriors Polestar and Lucid stand miles apart on histories, technological approaches and long term strategies.
As we compare every aspect side-by-side from performance specs to ownership experience, I‘ll share my unbiased perspective on the leaders and laggards. By the end, you‘ll have all the facts straight to decide which startup meets your needs as an EV buyer in 2022!
Origin Stories – Young Disrupters Backed by Industry Titans
Before jumping into comparisons, it‘s important to understand the core histories shaping Polestar and Lucid‘s diverging identities.
Polestar – Born From Volvo‘s Racing Legacy
While the Polestar brand first debuted on vehicles in 2017, the company origins trace back over 20 years prior to two Swedish powerhouses joining forces:
- 1996 – Polestar founded as Flash Engineering, an independent outfit preparing Volvos for racing
- 2005 – Volvo Cars acquires 50% stake in Polestar, focusing the team on developing high performance road cars
- 2015 – Volvo buys the remaining 50% ownership of Polestar as the division starts experimenting with electrified vehicles
So despite the Polestar badge itself being recently established, there is decades of proven racing engineering experience in those DNA. Plus the reliability of Volvo financial backing and manufacturing prowess behind growth plans.
Today Polestar operates some facilities shared with Volvo, but maintains an independent brand identity from their parent company. Leadership is quick to reinforce that Polestar charting its own electric future.
Lucid Motors – Silicon Valley Splash Seeking Next Tesla Status
On the other side of the spectrum, Lucid emerged from the belly of Silicon Valley circa 2007 as storied Chinese battery maker Atieva. The pivot to luxury electric vehicles came under new leadership in late 2016:
- 2007 – Atieva founded initially focusing on EV batteries and powertrain components
- 2016 – Rebranded as Lucid Motors, received $60M Saudi investment
- 2018 – Majority share acquired by Saudi Arabia‘s Public Investment Fund for $1+ billion
- 2021 – Goes public via SPAC at $24 billion market valuation
Lucid completed its Arizona factory and premiered the ultra-luxury Air sedan in 2020. But not before burning through billions in investment capital over 10+ years as a private company. However, securing the Saudi sovereign wealth fund ensures ample backing to fulfill aggressive production promises.
Polestar EV Model Lineup Offers Near Term Variety
Let‘s examine what vehicle options these fledgling manufacturers currently offer customers – a significant differentiator around versatility and availability timing:
Polestar
- Polestar 1 – Gorgeous limited production hybrid GT coupe priced from $155,000. Ceased end of 2021 after 3 years.
- Polestar 2 – All electric fastback sedan competing with the Model 3 on price starting around $49,000. Over 34,000 sold globally so far.
- Polestar 3 – Electric SUV expected fall 2022 to rival Model Y and I-Pace in ~$75,000 range
Lucid
- Lucid Air – The lone Lucid model aiming for utra-luxury at $87,000+, available in 4 configurations. Less than 400 units delivered to date.
- No other models announced – Sedan range toppings promised down the road but no definitive timeline.
Lucid clearly pegged immense hopes on the Air sedan capturing Tesla-like aspirations. Meanwhile Polestar strikes a balance introducing fresh affordable EVs while teasing a sports car halo.
Performance Stats – Blistering Luxury vs Everyday Excellence
How do these next generation contenders stack up when it comes to satisfying a need for speed while minding efficiency?
|| Polestar 2 | Lucid Air |
|-|—————–|—————|
| Price | $49,800 | $87,400 – $179,000 |
| Battery (kWh) | 75 or 78 | 85 – 118 |
| Power (hp) | 408 | 480 – 1,111 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 487 | n/a |
| 0-60 mph (s) | 4.5 | 2.5 – 3.0 |
| Top Speed | 127 mph | 168 mph |
| Range (mi) | 249 – 260 | 340 – 520 |
| Efficiency (mpge) | 96 – 100 | 131 |
Clearly the Lucid Air lives in an entirely different performance echelon starting with the nearly $170,000 fully spec‘d 1111 hp Dream Edition. The claimed 2.5 second 0-60 blast matches Tesla‘s $200,000+ Plaid Models. And nothing comes close to Lucid‘s 520 mile top range.
But Polestar strikes an approachable balance of power and efficiency. Reviewers praise the immediate torque burst zinging the Polestar 2 ahead of traffic without overwhelming drivers. Handling leans sporty as expected from the team‘s racing lineage. For 90% of real world scenarios, the Polestar 2 satisfies enthusiast acceleration demands even besting the Tesla Model 3 while delivering class leading range efficiency.
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Verdict – Lucid Leads in Technology, Polestar Offers Reliable Value
For those desiring an exclusive high-tech luxury EV to indulge in today without compromise, Lucid built your dream machine. From the aircraft-inspired glass canopy and executive rear seating to the industry shifting 520 mile range and Formula 1 powerplant, the remarkable Air cements the pinnacle achievement possible from EV drivetrains. Yes, six figure pricing keeps the experience exclusive and initial reliability has room for refinement. But witnessing the Air glide along unphased at any speed redefines assumptions of an electric future.
However, for the majority seeking an affordable EV delivering premium comfort and usable performance for daily commutes, road trips, or errands about town, Polestar fits the bill. From Polestar‘s established dealer service network to pragmatic Scandinavian design ethos, these Volvo-supported upstarts exude confidence. What excitement Polestar‘s vehicles lose versus Lucid‘s sprinting luxury, they gain back through mature quality control and reliable production scale. Given Volvo‘s vast global manufacturing blueprint to propel the 2, 3 and more, I expect Polestar sticking around the EV scene longer. Maybe one day we‘ll have the opportunity to blast around tracks in souped up Polestar coupes and sedans akin to the brand‘s racing origins!
Either choice represents admirable progress expanding EV adoption through technological innovation combined with conscious consideration for practical ownership. But based on my experience in the sector I suggest most buyers will find greater long term value in Polestar‘s approachable offerings. Congrats for taking your own step towards sustainable transportation – and have fun shopping!
