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I can see, from the photo there, that you were on Route 7 at Tysons, headed NW.........my own GM dealership is just a couple of blocks from there. I take it you had visited the Lucid Studio in the Tysons Mall?
The one in Tysons II. I was out in Burke showing houses to some old clients and figured it was a good time to hit up a bunch of dealers there.
Yeah not a fan of the square wheel. Give me a round wheel.
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
if vistiq isn't big enough, how about lyriq?
Lyriq is smaller. The next step up would be the Escalade IQ which is way too big.
So, there’s big enough and big enough for what my wife thinks we need. The Vistiq would be big enough, but she is going to say it’s too small. She wants to be able to sit carry on bags up side by side bookshelf style behind the third row
If they made a PHEV Grand Highlander we would get that.
Drove some cars today and looked at a few without driving them.
1. Lucid Gravity. I don't like how these look, but from a space efficiency perspective its going to be hard to beat, its the closest to what we have now spacewise. Drives well, firm but nice riding, quiet. Interior build and materials is very good, tech seemed quite good. Balances "EV quirkyness" and practicality well, no opening roof nor sunshade, use the steering wheel controls to adjust wheel and mirrors buy does have a physical gearshift and turn signal. My wife will absolutely love it, wouldn't be my choice. Some odd things like the motor that moves the second row to access the third row sounds very loud and low rent. HATE the square steering wheel. So awkward feeling.
In the third row positioned for me to sit comfortably in the second row behind me driving in the first row.
Leases on these are better, lots of rebates. but still not great. Range would be a non issue at over 400 miles.
2. Cadillac Vistiq. I drove a low package Sport model, I love the style of these but sizewise I think it may be too tight in the rear. We need to be able to travel the 4 of us and the dog (so with the third row up) and have room for luggage, I think that might be tight. Drives well, but the build quality was a disappointment. Lots of cracking and clicking over bumps, I adjusted the air vent on the drivers side and that made a ton of nasty creaking plastic sounds. Really a shame for how nice the interior looks. Would like to think that would improve in a higher trim, but I'd be afraid it wouldn't. Want to try a higher trim that has the air suspension. Range is on the low end at 315 EPA.
Looked at but didn't drive:
1. Grand Highlander. These are seriously great inside, just great space, perfect in the second, third and behind that for luggage. I like it better than the TX inside and out. They didn't have any hybrid or hybrid MAX models or I would have driven one. Just a super nice well packaged vehicle, kudos to Toyota on that.
2. Toyota Sequoia. Less room behind the third row than the Grand Highlander and not as nice or as high quality feeling interior. Pass.
3. GLS450. Stopped by MB of Tysons Corner, they were closed but they had this very nice Emerald Green 2023 model with 15k miles for $69k.
So, will take my wife to see the Lucid and the Vistiq, but I think the Vistiq will be too small inside. She will love the Lucid but the lease isn't great. Keeps coming back to the GLS or the TX...will have her drive a Grand Highlander too.
Ive seen some big issues with those gravity...latest one I saw was someone owned it for a week and left stranded multiple times because they key would not work.
Drove the TX550h+, this is probably the right vehicle for us. The all EV driving feels great, and when the V6 kicks on it also feels great, very smooth and quiet. Like the Pacifica the V6 has enough power where the CVT doesn't drone and you really can't tell its a CVT. Extremely well isolated from the engine, even with it on you can't immediately tell if it is on. Also like the Pacifica the extra weight hunkers it down and makes it feel more premium than it is.
The higher end interior is also nice, although not $86,000 nice. I like the grey seats with the alcantara inserts but the dog will destroy them, so I'd try and find a darker interior. This one is white with grey and I would choose this spec but my wife hates white cars.
Also immediately drove a TX500h right after. Honestly, I would choose the 500h. It also is very smooth and quiet and feels EV like at low speeds. The engine growl is a little more pronounced, and all 500hs are F Sports so there is an artificial engine note. This one was a Premium not a Luxury so no ML audio, no sunroof (my wife honestly never opens it). F Sport seats are tighter but fit my frame well and would hers also. Sticker on this was $74k. Hard to say the 550h+ is worth $12k more. I also like the nose of the F Sport more, the additional bright trim at the bottom makes it look more upscale. No 550h+ F Sport. My wife really likes the PHEV though.
Interesting on your thoughts about 550 vs 500 driving dynamics. It doesn't sound like the extra $12k is worth it. The Nightfall Mica 500h front end definitely looks better. Those silver trim pieces on the front make a big impact. The 500 has much better looking wheels too.
This is where Lexus annoys me with their strange packaging. To get the "full" Birch (light grey) interior like in your pic, you have to pick the 550. The same Birch interior on the 500 has black inserts that annoy me. I absolutely love this interior but I understand your hesitation with the kids, dog etc.
I try out other interior colors but always come back to black. Black ages the best, never have to worry about stains or dye transfer or anything like that.
Here are pictures of one clean and indoors of the nightfall:
Outside:
Issue with thre TX inside is it doesn't have wood trim etc so it doesn't have much contrast, all black is pretty all black. This is the interior we probably would go with:
I would much rather have another Pacifica with a smooth V6 over a TX with a 4 cylinder. And even 550+ with a V6 is not $25k nicer than a pacifica.
They don't make the PHEV Pacifica anymore...and the gas V6 Pacifica is nowhere near as nice as the PHEV, we had two of those also. Wouldn't go back to a gas Pacifica, we would just keep the one we have. Coming up on 10 years worth of Pacificas, I'm ready for a change.
Don't get me wrong, I get it...its not what I would buy for myself either but for an upscale family hauler its a great vehicle. I just wish the PHEV wasn't so expensive...the hybrid masks the 4 cyl pretty well..I wouldn't get a straight gas 4 cyl TX350.
Its really between this and a GLS450. The GLS leasewise is actually very similar, but I know she is going to want the PHEV. If she likes the GLS and is willing I'll go with that.
