I Switched to Lucid, But Getting Into My Own Car Shouldn’t Be This Frustrating

The automobile was once a simple machine of combustion and gears. Now it’s more like a rolling supercomputer burdened by software updates and questionable UI choices. 

Take, for instance, the experience of Marina Sommers, who recently switched from a Tesla to a Lucid. Her tale, relayed in the Lucid Owners Club Facebook Group, encapsulates the growing frustration with automakers that seem obsessed with pleasing shareholders:

It’s been 4 months since I switched from Tesla to Lucid and I miss one feature every day. My Lucid locks up in the garage unless I leave the key inside which then keeps the car running. I’d rather take my keys, and wallet to my house but I want my car to be unlocked!!! So frustrating. I come back to it several times a day and I forget the key and it’s always locked and I go back to search for the key, blah blah. Yes, it’s kind of a silly frustration but I was able to set my Tesla not to lock up at my house... what do you usually do?

Also, is your car’s trunk opening up and down smoothly? Mine gets stuck in the beginning or in the middle often.
Lastly, it takes a long moment for the car to react that I’m back next to it and trying to open it/unlock it. It takes a while to react to that. If someone was running to catch me, I’d have no chance to get in the car fast.
Also, my phone app says ‘waking up vehicle’ for hours, it doesn’t load up correctly any longer🤦🏻‍♀️
Thanks for any input!🙏🏼

A Case Study in Over-Engineering

Before 2015, car keys were straightforward. You put them in the ignition, turned them, and the engine roared to life. Then came key fobs, which allowed for remote locking and unlocking. Tesla pushed this further, eliminating the traditional fob altogether in favor of full phone-key integration. Now, Lucid is attempting to do the same, but with evidently mixed results.

Alan Cath took to the comments to share a similar issue they’ve had with the car, 

I always wanted my car to stay unlocked in my garage and every previous car I ever owned did just that. I tried disabling Auto unlock, but then I had to lock it manually everywhere else, and it is nice to have the car lock by itself when you walk away, so I didn't feel that disabling auto lock was a great solution for keeping the car unlocked in the garage. How does a Tesla handle all of this? (I've never owned one and never will.)

My trunk and front operate smoothly, although there have been issues - but all those should be resolvable.

As far as getting into a Lucid quickly in order to make a quick escape after being chased, you'll probably have to let that one go 😉 despite how fast the car itself actually is, although theoretically, it should auto unlock for you. My auto unlock works pretty well everywhere other than in my garage, and I use mobile key (with Android!).

Fixing A Problem That Didn’t Exist

• Physical controls have increasingly given way to touch interfaces and digital displays, with many automakers removing tactile buttons and knobs entirely. While sleek in appearance, this trend has often backfired - forcing drivers to navigate through multiple menu layers just to adjust basic functions like climate controls or radio volume that once required a simple twist or press.
• The evolution of car keys showcases both innovation and overcomplexation - from simple metal keys to electronic fobs to phone-based digital keys. While each iteration brought new conveniences, it also introduced new potential points of failure.
• Auto manufacturers' rush to implement "smart" features has sometimes resulted in solving problems that didn't exist. Features like gesture controls for audio systems or automated trunk lids that require waiting for sensors to engage often end up being slower and more cumbersome than their mechanical predecessors. These additions, while impressive in dealership demonstrations, frequently become unused gimmicks in daily driving.

The More Tech, The More Problems

To be clear, Lucid isn’t the only offender here and they get many things right but overengineering has crept into nearly every modern vehicle. Features that look futuristic in concept sketches and dazzle executives in boardrooms often turn into daily annoyances for actual drivers. Digital buttons, touch-sensitive controls, and hyper-connected systems might seem cutting-edge, but too often, they sacrifice usability for the sake of looking cool.

Take smartphone integration, for example. At first, it felt like a revolution, Tesla set the benchmark with its app-based controls, letting owners unlock doors, pre-condition the cabin, and even summon their cars with a few taps. But as automakers scrambled to replicate this digital utopia, they also built a growing dependence on cloud-based systems that, as Sommers’ experience shows, don’t always work as promised. 

Where Do We Go From Here?

Despite the frustrations, it’s important to recognize that Lucid, like many other EV startups, is still refining its technology. Over-the-air updates offer a chance to fix these growing pains, and many of the issues raised, such as sluggish app responsiveness and unreliable keyless entry could be solved via a simple update. Tesla, for all its current advantages, went through similar struggles in its early years. The challenge for Lucid is to strike a balance between innovation and usability. 

Should automakers focus on refining the technology we already have, or is the relentless push for more digital integration an inevitable part of progress? Have you experienced similar headaches with modern vehicles, or do you welcome the high-tech future with open arms? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.