You might say that comparing EVs is like comparing apples with apples, especially if you’re of the school of thought that when there’s no engine anymore, cars are basically interchangeable battery-powered transport.
But from what we’ve seen so far, in little time, there’s more to these BEVs than just a quiet hum and zero emissions – there’s a wide variety of different styles, shapes, and interior designs, not to mention greatly differing performance and range.
Of course, the performance and range go up generally with price, but here we’re looking at Lucid - who might be on to something with their first offering.
This luxury sedan from the startup based in California is, they are hoping, the new rival in the luxury electric car segment.
Let’s see how it fares against a premium German rival, which is similar in a lot of ways. But as we’ll see, the Lucid Air has a few aces up its sleeve.
Lucid Air Vs The Mercedes-Benz EQS: Battle Of The Super Electric Sedans
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is a luxurious and upmarket sedan, with a lofty $100,000 entry point and a raft of technology and features to justify the price.
Available in two models, the EQS480+ and the 580 4Matic, power is from 329 hp to 516 hp in the more expensive and faster version, while 0-60 mph is in the 4-5.5-second range.
You get a range of up to 350 miles and some chassis trickery like adaptive air suspension and 4-wheel steering.
Inside, the cabin has all the hallmarks and opulence you would expect from the German brand, with a huge 56-inch optional screen.
Apart from the superior range and power on offer, the Tesla Model S is not as good as an EQS either, so the Air has its work cut out.
The reason why the Lucid might be a better bet than the German super-EV has a multi-part answer, but it’s not all about numbers on paper, of course.
This is a car which a lot of people will like, whether they can buy one or not; it is left-field, quirky and an alternative to the usual brands which everyone else will buy – like the EQS or its various stablemates.
Lucid’s Air Is A First-Time EV, Which Its Maker Knocked Out Of The Park
It has an interesting name, not just a set of numbers – imbuing it with a personality, while the trims also have unique names, and the design, although smooth and refined, has styling which somehow refuses to conform.
You also won’t see many on the road, despite Lucid’s promise to ramp up to 400,000 a year – the first 20 were delivered last year in the 3rd quarter.
In any case, the all-important specs of the Air will win the Top Trumps battle against the EQS and indeed the Model S for that matter.
2.5-seconds conveniently trumps everything except the Tesla Model S Plaid, although it’s good enough for anyone unless you’re a YouTuber making money from drag strip videos.
The range is up to a whopping 520 miles and horsepower will be offered in up to 1,111 – better than even the Plaid at a measly 1020 hp.
A 300kw charging ability gets 300 miles of charge for a Cafe latte-friendly 20 minutes of charge, while the 4-wheel drive will provide traction as you speed away from Starbucks.
The final trump card is that if you just want EQS levels of performance and are not worried about racing Tesla Model S Plaids – Lucid has the Pure entry-level car for sale for around $75,000.
That undercuts the EQS by some $30,000 and for that, you’ll still get all the individuality, 14 cameras, 5 radars, and 32 sensors, plus 400 miles of range with 480 hp through the back wheels.