The Mercedes EQS and Lucid Air are two luxurious, comfortable, and quick electric sedans. Which Tesla rival is right for you?
We pitted the Mercedes EQS against the Lucid Air in the ultimate battle of old versus new.
Tim Levin/Insider
I drove the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Motors Air, two high-tech, high-performance electric sedans.
Both Tesla rivals cost well over $100,000 and are super comfy and luxurious.
Here's why I'd pick the Lucid over the Mercedes.
The rise of electric vehicles means consumers now have old-school automakers and flashy new startups all competing for their hard-earned dollars.
On one end of the spectrum, you have players like Mercedes-Benz, a century-old company trying to preserve its reputation while embracing new technology. On the other, you have Lucid Motors, a high-tech newcomer from Silicon Valley looking to generate some clout of its own and compete with the big dogs.
I drove the two companies' large luxury sedans — the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Air — and came away impressed by their technology, comfort, and performance. But the Air has the edge in my book.
It's the battery-powered cousin of Mercedes-Benz's S-Class, the big and cushy four-door that's been a perennial favorite among important people of all stripes.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.
Tim Levin/Insider
The EQS very much fits in with that tradition, serving up a tantalizing mix of old-school luxury and flashy new tech.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.
Tim Levin/Insider
Mercedes lent me an all-wheel-drive 2022 EQS 580 4MATIC Pinnacle, which was loaded up with optional goodies and came out to $141,400.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.
Tim Levin/Insider
The base model, which costs $104,400, comes with less power and rear-wheel drive.
The EPA estimates its range to be 340-350 miles, depending on which model you choose. That places it among the rangiest EVs on the US market.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.
Tim Levin/Insider
The EQS 580 will also blow the doors off of most other luxury sedans thanks to the 516 horsepower and 632 pound-feet of torque available under your right foot. Sixty arrives in around four seconds, according to Mercedes.
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.
Tim Levin/Insider
The Air, the first model out of the California startup Lucid Motors, isn't like most luxury sedans.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
Lucid lent me one of its higher-end cars, the Air Grand Touring Performance (GTP). It cost $180,000 when I tested it, but after a price cut will now run you more like $160,000.
It's divided into three sections. A permanent cluster of buttons on the left offers access to functions like the headlights and door locks.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
The middle part shows your speed, range, and other basics, while the rightmost sliver houses the navigation, media settings, and more.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
The screen you'll end up interacting with most is situated down low. This tablet is where drivers can fiddle with the seats, climate control, and drive modes.
I didn't love having to use the touchscreen for every little setting — including everything down to the glove box — but the Air's interface was easy on the eyes and just as responsive as a smartphone.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
Under the hood, Lucid provides an enormous cargo area. That's something the Mercedes doesn't have.
That complements the regular trunk. I could see the short opening posing challenges for large suitcases, but I couldn't get enough of that huge clamshell opening.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
The GTP's dual motors crank out a whopping 1,050 horsepower — more than two EQS 580s for anybody counting.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
Get out onto an open stretch of road, floor it, and the GTP will scorch from a standstill to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, which basically feels like tearing a hole in space-time.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
Range is top-notch, estimated by the EPA at 446 miles. The GTP is only beat out by the regular Grand Touring, which is said to travel 516 miles on a full battery.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
Stopping to charge an EV can be a time-consuming drag, but not in the Air.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
It's one of the very few vehicles on the market that can charge at a peak rate of 300 kilowatts (provided you find a sufficiently powerful station). The EQS maxes out at a very respectable 200 kW.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
In the Air, I was able to add 100 miles of range in just six minutes, which should make road trips a breeze.
The Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance.
Tim Levin/Insider
Both the EQS and Air are luxurious, capable, and high-tech Tesla rivals. But the Lucid is palpably fresh, novel, and exciting inside and out. In this particular battle, the new kid on the block gets my vote.
Smi24.net — ежеминутные новости с ежедневным архивом. Только у нас — все главные новости дня без политической цензуры. "123 Новости" — абсолютно все точки зрения, трезвая аналитика, цивилизованные споры и обсуждения без взаимных обвинений и оскорблений. Помните, что не у всех точка зрения совпадает с Вашей. Уважайте мнение других, даже если Вы отстаиваете свой взгляд и свою позицию. Smi24.net — облегчённая версия старейшего обозревателя новостей 123ru.net. Мы не навязываем Вам своё видение, мы даём Вам срез событий дня без цензуры и без купюр. Новости, какие они есть —онлайн с поминутным архивом по всем городам и регионам России, Украины, Белоруссии и Абхазии. Smi24.net — живые новости в живом эфире! Быстрый поиск от Smi24.net — это не только возможность первым узнать, но и преимущество сообщить срочные новости мгновенно на любом языке мира и быть услышанным тут же. В любую минуту Вы можете добавить свою новость - здесь.
Певец Жуков подал в суд за права на фонограммы песен группы "Руки вверх"
Менеджер модельных Показов для Платного участия в Дизайнерских Показах.
В Москве состоялось торжественное открытие нового творческого проекта «Галерея художников»
Начальник сервисного локомотивного депо «Иваново» филиала «Северный» ООО «ЛокоТех-Сервис» Сергей Черемохин принял участие во вручении дипломов студентам Ивановского железнодорожного колледжа