There was a time when the Tesla Model S was your only option in terms of electric sedans, but things have changed a lot lately. There are now dozens of electric sedans to choose from, with different prices, outputs, purposes, and all-electric range. And, there was also a time when the Model S was the leader in terms of range and efficiency, but, then again, that’s not the case anymore. The Lucid Air is the new king of the electric sedan market, as it offers more power, and more range, and it is also faster than the Model S. But, the Lucid Air has a lot more advantages, and here are the top 10 features that place it above the Model S.
1 There Are More Trims To Choose From With The Lucid Air
While not all Lucid Air models are on sale yet, the company promises there will eventually be six trims to choose from: Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, Dream Edition Range, Dream Edition Performance, and Sapphire. For the Model S, on the other hand, customers get to choose between just two trims: base and Plaid. Except for the Lucid Air Sapphire, all Air models are powered by two electric motors, with power ranging from 480 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque in the Pure trim to 1,111 horsepower and 1,025 pound-feet of torque in the Dream Edition Performance. Lucid also announced that the Air Pure will soon get an RWD trim. For the Model S, things are easier: you either get the dual motor setup with 670 horsepower, or the tri-motor setup with 1,020 horsepower.
2 The Lucid Air Sapphire Is More Powerful And Faster Than The Plaid
The Lucid Air Sapphire - the top model of the Air lineup – is powered by three electric motors that deliver a combined 1,200 horsepower. In comparison, the Model S Plaid offers the same tri-motor all-wheel-drive setup, but with an output of only 1,020 horsepower. According to the first details we have from Lucid, the Sapphire can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.89 seconds, from 0 to 100 mph in just 3.87 seconds, and up to a top speed of 205 mph. The Model S Plaid, on the other hand, needs 1.99 seconds to run from 0 to 60 mph and can hit a top speed of 200 mph. The Air Sapphire also promises a quarter-mile time of under nine seconds, while Plaid's official quarter-mile time is 9.23 seconds with a 155-mph trap speed. But there are guys out there who manage to run it in just 8.94 seconds at 156 mph.
3 The Lucid Air Offers A Better Range
There was a time when nobody could beat Tesla in terms of range, but those times are long gone as more and more makers are promising range of 400 – 500 miles. And Lucid Motors is one of them. Even in the base configuration, the Lucid Air promises more range than the Model S, so Tesla lost big time in this segment. The Air Pure has a range of 410 miles, and it only gets better from there. The Touring goes up to 425 miles, the Grand Touring to 469 miles when equipped with 21-inch wheels, and 516 miles when running on 19-inch wheels. The Dream Edition Range has 481 miles of range when equipped with 21-inch wheels and 520 miles when running on 19-inch wheels. The Dream Edition Performance is rated at either 451 or 471 miles based on the wheels, while we are still waiting for the official figures of the Sapphire. For the Model S, the range is 405 miles in the base trim and 396 miles for the Model S Plaid.
4 The Lucid Air Can Be Fast-Charged At Up To 350 kW
The Model S also loses in terms of charging speed. Yes, the Model S has access to what is arguably the best and biggest charging network in the world – Tesla Supercharger – but this only gives charging speeds of up to 250 kW. Using one of the 45,000 Superchargers available in the States, the Model S can take in up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes of charging – which is actually not bad at all. Except that the Lucid Air benefits from an ultra-high 900V+ electrical architecture and has access to an ever-growing, 350kW fast-charging infrastructure being built out nationwide. The Air has the capability of attaining 20 miles of range for every minute of charging - making it the fastest-charging electric vehicle ever offered. Do the math, and you will get up to 300 miles of range in just 20 minutes of charging.
5 Once All The Trims Are Available, The Air Will Be Cheaper And More Customizable
With the Model S, things are very simple: prices start at $88,490 for the base trim and from $108,490 for the Plaid, while the only two options available are the Enhanced Autopilot priced at $6,000 and the Full Self-Driving Capability priced at $15,000. With the Air on the other hand, things are a little bit more complicated. Currently, American customers can only order the Air Pure for $92,900, the Air Touring for $107,400, and the Air Grand Touring for $138,000. They can also pre-order the Sapphire, which comes fully equipped for$249,000. At first look, the Air seems to be a little bit more expensive than the Model S, but Lucid will also add the single motor, RWD Pure, which will be priced from $87,400. Also, unlike the Model S, customers can also customize their Air models and make them a little more unique. The list of options includes paints, and various options for the roof – based on the trim – wheels, interior trims, and features.
6 The Lucid Air Is The Better Looking Car
Tesla's exterior design needs no presentation - we have seen it for years in all its models, and it was never seriously improved. This is one of the primary reasons why the Model S feels dated when compared to the Air. The latter features an exterior design inspired by the world of aircraft with clean, elegant lines. It is also one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world — with a 0.197 coefficient of drag. The Air is also offered with an optional Glass Canopy that not only gives a gorgeous view of the sky above, but also offers a protective interlayer to block out heat and sunlight. In early 2023, Lucid also announced a Stealth Look exterior upgrade that, for $6,000, alters thirty-five of the Air’s exterior components - giving it an even more unique look.
7 The Lucid Air Has The Better Interior
The Model S’ interior is just as boring as the exterior, with probably the most controversial piece being that steering yoke that has tons of likes and dislikes. The sedan is also equipped with a 17-inch touchscreen that replaces all the physical buttons, making simple commands more distracting while driving. Of course, this is a problem in all the cars lately, not only those from Tesla. And the Air is no exception. It is offered with a floating 34-inch Glass Cockpit panel that curves around the driver’s seat making it easier to access and view. There is also a retractable central Pilot Panel allowing for deeper control of features. The rest of the cabin is defined by high-quality craftsmanship and sustainability inspired by the natural landscapes of California. Customers get to choose between high-quality Nappa leather or a sophisticated PurLuxe leather alternative, Alcantara, wool blend textile of sustainable alpaca and recycled yarn, or expensive woods like Silvered Eucalyptus, North American Walnut, or Carbon Oak.
8 The Air Is More Comfortable
The Model S offers interior space for up to five people. They will get to enjoy synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The front seats offer plenty of space and good support, but the rear passengers will want to get more legroom. The same goes for the Air: it offers interior space for five adults, with the lower trim offered with synthetic leather upholstery and power-adjustable front seats, while the higher trims will get seats wrapped in genuine leather upholstery. They will also be heated and ventilated as standard and offer massage functions as an option. Unlike the Model S, the Air's rear cabin provides expansive space for three adults with segment-leading amounts of legroom.
9 The Air Offers The Most Advanced Driver Assistance Systems In The World
Tesla has been bragging for years about its self-driving capabilities, but they are basically two optional functions that allow its models to run on autopilot. The Lucid Air on the other hand has the Dream Drive - the most advanced driver assists in the world that has autonomous driving capabilities that exceed the offerings of Tesla. The latest version - called Dream Drive Pro - features a rich 32-sensor suite consisting of 14 cameras, 1 lidar, 5 radar, and 12 ultrasonic units. Its software stack runs on the NVIDIA Drive platform and delivers incredible computing power for advanced features that optimize the driver's safety while helping him make critical road decisions. The feature is standard on Lucid Air Dream Edition and Lucid Air Grand Touring trims and is offered as an option on all the other Lucid models.
10 The Lucid Air Comes With Three Years Of Free Fast Charging At Electrify America Stations
Of course, we do not say that the Lucid Air doesn't have its flaws, and it is far from being a perfect EV. This is why a good warranty is a must. And, it does benefit from a warranty identical to what Tesla has to offer: four-year/50,000-mile basic coverage, and eight years/100,000 miles for the powertrain and battery. In fact, the Model S wins here, as it comes with an eight-year/150,000 miles warranty for the powertrain and battery. But the Lucid will offer the Air's owners three years of free fast charging at Electrify America stations, meaning you will get to ride for free during this period.