Tesla Model S vs. Lucid Air: Which One Wins the Range Wars?

Tesla is crushing its EV competition in key metrics such as range, acceleration, and semi-autonomous driving technology. Among the many new electric vehicles arriving in the coming years is the Lucid Air, an electric sedan that threatens to topple the Tesla Model S’ range domination. Although official EPA figures have not yet been released, Lucid is providing some ambitious range estimates for the Air. By how much could the Lucid Air surpass its biggest rival? Find out in this Tesla Model S vs. Lucid Air driving range comparison.

Tesla Model S Range

Tesla’s Model S has long been the benchmark by which other so-called “long-range EVs” are judged. The 2020 Tesla Model S can travel 402 miles in Long Range Plus configuration, according to the EPA, making it the first production EV to crack the 400-mile-per-charge barrier. At this level, Tesla is approaching (and, in some cases, exceeding) the range you might expect of a gas-powered car. In the quicker-accelerating Tesla Model S Performance, ultimate range is sacrificed somewhat—to a still impressive 348 miles.

There’s evidence the Model S can travel longer distances than its official range numbers suggest. When we tested a 2019 Model S with an EPA-rated range of 370 miles, we drove 359 miles and had an estimated 41 miles of range remaining, indicating the sedan actually had enough juice to travel 400 miles outside of an EPA-certified laboratory test cycle.

Lucid Air Range

Lucid has some wild range estimates for the new Air. The automaker figures that the standard battery version, which will be available after launch, will travel 400 miles. And that’s not even the top of the heap.

Truly impressive range is anticipated from the upgraded model, whose bigger battery is said to help the Air achieve 517 miles per charge, a figure that unequivocally blows Tesla out of the water. Again, this is not an official EPA figure. But it’s the number verified by the Ann Arbor, Michigan, arm of German engineering services company FEV in an EPA-identical, two-cycle range test.

Is this estimate completely crazy? No, as we discovered in a recent ride-along in the Air. The folks at Lucid drove us 490 miles in the sedan before we reached the (or our) limit of human endurance for one day of driving.

Tesla Model S vs. Lucid Air Range

Tesla Model S: EPA-estimated 402 miles
Lucid Air: initial estimate of 517 miles

Game, Lucid? Not so fast. We expect the EV range wars to heat up as additional electric vehicles pour into the market. Rivian expects its upcoming electric SUV and truck to achieve more than 400 miles of range. Meanwhile, Tesla says the Cybertruck will travel more than 500 miles, and the Roadster is expected to hit an astonishing 620 miles. Of course, only time will tell if these initial estimates prove accurate in the real world.

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