If you’re cross‑shopping the Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS, you’re not just buying an EV. You’re choosing what kind of luxury you believe in: West Coast clean‑sheet startup thinking, or 130 years of Stuttgart pedigree wrapped around enough lithium to light a city.
Two very different answers to the same question
Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS: who they’re really for
Lucid Air: the engineer’s luxury car
The Lucid Air feels like it was designed by people who read spec sheets for fun. Ridiculous range, enormous power, and a surprisingly practical cabin wrapped in minimalist, California‑modern design. If you care about efficiency, performance, and future‑leaning tech more than brand history, this is your car.
- You want the longest range available in a production EV sedan.
- You prefer a taut, more communicative drive.
- You’re open to a younger brand if the product is objectively strong.
Mercedes EQS: the rolling spa
The EQS is what happens when Mercedes builds a spaceship S‑Class. Soft, extremely quiet, and unapologetically focused on comfort first. The cabin is a lounge, the steering is relaxed, and the brand equity does a lot of talking before you even push the start button.
- You value cushy ride quality and noise isolation over razor‑sharp handling.
- You want the Mercedes badge and dealer network backing your purchase.
- You like tech that dazzles, huge screens, ambient lighting, and massaging seats.
Headline numbers: Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS
Key specs: range, power, and pricing at a glance
Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS: core specs (recent US trims)
Representative specs for popular trims. Exact numbers vary by model year, wheel size, and options.
| Model | Example Trim | Powertrain | EPA Range (mi) | 0–60 mph | Original MSRP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Air Pure | Single‑motor RWD | ~430 hp | ≈410–419 | ~4.5 sec | ≈$70k |
| Lucid Air Touring | Dual‑motor AWD | ~620 hp | ≈411 | ≈3.4 sec | ≈$78k |
| Lucid Air Grand Touring | Dual‑motor AWD | 819 hp | Up to ~516 | ≈3.0 sec | ≈$110k |
| Mercedes EQS 450+ | Single‑motor RWD | ≈329 hp | Mid‑350s | ≈5.9 sec | High‑$90k range |
| Mercedes EQS 450 4MATIC | Dual‑motor AWD | ≈355 hp | Low‑ to mid‑340s | ≈5.4 sec | ≈$100k+ |
| Mercedes EQS 580 4MATIC | Dual‑motor AWD | ≈516 hp | Low‑ to mid‑340s | ≈4.1 sec | ≈$120k+ |
Use this as a directional guide; always verify the specific car you’re considering.
About those numbers…
Range and efficiency: why Lucid keeps winning this stat
If range is your North Star, the Lucid Air is tough to argue with. Lucid built its reputation on a hyper‑efficient powertrain and slippery aerodynamics, and it shows on the spec sheet and in the real world.
- Lucid Air Grand Touring can deliver up to roughly 516 miles of EPA‑estimated range in efficient configurations, with even the Pure hovering around the low‑400‑mile mark when spec’d sensibly.
- Most EQS sedan trims, 450+, 450 4MATIC, 580 4MATIC, live in the mid‑300‑mile neighborhood, depending on wheels and options.
- Lucid typically ekes out more miles per kWh than the EQS, which means less time tethered to a fast charger on long trips.
Don’t buy range you won’t use
Performance and driving feel: sport sedan vs rolling lounge
Lucid Air: the stealth supercar
Even in mid‑tier Touring form, the Air is properly quick. Dual motors, sub‑4‑second sprints to 60, and a chassis that feels more like a big sport sedan than a yacht. Steering is light but accurate, body motions are well‑tied down, and the car shrinks around you more than its footprint suggests.
If you step up to Grand Touring or the absurd Sapphire, you’re firmly in supercar territory. The car will do things your inner child shouldn’t know are possible in a five‑seat sedan.
Mercedes EQS: first‑class, not first‑corner
The EQS can be very quick, especially the 580 and AMG variants, but its heart is in ride comfort. The suspension is pillowy, the cabin isolation eerie. It’s a car that encourages smooth inputs and unhurried driving. You can hustle it, but you’ll feel you’re asking it to do something unbecoming of its station.
Rear‑axle steering makes parking‑lot and city work surprisingly easy; the EQS can pivot like a smaller car. Out on a twisty road, though, the EQS is a calm observer where the Lucid wants to participate.
Choose your idea of luxury
Interior comfort and design: California studio vs S‑Class spaceship
Cabin character: Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS
Both cabins are futuristic, but they scratch different itches.
Lucid Air interior
- Design language: airy, horizontal, light‑filled. Think high‑end tech startup lobby.
- Materials: sustainably minded trims, tasteful wood and metal, generally excellent fit and finish.
- Space: generous rear legroom, massive glass canopy available, excellent packaging.
- Vibe: Modernist and slightly understated; it’s techy without screaming about it.
Mercedes EQS interior
- Design language: wraparound sculpture, flowing forms, extravagant ambient lighting.
- Materials: top‑tier leather, intricate stitching, metallic switchgear, classic Mercedes attention to detail.
- Space: Plenty of room, though the cab‑forward profile and high floor can make it feel more cocoon than greenhouse.
- Vibe: High‑end lounge meets first‑class airline pod. It wants you to recline, not attack corners.
Seat comfort matters more than you think
Tech and driver assistance: Hyperscreen vs Lucid’s clean UX
Both cars are tech showcases, but they express that in radically different ways.
- Lucid Air uses a large curved display for the cluster plus a central touchscreen and lower tablet that can retract. The UI is clean and fast, with an emphasis on core functions and over‑the‑air updates.
- Mercedes EQS offers the optional MBUX Hyperscreen, basically an entire digital wall of glass spanning the dash. Even without Hyperscreen, you get a huge central display and rich graphics, plus a deep feature set.
- Driver‑assist in both cars includes adaptive cruise, lane centering, and automated parking features, though exact capabilities and branding differ by model year and options.
The dark side of big screens
Charging and road‑trip ability
Out on the highway, you’ll care less about who has more pixels and more about how fast you can get out of the charging plaza and back on the road.
Charging realities for Lucid Air and Mercedes EQS owners
1. DC fast‑charging speeds
Lucid engineered the Air for very high peak DC charging rates and, more importantly, a strong charging curve. With the right station, adding ~200 miles in well under 20 minutes is realistic. The EQS also supports fast DC speeds, but in most real‑world tests the Lucid spends less time at the plug for the same miles added.
2. Network access
Neither car is married to a proprietary network the way early Tesla models were. You’ll be using large public networks and, increasingly, NACS‑equipped stations. Check which connectors and maximum rates your specific model year supports before a big trip.
3. Home charging setup
Both are large‑battery EVs; a <strong>Level 2 home charger</strong> is practically mandatory if you drive regularly. Plan on a 40–60A circuit to comfortably refill overnight.
4. Cold‑weather performance
All big‑battery EVs lose range in cold climates. Lucid’s efficiency advantage doesn’t disappear, but don’t expect full brochure range numbers from either car if you live somewhere with real winters.
Used buyer tip
Ownership costs, depreciation, and used-market reality
Here’s where the conversation gets unglamorous, and where shopping used can save you shocking amounts of money.
- Both the Lucid Air and Mercedes EQS have seen steep depreciation from their original six‑figure MSRPs. That’s painful for first owners and a gift for you if you’re buying used.
- Early Lucid Air models and first‑generation EQS sedans can sometimes be found at prices that overlap nicely with new mid‑range EV crossovers, despite offering far more performance and luxury.
- Running costs are gentle compared with gas flagships: no oil changes, far fewer moving parts, and regenerative braking that baby‑sits your pads and rotors. Tires and potential out‑of‑warranty repairs are the big‑ticket items to watch.
Warranty and service: read the fine print
Which should you buy, new vs used scenarios
Who should choose Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS?
Match the car to your life, not just your lust.
High‑mileage road‑tripper
Chauffeur‑me, please
Used‑market value hunter
When a used Lucid Air makes sense
If you want bleeding‑edge range and performance but wince at quarter‑million‑dollar sticker shock, a used Air Pure, Touring, or Grand Touring with verified battery health can be extraordinary value. You’re getting a car engineered to embarrass legacy brands on efficiency, at a price that now overlaps with mainstream luxury crossovers.
When a used EQS is the smart money
If you’ve always wanted an S‑Class but don’t want to pay for premium gas ever again, a well‑optioned used EQS 450+ or 580 with the right packages scratches that itch. Focus on examples with complete service histories and plenty of warranty runway left.
How Recharged fits into a Lucid Air or EQS search
Shopping these cars used can be thrilling, and a little intimidating. You’re dealing with cutting‑edge battery tech, complex software stacks, and six‑figure hardware that’s now priced like a nicely optioned family SUV.
Why to use Recharged for a used Lucid Air or Mercedes EQS
Verified battery health with the Recharged Score
Every EV on Recharged includes a <strong>Recharged Score Report</strong> with battery diagnostics, so you’re not guessing about degradation on an expensive luxury pack.
Transparent, fair pricing
Our pricing tools benchmark Lucid Air and EQS listings against the wider market, so you see clearly whether that dream spec is actually a good deal.
Financing tailored to used EVs
Recharged offers <strong>EV‑friendly financing</strong>, including pre‑qualification options, so you can see real numbers before you start comparing trim levels and options.
Trade‑in and selling options
Already own an EV or gas luxury car? You can <strong>trade in, get an instant offer, or consign</strong> through Recharged, rolling equity into your Lucid or EQS upgrade.
Nationwide delivery and EV‑specialist support
From our Experience Center in Richmond, VA to fully digital buying and nationwide delivery, your purchase is backed by specialists who live and breathe EVs, not just add them to a gas‑car lot.
FAQ: Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS
Frequently asked questions about Lucid Air vs Mercedes EQS
Bottom line: choosing the right luxury EV flagship
The Lucid Air is the EV for people who look at numbers first: range, efficiency, 0–60 times, charge‑curve plots. It’s a statement that the future doesn’t have to compromise. The Mercedes EQS is for people who believe luxury begins when their shoulders drop; an S‑Class for the silence era, more spa than scalpel.
Either can be an incredible daily companion, if its strengths line up with your life. If you’re staring down a used listing for a Lucid or EQS and trying to separate dream from danger, that’s where Recharged comes in: verified battery health, transparent pricing, EV‑savvy support, and nationwide delivery. Do your homework, drive both if you can, and let the one that feels like your future, not someone else’s, win.
