Tesla is the most popular EV automaker in America, and in terms of luxury EVs, few automakers can even compete with the Tesla Model S. That being said, Lucid Motors is a brand-new EV startup, and it’s created an EV that can compete with the Model S. Here’s a look at the 2023 Lucid Air and why it’s narrowly better than the 2023 Tesla Model S according to U.S. News.

It’s a tight race between the 2023 Lucid Air and the 2023 Tesla Model S

U.S. News recently compared the two luxury electric sedans, and it was too close to call in many areas. Even in the areas where there was a clear winner, it was a close race between the two.

For example, the Tesla has more cargo capacity overall as it has a hatchback design while the Air doesn’t. The Model S has 25 cu. ft. of space in the trunk, and 3.1 cu. ft. in its frunk. 

The Air, on the other hand, has 16.1 cu. ft. of space in its trunk, but 7.1 cu. ft. in its frunk. This means that the Model S has a total cargo capacity of 28.1 cu. ft. between its trunk and frunk, compared to the Air’s 23.2 cu. ft. Another area where the two EVs are similar is in their acceleration times. When properly equipped, the Tesla can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.99 seconds. That’s faster than the Lucid’s 2.6 seconds, but both cars are still very fast.

The two EVs were tied in other areas. For example, the car critic wrote that they were about the same in terms of their ride quality and how they handled. Both automakers also designed their cars to be very safe, so they were also tied in terms of safety.

Why the 2023 Lucid Air is marginally better than the 2023 Tesla Model S

Lucid Motors got the win in several significant areas, however. The longest-range version of the Air gets up to 516 miles of range, and that’s far more range than what other EVs have to offer. That’s an especially impressive range number since the Model S gets 405 miles at best, and that’s also more range than what most EVs get.

On top of that, the Air swept the Model S in terms of its cabin quality. The Tesla’s cabin feels “dated” compared to the Air’s cabin as the Lucid EV’s interior is “opulent” and well-designed.

Similarly, the Air’s seats are more spacious and comfortable, though the Tesla’s seats aren’t bad either. Lucid also gave the Air more interior features, including tech features. 

The centerpiece of the Lucid EV’s infotainment system is a 34-inch display that’s split between a digital gauge cluster and a touch screen. The Model S, meanwhile, has a 17-inch touch screen that works with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster display. The Air also won in terms of pricing. It starts at just over $87,000, and that’s much cheaper than the Model S’ starting price tag of over $105,000.

Car shoppers have a tough choice no matter what

Overall though, both EVs are high-quality luxury cars that cost a lot of money. U.S. News ultimately gave the Lucid Air the win, but car shoppers may not agree with that decision. The Model S is very capable in its own way, and that’s why it’s so crucial that luxury EV shoppers do their own research before making a decision.

The best way to do that research is to test drive the two EVs for yourself. That way, drivers will get a first-hand account of what they like or don’t like about these two great EVs.