Lucid Air vs Tesla Model 3: Specs Compared
Also searched as Tesla Model 3 vs Lucid Air specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Lucid Air is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 146 mpg combined versus 142 mpg for the Tesla Model 3, a 4 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Lucid Air leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Lucid Air | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 146 mpg ✓ | 142 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 149 mpg | 150 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 142 mpg ✓ | 133 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $500 ✓ | $550 |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Large Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Years covered | 2022–2026 | 2017–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 41 | 42 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Lucid Air vs Tesla Model 3 dimensions and size
The Lucid Air is 10.2 inches longer than the Tesla Model 3 on a wheelbase 3.1 inches longer, and 1,172.8 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Lucid Air (2026) | Tesla Model 3 (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 196.1 in | 185.8 in | 10.2 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 76.4 in | 72.8 in | 3.5 in |
| Height | 55.5 in | 56.7 in | 1.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.5 in | 113.4 in | 3.1 in |
| Curb weight | 5,203 lbs | 4,030 lbs | 1,173 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Lucid Air vs Tesla Model 3: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Lucid Air burns about $500 of fuel annually against $550 for the Tesla Model 3. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Tesla Model 3 is the stronger commuter at 150 mpg city, while the Lucid Air pulls ahead on the interstate at 142 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Drivetrain and class: the Lucid Air is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, the Tesla Model 3 with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Large Cars and Midsize Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Air vs Model 3: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Lucid Air or the Tesla Model 3?
The Lucid Air is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 146 mpg combined versus 142 mpg for the Tesla Model 3, a 4 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Lucid Air runs about $500 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $550 for the Tesla Model 3 — a difference of roughly $50 per year.
What engines do the Air and Model 3 offer?
Lucid Air: no engine data on record. Tesla Model 3: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Lucid Air as Large Cars and the Tesla Model 3 as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Air comparisons
More Model 3 comparisons
Comparison id: lucid-air-vs-tesla-model-3