Tesla Model 3 vs. Lucid Air
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Tesla Model 3 and Lucid Air contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Tesla Model 3 and the Lucid Air.
In comparing the Tesla Model 3's and the Lucid Air's specifications and ratings, the Tesla Model 3 has the advantage in the area of resale value. The Lucid Air has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Tesla Model 3's and the Lucid Air's specifications and ratings, the Lucid Air is a better car than the Tesla Model 3.
Pricing: A used 2025 Tesla Model 3 ranges from $34,489 to $42,997 while a used 2025 Lucid Air is priced between $26,900 to $104,398.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Tesla Model 3 loses 57 percent of its value and the Lucid Air loses 66.3 percent of its value. This means the Tesla Model 3 retains 9.4 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Lucid Air.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Tesla Model 3’s base engine makes 425 horsepower, and the Lucid Air base engine makes 430 horsepower. Both the Model 3 and the Air are rated to deliver an average of 127 miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe), with highway ranges of 363 and 420 miles respectively. Both models use electricity. The charge time for the Model 3 is 11.7 hours (240V), while the charge time for the Air is 10 hours (240V).
Passenger Space Comparison: The Tesla Model 3 and Lucid Air are comparable in regards to rear head room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, both the Tesla Model 3 and the Lucid Air have the same average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
42490
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
53363
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
42490 - 64800
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
76335 - 98270
Starting MSRP:
69900
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
92775
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
65900 - 167000
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
38037
Price Range:
34489 - 42997
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
49176
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
38037 - 60314
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
73300
Price Range:
26900 - 104398
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
89663
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
69625 - 139717
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
24507
Depreciation %:
0.57676273
Resale Value $:
17983
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
0.57677703
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
0.57676273 - 0.68367001
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
Depreciation %:
Resale Value $:
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
0.65481892
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
0.51953047 - 0.72274199
Tesla Model 3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.3 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Lucid Air Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
6.7 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Tesla Model 3
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lucid Air
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
167.42938742975846
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
6.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Compact Cars)
6.4 - 167.4
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
13.859828074738502
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
3.9
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Electric Midsize Cars)
2.0 - 35.3
Tesla Model 3 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 21Ranking
3 out of / 30Ranking
3 out of / 22Ranking
4 out of / 22Ranking
4 out of / 22Ranking
4 out of / 22Ranking
5 out of / 27Ranking
6 out of / 30Ranking
6 out of / 30Ranking
7 out of / 30Ranking
11 out of / 22Ranking
16 out of / 30Ranking
17 out of / 22Ranking
18 out of / 30Lucid Air Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 22Ranking
1 out of / 22Ranking
2 out of / 30Ranking
2 out of / 30Ranking
2 out of / 22Ranking
5 out of / 22Ranking
6 out of / 30Ranking
6 out of / 21Ranking
7 out of / 30Ranking
9 out of / 22Ranking
10 out of / 22Ranking
11 out of / 22Ranking
12 out of / 30Ranking
12 out of / 27Ranking
15 out of / 30Ranking
17 out of / 30Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Electric
Available Drivetrain Options
Electric
Tesla Model 3 Trim Levels
Long Range, Performance
Lucid Air Trim Levels
Grand Touring, Pure, Sapphire, Touring
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
8 years / 120000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
8 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
425 hp
Torque:
475 foot-lbs
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.105 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
430 hp
Torque:
406 foot-lbs
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.094 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
MPGe:
127 / 127 / 127
Range (city/hwy):
363 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Electricity
Battery Size/Capacity :
82 kWh
Maximum Charging Rate:
11.7 hours (240V)
Engine Specifications
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
MPGe:
127 / 127 / 127
Range (city/hwy):
420 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Electricity
Battery Size/Capacity:
84 kWh
Maximum Charging Rate:
10 hours (240V)
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
Available
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Standard
Roof Rack:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.3 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.2 inches
Cargo Space:
24.1 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
45.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
58.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
37.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.5 inches
Cargo Space:
32.1 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
122.8 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4030 lbs
Width:
82.2 inches
Height:
56.7 inches
Length:
185.8 inches
Wheelbase:
113.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.4 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4564 lbs
Width:
86.4 inches
Height:
55.4 inches
Length:
195.9 inches
Wheelbase:
116.5 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.9 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/45R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P245/45R19
Exterior Colors
Black
Solid Black
Blue
Deep Blue Metallic
Gray
Stealth Gray
Red
Ultra Red
Silver
Quicksilver
White
Pearl White Multi-Coat
Exterior Colors
Black
Infinite Black Metallic
Blue
Fathom Blue Metallic
Gray
Quantum Gray Metallic
Red
Zenith Red Metallic
Silver
Cosmos Silver Metallic
White
Stellar White Metallic
Interior Colors
Black
Black
White
Black and White
Gray
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Not available
White
Santa Cruz
Gray
Mojave