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Lucid Air vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2026 Lucid Air vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class — two large cars compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Lucid Air

2026 Lucid Air

Large CarsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS1 – 3Mercedes-Benz S-Class wins 3 of 4 categories
Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Large CarsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

That works out to about $3,050 a year less in fuel for the Lucid Air (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the bigger car, about 12 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has had fewer recall campaigns (1 vs 19).

The two cars

The 2026 Lucid Air is a large car powered by electricity and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 196 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 117-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,203 lb (4dr Sedan Grand Touring AWD).

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a large car offered with 3 engines (3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo and 6.0L 12-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 208 inches long and 77 inches wide on a 126-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,740 lb (S500 4matic 4dr Sedan Lwb).

Buying used? The 2024 Air and the 2024 S-Class have the fewest problems in our data.

Basics

Large Cars
Class
Large Cars
EV
Fuel
Hybrid, Premium Gasoline
EV
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 4.0L 8-cyl turbo, 6.0L 12-cyl turbo
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

–
Best combined MPG
23 MPG
–
City / highway MPG (best)
20 city
512 mi
EV range
–
$500
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$3,550

Performance & space

196.1 in
Length
208.3 in
76.4 in
Width
76.8 in
55.5 in
Height
59.1 in
4,564 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,740 lb

Safety & reliability

13
Driver-assist features standard
–
4
Recalls (2026)
0
19
Recalls, all years since 2005
1
6
Owner complaints (latest year)
0

Interest

9,081
Wikipedia views, 30 days
25,362

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2024
–
Year to avoid
–

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Lucid Air if…

  • You want an EV with more range (512 miles)
  • You want something easier to park (12 in shorter)

Choose the Mercedes-Benz S-Class if…

  • You want more room (12 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (1 vs 19 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Lucid Air

  • Long EV rangeUp to 512 miles on a charge (EPA).
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • "Park outside" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.

Full 2026 Lucid Air specs →Full 2026 Mercedes-Benz S-Class specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →