Compare the2024 Mercedes EQSVS 2024 Lucid Motors Air

The EQS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Air doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The rear seatbelts optional on the EQS inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Air doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The EQS has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Air doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The EQS has standard Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Air doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the EQS and the Air have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

As tested in Car and Driver the EQS 580 4MATIC is faster than the Air Pure electric motor:

	EQS	Air
Zero to 60 MPH	3.7 sec	4.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.1 sec	9.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.8 sec	4.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.1 sec	12.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	114 MPH	113 MPH
Top Speed	131 MPH	127 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG EQS is faster than the Air Pure electric motor:

	EQS	Air
Zero to 60 MPH	3 sec	4.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7.6 sec	9.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.3 sec	4.5 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	1.3 sec	1.8 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	1.8 sec	2.3 sec
Quarter Mile	11.4 sec	12.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	119 MPH	113 MPH
Top Speed	154 MPH	154 MPH

For better stopping power the EQS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Air:

	EQS	AMG EQS CCB	Air	Air Sapphire
Front Rotors	15.3 inches	17.4 inches	15 inches	16.5 inches
Rear Rotors	14.9 inches	14.9 inches	14.8 inches	15.4 inches

The EQS stops much shorter than the Air:

	EQS	Air
100 to 0 MPH	333 feet	385 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	193 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	118 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the EQS has larger standard tires than the Air (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R19). The AMG EQS’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Air (275/40R21 vs. 265/35R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EQS has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Air. The EQS’ optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Air.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the EQS can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Air doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the EQS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Air, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The EQS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The EQS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Air doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The EQS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Air doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EQS’ wheelbase is 9.9 inches longer than on the Air (126.4 inches vs. 116.5 inches).

The AMG EQS 4MATIC handles at .92 G’s, while the Air Grand Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the EQS w/10° rear-wheel steering’s turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the Air’s (35.8 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The AMG EQS’ turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Air’s (37.7 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The front grille of the EQS uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Air doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The EQS has .8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 4.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Air.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the EQS’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Air doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Air, the EQS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The EQS offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Air doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the EQS the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Air can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the EQS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Air doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

Consumer Reports rated the EQS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Air’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The EQS’ power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Air’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

When the EQS is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Air’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The EQS’ standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Air has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The EQS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Air doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

On extremely cold winter days, the EQS’ optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Air doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the EQS and the Air offer optional massaging front seats. The EQS also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the Air.

The Mercedes EQS outsold the Lucid Motors Air by over two to one during 2023.