The most efficient and longest-range EV you can buy in the US isn't a Tesla
Published on Feb 02, 2026 at 4:04 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Jan 30, 2026 at 5:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Tesla usually dominates any conversation about EV range and efficiency.
When people talk numbers, the same name tends to come up again and again.
But once you stop assuming and start comparing, the leaderboard actually looks quite different.
Because the EV winning on efficiency right now isn’t wearing a Tesla badge at all.
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The EV that beats Tesla where it matters most
First, a quick reset.
Range and efficiency are not the same thing.
Range is how far an EV goes on a full charge.
Efficiency is how little electricity it uses to get there.
Think distance versus effort.
On both counts, the car sitting at the top of the US charts is the Lucid Air.
In its most efficient form, the Air Pure RWD with 19-inch wheels uses just 23kWh to travel 100 miles.
That translates to 146MPGe, which makes it the most efficient EV currently on sale in America according to EPA figures.
That puts it ahead of Tesla’s best efforts.
The Tesla Model Y Standard RWD comes in at 138MPGe, while the Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD sits at 137MPGe.
Solid numbers, sure, but they don’t top the charts.
The Lucid Air also pulls off something rare.
Depending on the version you choose, it’s not just the most efficient EV in the US, it’s also the longest-range one.
That means the same model can win on saving energy and covering distance, which is not a combo you see very often.
All of this is happening even though Lucid sells a fraction of the cars Tesla does.
It’s a small brand, but the engineering numbers are doing a lot of heavy lifting.
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Why this efficiency crown doesn’t come cheap
There is a catch, and it’s the price tag.
The Lucid Air Pure starts at just over $70,000.
A Tesla Model 3 starts under $40,000.
That gap alone explains why you see one everywhere and the other mostly online.
Still, the base Air Pure isn’t some slow, sensible eco special.
It hits 0-60mph in the mid-four-second range, rides comfortably, and has room inside.
It leans heavily on screens, like Tesla, but the layout feels a bit more traditional.
Then there’s the Lucid Air Sapphire, which exists purely to flex.
It does 0-60mph in under two seconds, keeps pulling all the way to 200mph, and still manages more than 400 miles of range.
Efficiency drops to 105MPGe, but that’s still better than plenty of everyday EVs.
Lucid may not be the loudest name in EVs, but right now it owns the numbers.
And if efficiency is the scoreboard, Tesla isn’t on top.
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With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
