I've Owned Tesla 2024 Model 3, Rivian R1S, and Lucid Air in LA, Here's The Truth About Build Quality, Software, and Why Tesla Is The iPhone of EVs

There’s something quintessentially American about how we build cars: big-hearted, overpromised, underdelivered, and deeply emotional. We can land a rover on Mars, but ask us to align a bumper flush and we act like you’ve invented fire. That legacy continues into our brave new electric future. 

Comparing the 2024 Tesla Model 3, 2023 Lucid Air Touring & Rivian R1S

One Redditor lived with the 2024 Tesla Model 3 refresh, a 2023 Lucid Air Touring, and the quad-motor Rivian R1S, all three supposed flagships of America’s EV ambition. What Neat_Reference7559 got instead was a trio of vehicles that are brilliant, broken, and beautifully flawed in very different ways.

“Having had all 3 (2024 refresh model 3, 2023 air touring, 2023 quad motor R1S) here's my tl; dr; Elon aside.

Rivian: build quality slightly worse than Tesla, rattles and squeaks, and some panel gaps. Hardest to park, but the only one to take off-road (obviously). Software it’s somewhere between Lucid and Tesla. Driver+ is about the same as DreamDrive and probably somewhere between Tesla Autopilot and EAP. Great if you live in the suburbs or go camping a lot. NACS adapter made charging a non-issue. Worst battery life. Driving is good, if not a bit firm. Suspension is a bit harsh. I like that it has a personality with the headlights, boxy design, and overall adventure theme. I just don’t spend enough time in national parks, etc, for any of this to be useful. The sound system disappoints. Best trunk and frunk easily.

LUCID: definitely gets the most attention and eyeballs. People comment on it ALL the time. Range and battery are the best, easily gets 380-400 miles. Build quality is impeccable. By far the best to drive, no noises, rattles, etc. Software is the worst of the 3, but getting closer to Rivian. Having CarPlay makes me forgive them for some of the software issues. Definitely the slowest software. Dreamdrive is decent, I’d give it an edge over Rivian, though it’s an assist more than an autopilot. Best parking sensors and assist (I have the LiDAR version). Highest quality interior. Best suspension and one pedal driving out of any EV (and possibly car) I’ve ever driven. It's way more spacious inside than you’d think, though the frunk is small and the trunk opening is weird. Charging speed is great but no NaCS adapter yet means you’re stuck with electrify America and EVGO which sucks. A pain to service and insure.

Model 3: the iPhone of EVs. It just works, but it’s a little boring. Software is in another class. FSD is insanely good. Literally almost Waymo level (though this heavily depends on location and whether you have HW4 or not, LA is the perfect location for it. Took it on a 3-hour LA to San Diego trip and didn’t touch the wheel once. Build quality (even on the refresh) is meh. Easiest to park due to its size and auto park. Easiest to service in LA. The charging infrastructure is unmatched. The sound system is on another level. Never use the frunk cause it’s not powered. The trunk is ok for its size. Suspension is good, but nowhere near lucid. Not having an instrument cluster or stalks is stupid.”

Let’s start with the Rivian. It’s a charming, gruff golden retriever of a vehicle, slightly too large, always eager, and prone to tracking mud through the living room. The R1S feels like it was designed by people who love camping but had to Google what “fit and finish” meant. As one Reddit user noted, 

“First time I’ve seen Rivian build quality put below Tesla,” 

Which should be enough to make any quality control engineer sweat bullets. And yet, it’s impossible to hate. The storage is smart. The personality is real. The boxy stance is both nostalgic and futuristic. Like an old Wagoneer with a Stanford degree in machine learning.

EV Specs Face-Off: Range, Design & Pricing of Rivian R1S vs. Lucid Air vs. Tesla Model 3

• The Rivian R1S is a rugged, all-electric SUV designed for off-road adventures and family trips, featuring a spacious three-row layout. In contrast, the Lucid Air is a luxury sedan emphasizing opulence and extended range, while the Tesla Model 3 offers a minimalist design focused on affordability and cutting-edge technology.
• The Lucid Air has an impressive range of up to 516 miles, catering to those seeking long-distance travel without frequent charging. The Rivian R1S offers around 316 miles of range, balancing performance with utility. The Tesla Model 3 provides a range between 272 to 358 miles, depending on the variant, appealing to daily commuters and tech enthusiasts.
• Starting at approximately $74,300, the Rivian R1S targets the premium SUV market. The Lucid Air, with a starting price around $77,400, positions itself in the luxury sedan segment. The Tesla Model 3, starting at about $43,880, aims to make EV ownership more accessible to a broader audience.

Then there’s the Lucid, the only one of the three that feels truly luxurious. Inside, it’s quiet enough to hear your heartbeat. The suspension floats like a Bentley, and the range, 400 miles without the drama of nursing kilowatts, is a revelation. Reddit user TSLAog, who’s worked for all three automakers, nails it:

“Suspension, ride quality, and interior quality are next level.”

And yet, Lucid’s software moves with all the urgency of a DMV line, and the charging experience is still tied to the Soviet-grade infrastructure of Electrify America.

The car whispers class but screams beta test once you tap the screen.

Hands-Free 3-Hour LA To San Diego Journey

The Model 3. Tesla’s middle child. Still a genius, still emotionally unavailable. It’s the only one of the trio that could legitimately replace a driver. On a three-hour jaunt from L.A. to San Diego, it piloted itself with eerie precision, no input, no nonsense. But don’t let the smooth software fool you. The build remains a roll of the dice.

Even in its refreshed 2024 form, it still wears misaligned panels like a badge of honor. No stalks, no instrument cluster, just a touchscreen and your trust in software engineers named Brandon. It’s impressive, but try loving it. You’ll find more warmth in your toaster.

And that’s the thing. For those of us with motor oil in our veins, these cars must have personalities. They need to surprise us, frustrate us, charm us.

The Rivian’s adventure-minded vibe, complete with real off-road chops, gives it a reason to exist beyond Costco runs. The Lucid’s grace and swagger put it closer to an S-Class than anything America has built in a generation. The Tesla, for all its minimalist stoicism, is the only one that feels like it was designed with a Silicon Valley future in mind, cold, calculating, and ahead of its time in all the wrong ways.

2025 EV Market Outlook: Adoption Rates & Charging Infrastructure Growth

• Electric vehicles are projected to account for over 25% of global car sales in 2025, with more than 20 million units expected to be sold. This growth is largely driven by strong demand in China, where EVs are becoming increasingly affordable and popular. 
• To support the rising number of EVs, significant investments are being made in charging infrastructure. In the U.S., automakers have launched a joint venture aiming to build 30,000 public fast-charging stations nationwide by 2030, enhancing the convenience and feasibility of EV ownership. 
• While global EV adoption is on the rise, the U.S. market faces challenges due to recent policy changes. The rollback of certain subsidies and regulations has led to a downward revision of EV growth projections in the country. Nonetheless, advancements in battery technology and increasing model availability continue to support the overall upward trend in EV adoption.

But flaws and all, owning these three has been a masterclass in American ambition. They’re not just EVs, they’re cultural statements. Each one represents a different take on what it means to build a “better” car. The R1S screams freedom, the Air whispers refinement, and the Model 3 shouts code. And while none of them are built like a Lexus, they each bring something to the table that keeps you coming back, even after the tailgate creaks or the infotainment crashes again.

Can EVs Be Perfect? 

You want perfection? Buy a Toyota. You want something with soul, built by people swinging for the fences with a welder in one hand and a dream in the other? This is it. Sure, the Rivian might rattle, the Lucid might glitch, and the Tesla might ghost your calls for a service appointment, but they try. That’s the secret sauce. That’s the old-school American car spirit, flawed, passionate, and never boring.

Owning all three hasn’t just been a test of patience. It’s been a reminder of why we love cars in the first place. Because at the end of the day, when the charging’s done, the trim has been re-clipped, and the software finally stops rebooting, there’s still that moment.

Image Sources: Tesla Media Center, Rivian Media Center, Lucid Newsroom

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.