I drove fancy, six-figure electric cars from Mercedes and Lucid. Here's why I'd go with the startup over the old guard.

We pitted the Mercedes EQS against the Lucid Air in the ultimate battle of old versus new.Tim Levin/Insider

• I drove the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Motors Air, two high-tech, high-performance electric sedans.
• Both Tesla rivals cost well over $100,000 and are super comfy and luxurious.

The rise of electric vehicles means consumers now have old-school automakers and flashy new startups all competing for their hard-earned dollars.

On one end of the spectrum, you have players like Mercedes-Benz, a century-old company trying to preserve its reputation while embracing new technology. On the other, you have Lucid Motors, a high-tech newcomer from Silicon Valley looking to generate some clout of its own and compete with the big dogs.

I drove the two companies' large luxury sedans — the Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Air — and came away impressed by their technology, comfort, and performance. But the Air has the edge in my book.