What is the lowest drag coefficient car in the world today?
The Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan currently holds the title for the lowest drag coefficient among production cars, with a Cd around 0.20.
Drag coefficient, or Cd, is a key aerodynamic metric that quantifies how much air resistance a vehicle generates at speed. This article explains who holds the record today, what counts as production versus concept vehicles, and why the numbers matter for efficiency and range.
Current production leaders
Below are production cars that have been cited as having the lowest Cd values in modern market releases. Values are those reported by manufacturers or widely corroborated by automotive press, and can vary slightly by trim, wheels, and testing setup.
- Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan — Cd about 0.20
- Tesla Model S — Cd about 0.208
- Lucid Air — Cd about 0.21
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 — Cd about 0.226
These production cars represent the current practical benchmark for aerodynamics in the consumer market, noting that the exact Cd can change with configuration or window treatment.
Ultra-low-drag concepts and prototypes
For research and development, engineers have demonstrated even lower drag coefficients in non-production show cars and prototypes. The following example illustrates the upper bound reached in controlled tests.
- Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX (concept car): Cd ~0.17
While the Vision EQXX showcased an exceptional drag figure in wind tunnel testing and on controlled driving routes, it is not available for sale, and its Cd is not representative of what consumers can buy today.
Why the numbers matter
A lower drag coefficient translates into less air resistance at highway speeds, helping to improve range for electric vehicles and fuel efficiency for combustion-powered cars. However, Cd is only one part of the aerodynamics story; factors such as frontal area, rolling resistance, tires, underbody treatment, and overall vehicle weight also play critical roles in real-world efficiency.
How Cd is measured in practice
Cd values are typically determined in wind tunnels or via calibrated vehicle testing with standardized conditions (e.g., specific speeds, configurations, and weather). They can vary with wheel size, mirrors, spoilers, underbody panels, and other design choices, so real-world efficiency may differ from laboratory figures.
Summary
Today’s production cars with the lowest published Cd values sit around 0.20–0.21, led by the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan (approximately 0.20). Concept vehicles like the Vision EQXX have demonstrated even lower numbers in controlled testing, but they are not available for purchase. The pursuit of ever-lower drag continues to push automotive design toward more streamlined shapes, active aero, and optimized underbodies, with improvements often translating into longer electric-range and better efficiency for consumers.
