My last Lyft from EWR Terminal C to Union Square area came in under 34 minutes (spend 10 minutes or so dealing with Manhattan local traffic).
Traffic notwithstanding, it is highly conceiveable to travel to/from EWR faster than JFK from a lot of areas in Manhattan, in particular west side of Manhattan. Public transportation can be quicker as well.
I often leave much later when I am heading to EWR. Last time I left NYC about 90 minutes to departure.