Lucid’s 2026 Gravity: A Game-Changer That Left Me Speechless

by admin | Apr 19, 2025 | autos, cars, driving, electric cars, suvs

The inaugural SUV from Lucid is enjoyable, functional, and pretty much the most high-tech electric vehicle available on the market right now.

When I
First took the steering wheel of the Lucid Gravity
Late last year, I was taken aback. However, the test drive of the pre-production model was done in such haste that it seemed inappropriate to form concrete opinions. After spending considerable time driving the company’s revamped offering, I can now speak with greater certainty about my thoughts from December: The Gravity stands out as the most outstanding all-around electric vehicle I have ever encountered.

This three-row SUV excels in nearly inexplicable ways. It drives like a sports car yet accommodates up to seven passengers with ease. Despite its compact size compared to rivals, it offers astounding interior roominess. Adding to its impressive feats, it scores exceptionally well on essential electric vehicle metrics, boasting an almost unparalleled EPA range and performance.
the fastest recharge times in the USA
.

However, Lucid’s path with its initial vehicle demonstrates that possessing an excellent product is merely part of the challenge. Both in theory and reality, the Gravity stands out as a remarkable achievement. There’s no doubt about that.

The larger uncertainty lies in whether Lucid will manage to attract sufficient customers.

What Is It?

The California-based company Lucid Motors impressed electric car enthusiasts towards the end of 2021 when they revealed
Air sedan
arrived with a still-untouched
520 miles of range
and staggering performance.

However, Lucid’s initial offering faced limitations as a four-door sedan during an era where the automotive industry had predominantly moved towards SUVs and pickup trucks. In 2023, they managed to sell around 6,000 Air models, increasing slightly to just above 10,000 units in 2024. This represents steady progress for a new entrant into the market; nonetheless, it falls short of what would be required to establish itself as a leading automaker. Moving forward, Lucid aims to attract a larger customer base and achieve greater financial success through their Gravity model, equipped with all their advanced proprietary technology yet packaged within a larger and potentially more popular vehicle type.

The Gravity isn’t just a taller Air, though. It rides on a new platform with new motors and more energy-dense batteries. It’s built at Lucid’s factory in Arizona and technically
was made available in late December
, with a limited number of units being distributed to customers near the company. Genuine deliveries to real customers.
start later this month
.

The launch-edition Gravity Grand Touring costs a lot of dough to own, especially if you want bells and whistles like a third row, 110-volt outlets and soft-close doors. But it’s also a lot of car, with a claimed 828 horsepower, a 3.4-second 0-60-mph time and up to 450 miles of range. A Touring version starting at $15,000 less is on tap for later this year.

What Is It Like To Drive?

A few weeks earlier,
I tried out the Cadillac Escalade IQ.
It’s incredible how distinctively these two three-row electric vehicles perform on the road. The massive Escalade maneuvers like an ocean liner. While it accelerates swiftly in a straight line and serves as a comfortable ride on highways, it falls short in nearly all other aspects.

On the contrary, driving The Gravity is truly exhilarating. You might easily lose track of having an entire SUV at your disposal due to how nimble it is. The vehicle boasts rapid and sensitive steering. No matter if you floor the accelerator, apply the brakes firmly, or take tight turns, the Gravity remains stable and impressively managed. This experience can be quite astonishing considering that it’s a large family-oriented utility vehicle rather than a sleek sports car with a lower profile.

Our friends at
The Autopian
It was aptly put when someone mentioned that the Gravity handles like a sports car confined within a minivan’s frame. This is particularly evident in the Gravity’s “Sprint” driving mode, where the vehicle feels firmly planted on the road, with stiffer suspension and a more sensitive gas pedal response. Additionally, there is a softer “Smooth” setting for comfort and a moderate “Swift” option as a middle ground between the two extremes.

It’s incredibly swift, offering the seamless, effortless acceleration characteristic of electric vehicles (EVs), with Lucid being notably proficient in this aspect. Even when cruising at high speeds on highways, you have access to an almost limitless reserve of power.

Who genuinely requires a seven-seater SUV with handling like this? Likely not many people. However, what’s appealing is that the Gravity handles routine tasks effortlessly. Thanks to its adaptable air suspension system, cruising through city streets doesn’t come with the jarring stiffness found in certain high-end SUVs. Additionally, it boasts impressive silence inside. Its short hood ensures superior forward vision, which stands out against taller, squarer rivals. Furthermore, the blind-spot cameras activated upon signaling turns add an elegant feature.

A point to consider: The test vehicle included the Dynamic Handling Package, featuring rear-wheel steering and enhancing the distinction among its three driving modes. Therefore, my insights do not cover the performance of the base model without these options.

Nevertheless, you receive three tiers of
regenerative braking
I usually stuck with the Goldilocks “Standard” setting, but you have the option to switch it to “High” or turn it off altogether.

Oh, and what about
the compressed steering wheel of Gravity
I genuinely enjoyed this concept quite a bit. Lucid refers to it as the “squircle,” which aids in offering an unimpeded view of the SUV’s display without requiring much adjustment for users due to its recognizable design. In contrast, Tesla’s yoke-style steering wheel does not offer the same familiarity.

A Massive Interior

I believe the Gravity’s spacious interior will attract many more customers than its questionable handling capabilities ever could. Given how divided America has become lately, there seems to be one thing everyone can agree on: a preference for carrying as much stuff as possible.

This SUV boasts the charming feature of seeming much more spacious internally than it appears externally. This is due to its light-filled, mid-century style, along with excellent use of space.

Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall, I find the second and third rows quite comfortable due to their level flooring and generous legroom. Compared to similar vehicles, the rear seating offered even more space.
Rivian R1S
Or the Escalade IQ, either of which Lucid had available for comparison.

Moreover, the Gravity offers nearly identical cargo space—up to 120 cubic feet with the seats down—as the considerably larger Escalade. An oversized, eight-cubic-foot front trunk significantly contributes to this, along with an extensive storage compartment located beneath the rear floor.

It’s difficult to grasp just how spacious a car feels internally when measured only in cubic feet. Let me illustrate this for you. During the driving event, Lucid filled a Gravity with cardboard boxes and tasked me with fitting as many additional ones as possible into the available space nearby.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
.

I have decent spatial awareness—if you’re looking for someone to help move a sofa up a narrow staircase, count me in—so I figured I could neatly fit all the boxes inside with ease. However, after several minutes, the trunk of the EQS was completely full, leaving behind an unexpectedly large stack of unplaced boxes, roughly equaling about three carry-on bags worth. Well played, Lucid.

A Significantly Improved Lucid User Interface

Lucid’s software has consistently lagged behind competitors like Tesla.
Rivian
The design of The Air’s user interface was visually appealing, yet lacked functionality and could be somewhat perplexing. In previous models, we’ve frequently encountered problems with the voice command system powered by Alexa. Additionally, Lucid lags behind several rivals regarding sophisticated driver-assistance features.

I’ll tentatively state that the Gravity marks significant progress technologically speaking. Behind the steering wheel, there’s a strikingly clear 34-inch curved OLED display which adds an impressive visual element. Below this, the bigger tablet-like interface proves far easier to navigate intuitively compared to earlier models. It also boasts smooth transitions tied to different driving modes, suspension adjustments, and regeneration choices. Overall, Lucid’s updated UX version 3.0 appears more polished and consistent when contrasted with previous versions seen in the Air model. However, nothing has yet confirmed these improvements will extend to their sedan lineup.

The route-planning feature now offers many additional choices, such as setting your desired battery level upon arrival and selecting from your preferred charging networks. The energy tab has been updated with efficiency advice tailored for novice electric vehicle drivers. Additionally, a significant improvement allows you to use two separate applications simultaneously across the car’s dual screens—for instance, navigation alongside audio controls—something previously not possible in the Air model due to this constraint.

I’m calling it a preliminary enhancement solely due to many features not being operational during my trial run. Both the completely new heads-up display and the voice assistant were inactive, several streaming apps remained unannounced, and Dog Mode as well as Camp Mode had not been activated. We’ve observed this same scenario with vehicles such as the Polestar 3.
Volvo EX90
, and I must say I wouldn’t want this to become commonplace.

As physical controls grow less common in the automotive industry, Lucid is taking a different path by incorporating adjustable buttons on both the steering wheel and central console. These buttons aren’t fully programmable in the current test models, but this feature promises to add a convenient element once implemented.

How Well Does It Perform as a Car and as an Electric Vehicle?

At
InsideEVs
, we consistently address these two questions in our reviews. In this instance, I would contend that the Gravity is an excellent vehicle.
because
It’s an excellent electric vehicle. Let’s begin with the fundamentals.

The Gravity Grand Touring has an impressive range of 450 miles per full charge, outperforming major competitors such as the R1S with its 410-mile range.
BMW iX
(364 miles) and the EQS SUV (324 miles). The Escalade IQ stands out as the outlier, boasting an estimated range of 460 miles according to the manufacturer, though this comes with a notably larger battery—which we will discuss further shortly.

The charging speed is remarkably fast here. The Gravity supports charging at an astounding rate of 400 kilowatts, surpassing what most American stations can provide. According to independent tests, it gained over 200 miles of range in less than 11 minutes, establishing itself as the fastest-charging electric vehicle available internationally, excluding those from China. Additionally, it stands out as one of the earliest non-Tesla electric vehicles to offer this capability.
Tesla’s NACS charging port
,enabling chargeable connectivity at numerous Supercharger stations without the need for a dongle.

These are the clear advantages of excelling as an electric vehicle. However, there are also secondary benefits.

Why does the Gravity perform significantly better than the Escalade IQ? Partly, this is due to Lucid’s dedication to maximizing efficiency. Despite having a smaller 123-kWh battery pack, the Gravity achieves an equivalent range compared to the Escalade’s larger 205-kWh unit. This size difference contributes to the fact that the Escalade weighs roughly 3,000 pounds more than the Gravity. With the Lucid model, you achieve similar range using less power and experience faster recharge times—a testament to their commitment to efficiency.

The relatively small battery pack, along with Lucid’s compact motors, contributes to the ample interior space I mentioned previously.

Initial Assessment: Lucid Has a Hit Product, Provided It Can Successfully Market It

Lucid possesses the product now. The next hurdle is marketing it effectively.

An uncertainty remains regarding how consumers will react to an aspect not yet discussed: the van-like design. Although I appreciate the Gravity’s spacecraft aesthetic, there’s no assurance it will appeal to affluent customers who prefer traditionally styled, robust vehicles from brands like Rivian, Audi, and Volvo. Additionally, cost could pose another challenge; at release, the 2026 Gravity has a starting price of $96,625 for the Grand Touring model, which can rise significantly beyond $120,000 when extras are added. As noted earlier, this represents quite a substantial investment.

Moreover, Lucid must effectively communicate the impressive nature of its fully capable SUV to potential customers, acknowledging that this has consistently proven challenging for the company.

“Frankly, I believe each one of us hopes Lucid receives more recognition than it currently does,” stated Derek Jenkins, the company’s senior vice president of design and branding. He mentioned that they are planning an extensive marketing campaign focused on their fresh slogan “Compromise Nothing.” This motto might be familiar as it has been featured in several online advertisements.

We’ll have to wait and see how that develops. However, when it comes to slogans, I must say this one hits the mark quite well.

Have information regarding the electric vehicle sector? Reach out to the author:
Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com

More EV First Drives

• 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Review: Quicker in Every Meaning of the Term
• The New Tesla Model Y Excels but Suffers from an Elon Issue
• The 2025 Cadillac Optiq Strikes the Perfect Balance
• 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5: This Shows What a Top-Notch Electric Vehicle Manufacturer Can Achieve
• The Leapmotor C10 Shows That Not All Chinese Electric Vehicles Are Top-Notch
• Jeep Wagoneer S Initial Test Drive Review: An Early Version