First Drive: The Lucid Gravity Sets a New All-Electric SUV Standard for Power, Agility, and Range

Last week, Lucid Motors announced that production had begun on the Gravity, the California-based startup’s second production vehicle. The inevitable addition of an SUV to the lineup aims to supercharge public recognition of a brand that still seems to be searching for its footing, despite already delivering the Air sedan with 520 miles of range, not to mention the Sapphire trim package that makes for one of the quickest accelerating cars of all time. Now, Lucid’s three-row SUV arrives with similarly top-tier battery and motor technology, while improving on already-clever interior packaging and tech connectivity.

We took the wheel of a preproduction example of the Gravity the day after the assembly line got up and running. The SUV’s design actually looks somewhat smaller than in the initial marketing imagery that shows a concept version at the LA Auto Show last year. Lucid benchmarked the design and engineering against established internal-combustion stalwarts, including Range Rover for the ride quality and both the Porsche Cayenne and Aston Martin DBX707 for performance and handling. And just about every single stat on paper for the Gravity also bests stiff competition from Tesla’s Model X and Rivian’s R1S.

In Grand Touring trim, the Gravity puts out 828 hp while managing an EPA range estimate of up to 450 miles, depending on wheel and tire combos. Tearing around in a Gravity, with the suspension and steering firmed up in “Swift” mode, we found the sheer speed and cornering capability of the model to be benchmarks in the category.

Even pushing just a bit into the go pedal, the Gravity launches forward at legitimate supercar pace, yet the tires never seem to break loose or unnecessarily spin out thanks to in-house-developed traction- and stability-control programming that calculates inputs 1,000 times per second. Hammering the brakes to dial back the speed similarly never upsets the chassis, which on our test vehicle featured the Dynamic Handling Pack that adds triple-chamber air suspension and rear-wheel steering. 

That advanced air-suspension system shines brightest while cornering, as the Gravity begins to lean over just a bit, pushing weight onto the outside tires until the rear end squares up and plants, then the vehicle shoves off into seeming warp speed yet again. But almost as importantly, switching back into the standard “Smooth” mode then pumps up the airbags while softening the adaptive shock dampers, suddenly returning the Gravity’s ride quality to a sumptuous level of silent luxury. In total, the suspension can raise to allow for over nine inches of ground clearance—not quite as much as a Rivian, but better than a Tesla Model X’s highest setting.

Despite the fact that its exterior dimensions measure much smaller than a Rivian R1S, a Porsche Cayenne, or an Audi Q7, the Gravity boasts more interior space for passengers than a Chevrolet Suburban. Storage volume, with the second row and optional third both folded down, totals up to 114.3 cubic feet, allowing for plenty of room for gear in addition to a perfectly flat sleeping platform.

And yet, even with the massive interior volume and standout performance chops, the Gravity may also be the most efficient electric SUV on the market. Aerodynamics play a major part in achieving the 450-mile range, as final tweaks to the design helped the model reach a sleek 0.24 coefficient of drag. A large, rear clamshell spoiler contributes to the aero package, though when viewed from the back, can also cause the Gravity’s lines to look almost more similar to those of a minivan rather than an SUV, especially with the suspension lowered.

A few questionable features were noticed during the drive, mostly surrounding the inclusion of some connectivity additions that probably go overboard for most consumers. Of course, we all expect Apple CarPlay, which comes standard. But the new app for meditation and mindfulness seems unnecessary. And new touchpads on the steering wheel, which replace metal dials seen on the Air, will no doubt require an adjustment period to learn exactly what each directional swipe and button push actually does. 

The Gravity starts at $94,900 in Grand Touring trim, and the popular Stealth package (think Lucid’s version of Rolls-Royce’s Black Badge aesthetic) comes standard. Lucid’s signature brushed-metal exterior trim, the Dynamic Handling Pack, as well as Bridge of Weir leather upholstery, are all available as options. Expect a tri-motor Sapphire variant sometime in the near future, too. For now, though, the dual-motor Gravity certainly sets a high bar, showcasing a combination of handling prowess, efficiency, and power unlike that of any other SUV we’ve driven to date.

Click here for more photos of the 828 hp Lucid Gravity SUV.