Lucid's most important car yet is a thrill to drive — if you can afford it

• Lucid is ramping up production of the Gravity, its premium, high-powered SUV — and its second-ever model.
• Pros: Eye-catching design, blistering speed, plush materials, and one of the best-driving SUVs on sale.
• Cons: Minor software glitches and eye-watering pricing.

If the Lucid Gravity were an Olympic figure skater, it would go for the quadruple axel — flashy, ambitious, and a little audacious.

The Gravity blends beauty with physical prowess: striking design, blistering speed, and enough battery range to get from New York to Boston and halfway back on a single charge.

Beyond the showmanship, this SUV carries serious stakes for Lucid. It's the money-losing automaker's first SUV, giving the company a foothold in America's most popular vehicle segment.

I tested the Gravity in New York City to see whether Lucid's big bet sticks the landing.

My verdict: It earns a spot on the podium. But a few technical wobbles keep it from taking gold.

A joy to drive — and fast

In my career, I've test-driven 72 vehicles — from V8 muscle cars to new-wave EVs, including Lucid's only other model, the Air sedan.

The Gravity ranks among the five most fun-to-drive cars I've ever tested.

Its 123-kWh battery launches the SUV from 0 to 60 mph in about three seconds — quicker than a Ferrari Portofino. Instant torque makes it feel ferocious off the line.

Steering is tight and surprisingly nimble for a long three-row SUV. Thanks to its low-mounted battery pack, the Gravity stays planted through sharp corners, masking its weight well.

New York City's potholes are a brutal suspension test — and the Gravity passed, delivering just enough cushiness without drifting into numbness.

The "squircle"-shaped steering wheel — a square-circle hybrid — reinforces the athletic, easy-to-control vibe.

Heavy on the high-tech luxury

While the SUV is a powerhouse, its design leans heavily into luxury.

From the outside, it's long and dramatic, defined by width-spanning LED light bars and a cab-forward profile. From certain angles, it looks like a high-end minivan redesigned by a Silicon Valley startup.

Inside, nearly every surface feels premium from all seven seats. Open-pore wood, supple leather, and an expansive windshield that stretches overhead create an airy, lounge-like cabin. There are no obvious hard plastics.

Heated seats are available in the first two rows, while front passengers can also opt for ventilation and five-mode massaging seats.

The dashboard is dominated by a sweeping curved display for gauges, maps, and media. A secondary center screen handles climate, seat controls, and deeper vehicle settings. Together, they reinforce the Gravity's futuristic, software-first identity.

Its battery is also impressive. With nearly 400 miles of range, when plugged into a fast charger, the Gravity can add juice for 200 miles in just 15 minutes.

Why doesn't it take gold?

To get back to our Olympic metaphor: The Gravity is impressive — but it enters a brutally competitive three-row EV tournament.

The segment includes well-appointed heavy hitters like the Rivian R1S, Cadillac Escalade IQ, Hyundai Ioniq 9, and Kia EV9.

That makes small flaws harder to ignore.

The most frustrating issue I experienced was the key fob. From a few feet away, repeated clicks didn't always fully latch the doors. That's particularly annoying given that key proximity controls certain vehicle functions, like turning the vehicle's battery off.

Lucid told me it is aware of the issue and has pushed an over-the-air update to address it.

It's a fixable problem — but for buyers spending well into six figures, even small execution misses stand out.

Some essential controls are also buried in screens. Adjusting the windshield wiper speed, for example, requires navigating a digital menu rather than using a traditional stalk.

Then there's the eye-watering price tag: the Gravity starts around $80,000. The fully loaded Grand Touring model I tested — with upgraded materials, advanced driver assistance, and additional luxury features — stickered at roughly $124,000.

That's serious, serious money, especially when rivals undercut it by thousands while offering similarly refined packages.

The verdict

The Lucid Gravity is one of the most thrilling SUVs I've ever driven.

It's beautiful, blisteringly fast, and packed with forward-looking tech. For buyers who want hair-raising acceleration wrapped in futuristic luxury — and who aren't price-sensitive — it's hard to beat.

If value matters more than spectacle, rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 or Kia EV9 may make more sense. Meanwhile, the Rivian R1S offers a fun mix of optional features and family-friendly character.

But none of them were as fun to drive.