Lucid Gravity May be the Ultimate 3-Row SUV: Electric, Luxury, Minivan-Style Space
They thought of it all, then executed it beautifully.
When I first drove Lucid Air I fell really fell for its range and power— 819 HP in the Grand Touring model and more than 450 miles of range. But a full-size sedan? That’s a deal breaker. I just can’t drive a sedan for all the reasons: low ground clearance, no 3rd row, a large cargo area and a high seating position with good visibility. Clearly, Lucid understood this and that’s why the Lucid Gravity was quickly on the drawing board.
Fast forward 18 impatient months of waiting and the Lucid Gravity, priced from $94,900 and sporting 828 HP, a 3rd row of seating, all wheel drive and a range of 450 miles, is here and it’s glorious.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was Lucid’s guest for this test drive but all opinions are my own.
Minivan Magic Steals the Show (Almost)
EV fans and car enthusiasts will focus on the Gravity’s 828 HP and 450 mile range, as well as its Smooth, Swift and Sprint drive modes, dual motor all wheel drive and rear wheel steering (part of a package) that makes it incredibly agile.
And while I’d agree, those things are fantastic, this one takes the cake: Seating and cargo space are minivan-like: Large, linear and easy to use.
The Lucid Gravity has stow-in-the-floor 3rd row seats, lay-flat second row seats and an incredible amount of cargo space. It’s like a minivan that was somehow born as a luxury SUV instead.
Read: Lucid Gravity SUV: A Most Thoughtfully Designed 3-Row Electric Haven
Seating and Cargo Space is Unmatched Most SUVs
This really blew me away: The Lucid Gravity isn’t an overly large SUV at all; in fact, it is shorter in height and length than many 3-row SUVs on the road. And yet, the 3-row version (there’s a two-row option, too) has more interior cargo space than the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Lincoln Navigator — you name it and the Gravity has more. The only SUVs that best it are the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon standard wheel base and other long wheel base full-size SUVs.
All this is thanks to a wide cabin, a wide rear opening and a smaller battery pack that allows the 3rd row to stow in the floor. Also, the second row seats come apart to fold and stow flat on the floor, taking up less space. With the 3rd row seats in use there’s a cargo well that also adds welcome space, too.
Here are the numbers: Gravity 3-row has 111 cubic feet of space behind the front seats; the 2-row has 120 cubic feet of space; with the 3rd row in use there’s 21 cubic feet of cargo space.
Add in the frunk, which can be accommodated with a stadium seat for the ultimate front row seat, and there’s even more cargo space.
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A Second Row Caveat: Seats are Power-folding Only
All this cleverness comes with a caveat: Second row seats are power-folding; there is not a physical latch (or, our test model didn’t have one) that allowed the seats to fold; and buttons to access this are in the cargo area. However, with a the push of a button the seats pop apart with the seat bottom pushing forward and down into the footwell and the seat back folding down to the seat bottom’s usual place.
3rd row seats, however, to be able to fold and stow in the cargo floor, are manual. These operate with the usual strap-and-handle system we’re used to in minivans, and they create a minivan-like cargo well for more cargo space. All together the system creates a ton of flat space, and it’s brilliant.
Read: 2025 Volvo EX90 First Drive: The All Electric 3-Row SUV You’ve Been Waiting For
How Do Kids Car Seats Fit?
This is another thing Lucid thought deeply about and did quite well. IT starts with rear doors that open to a full 90 degrees, allowing a maximum amount of space for getting in and out of all the rear seats.
Then, there are four full sets of LATCHes and plenty of space for kids car seats. I didn’t install car seats but I did measure for them and found the second row seats will easily accommodate two or even three seats, and rear-facing seats are not an issue.
Center row seats slide and tilt for 3rd row access and can function with a car seat installed. And the 3rd row is quite spacious; even with the center seats pushed all the way back I had no problem climbing in and my knees didn’t brush up against the seat back.
The only caveat is that captains chairs are not an option—yet. But there’s hope for the future.
Read: Kia EV9 First Drive: The Family Electric SUV We’ve Been Waiting For
So Many Innovative Ideas Come Together in the Lucid Gravity
Lucid really rethought how drivers and passengers use the space and technology in the Gravity, adding some fresh new ideas and functions, much of it a surprising update from the not-so-old Lucid Air.
It starts with the squircle steering wheel, a flat topped and flat bottomed steering wheel that adds greatly to your visibility. It feels odd in your hands at first, but you’ll quickly get used to it and and then, every other steering wheel feels odd.
You’ll also love the raised, rounded metal Lucid logo that spans the steering wheel. It’s like a piece of jewelry, soft and glinting and asking to be touched.
On either side of the steering wheel are touch pads that hold many functions. There are few icons or graphics so you really have to swipe your finger around and look for icons on the driver display, but I found it to be pretty intuitive and easy to use. This is where you’ll find entertainment functions and Dream Drive, Lucid’s adaptive cruise control that will soon be updated for hands-free function via an over the air update.
A New Multimedia Screen Adds a Modern Look and Feel
Lucid opted to go with a fully new look and function with an expansive touch screen and Pilot Panel. The main screen, a 34” screen that holds the multimedia screen, driver display and key functions including headlights, trunk and trunk latches and door locks, is where you’ll find all functions displayed.
Similar to the Air, a smaller screen below it, the Pilot Panel, is where you can access vehicle settings, drive modes and other controls. You can swipe between them or swipe down from the top of the Pilot Panel for quick access buttons. This is also where you’ll find the steering wheel and side mirror adjustments, as well as regenerative braking setting (standard or high).
At the bottom of the Pilot Panel are quick access icons and below that, actual physical buttons for climate control.
And for those who want to sit back and relax? You can pop on Sanctuary mode; a relaxing video will fill the screens, music will accompany it, as will fresh air and a seat massage. What a nice way to ignore your fighting kids!
How to Charge the Lucid Gravity
Lucid upgraded the internal charging infrastructure to a 900V system that is designed to charger faster than ever—gaining up to 200 miles in 11 minutes at a 350 kWh DC fast charger. This is great news for those who plan to use public charging, especially Tesla Superchargers, many of which feature the 350 kWh chargers. The Lucid Gravity is equipped with a Tesla-style NACS charge port and has plug-and-charge capability to make it easy.
For non-NACS charging Lucid provides an adapter you can use anywhere.
What It’s Like to Drive the Lucid Gravity
On the road I might have called the Gravity the “anti-Gravity.” It’s light, it’s fast and it’s delightful, with a nicely balanced feel that lets you forget you’re driving an SUV.
Similar to the Air, which also features speed, steering and suspension that make you feel like you’re behind the wheel of a sports car instead of a large sedan, the feel is simply soaring. Passing on the highway is confident and there’s no lag when you floor the accelerator, even in Smooth mode.
Even on the curvy, hilly roads we drove I felt in control, not as if I needed to really curb my ambitions with 828 HP underfoot. The rear wheel steering helped, especially when I enjoyed the drive so much I missed my turn and had to make a u-turn.
What We Loved
- Lucid Gravity’s luxury features seem endless; here’s what what loved:
- More space than you’d imagine
- Massaging front seats and heated second row seats
- Rear tray tables that extend from the seat backs of the front seats
- The huge 3rd row
- Four full sets of car seat LATCHes
- Multiple interior options named for iconic California landscapes
- Interior options include leather and leatherette
- “Hey Lucid” voice activated assistance
- Regenerative braking is really great, but you can turn it off
What You Need to Know
- Seats 5, or 7 with a 3rd row
- There is no captains chair option for the center row; it’s center row bench only
- The glass ‘canopy’ roof is gloriously open and airy but also, the sun can be an issue
- Only Grand Touring and Touring models are available for now but other trims are in the works
- Head up display and full Dream Drive functions were not active in our test model and will be part of a later update
- Base price of our model: $94,900; price with leather seating package ($4,200), tech package ($3,200), 3rd row seats ($2,900), dynamic handling with rear wheel steering ($2,900), Surreal Surround Sound premium audio ($2,900) and Dream Drive ($6,750) among other packages and destination, $127,150
California Designed, Arizona Built, But Still a Global Car
The Lucid Gravity is a truly American car; it’s inspired by and designed in California and many of its designers and engineers are Tesla alumni. Gravity models sold in North America are assembled in Arizona, though models destined for sale in Europe and the East are assembled in Saudi Arabia. And that tells the story if its DNA: Many of Gravity’s components are sourced from Mexico and Canada, and undoubtedly some of its electronics are from China—is it even possible to build a car without products from China?
All that is also Lucid Gravity’s brilliance: To use all your resources and ingenuity to create the car you know you can build, and to make it everything you imagine it can be: Fast, fun and freeing, not just in power, but also in space and passenger capacity.
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