Lucid Gravity goes through first real world range tests

Lucid Motors built its reputation on the enormous range of its Air sedan, and now it has officially launched its second act: the Lucid Gravity. This new all-electric SUV comes with some serious promises, at least on paper. The Gravity Grand Touring model comes with a massive 123-kWh battery, 450 miles of EPA-estimated range, and a starting price of around $96,000 in the US. But as many owners of electric cars know, the official range figures and real-world highway mileage can often be two very different numbers.

First independent tests have already put these claims to the test, revealing a complex and sometimes confusing picture of the Gravity's true capabilities. One of the most rigorous tests, a continuous 70 mph highway drive, delivered a result that was both impressive and disappointing.

In the test conducted by YouTube channel State of Charge, the Lucid Gravity Grand Touring managed 345 miles before its battery was empty. 345 miles of nonstop highway driving is an excellent figure on its own and it beats many competing EVs. But it falls a staggering 105 miles short of the official 450-mile EPA estimate.

Lucid has positioned itself as the king of efficiency, even claiming a target of 3.6 miles per kWh for the Gravity. This highway test, however, yielded only 3.0 miles per kWh. 100 miles+ gap is just huge, especially for a brand built on banishing range anxiety. But the story did not end there. After reviewing the test, Lucid's engineers reported a major finding: the specific vehicle used for the test had a "problem with the rear drive unit." This mechanical fault, they stated, likely impacted the final range results.

Complicating that first test even more was a charging issue. When the vehicle finally hit 0% battery at 3 a.m., it failed to charge at a Tesla Supercharger. The driver managed to limp the Gravity to an Electrify America station, where it finally accepted a charge. The test also revealed that even when the dashboard read 0%, the battery still held a large 6-kWh buffer. This buffer seemed unusually large and added another layer of confusion to understanding the SUV's true usable capacity.

To get a clearer picture, we can look at a separate test conducted by Edmunds. They also tested the Lucid Gravity Grand Touring, but with two different sets of wheels and tires. Their findings help explain the range mystery.

When equipped with all-season tires (the setup rated for 450 miles by the EPA), their team drove 400 miles on a single charge. This was still 50 miles short of the EPA claim, but 55 miles better than the first test, supporting the theory that the first vehicle was indeed flawed.

The most telling result came when Edmunds swapped to summer performance tires. This configuration has a lower official EPA estimate of 407 miles. In their real-world test, the Gravity achieved 388 miles. This is much closer to the official number, falling short by only 19 miles. This result suggests that while the 450-mile figure may be optimistic for highway driving, the Gravity's range is heavily influenced by tire choice, and its other range estimates appear to be far more accurate.

The range debate is complicated, but Gravity's performance is not. The Grand Touring model's dual electric motors deliver 828 horsepower and 909 lb-ft of torque. In track testing, this family SUV launched from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and cleared the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds. That is territory once reserved for supercars, not a vehicle that can be optioned with three rows of seats.

This athletic character extends to handling. The Lucid Gravity is described as agile and sporty, outperforming the off-road-focused Rivian R1S. On a skidpad, a test for cornering grip, the Gravity (on performance tires) pulled 0.95 g, which is more grip than a Tesla Model X Plaid. Those tires also made a huge difference in safety, stopping the SUV from 60 mph in just 1,283.5 inches, compared to a much longer 1,500 inches on the all-season tires.

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