We took the 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring on a 72-hour road trip. Here's what surprised us

To most city folk, the Hamptons or Hudson Valley might seem like the obvious destinations for a long weekend, especially when you're behind the wheel of a beauty like the 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring. But for a vehicle, and a company, constantly pushing the boundaries of what an electric SUV can be, we decided to pack a few layers and head west to Callicoon, a riverside hamlet with steep hills and old-fashioned storefronts that wouldn't look out of place in a Western.

Between sleepy riverside hamlets, wooded backroads, sprawling wetlands, and highways where the scenery changes around every bend, this corner of New York State feels like a place caught in a time warp.

It's an unlikely setting for an all-electric luxury SUV that seems to have arrived from an entirely different century. But therein lies the appeal. What better place to put the future of motoring to the test than somewhere the past still feels very much alive?

For those unfamiliar with Lucid Motors, the California-based automaker is hellbent on making a name for itself by challenging conventional ideas of electric performance and luxury. Following the introduction of its Air sedan, the Gravity represents the company's first foray into the SUV market, and it is quite the machine. Beneath its sleek, aerodynamic bodywork sits a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain producing a staggering 828 horsepower and 909 pound-feet of torque. That's enough to propel this sizable luxury SUV from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 3.4 seconds, a feat typically reserved for serious performance cars.

At first, the Gravity didn't strike us as a vehicle with such extraordinary capabilities. It has a low-slung silhouette, sweeping lines, and an expansive glass canopy, which give it an appearance somewhere between a futuristic luxury SUV and a sophisticated spacecraft. And things only get more futuristic once you step inside.

Getting Acquainted With the Gravity

Having spent most of our time driving older gas-powered cars with traditional knobs and buttons, the Gravity's touchscreen-heavy interior was a little jarring at first. The moment we got into the car (because of course, Nishka Dhawan, the founder of Nakhra Magazine, wanted to be a passenger princess), with the key fob in the driver's pocket, the displays came to life, looking fit for one of Iron Man's user interfaces.

Dominating the dashboard is Lucid's Clearview Cockpit, a sweeping 34-inch curved OLED display with a staggering 6K resolution. Positioned above the steering wheel, it combines driving information with navigation and media controls, all within the driver's line of sight. And despite the rather intimidating appearance, we had no qualms about its positioning, glare, or responsiveness.

Below it sits a separate 12.6-inch touchscreen, known as the Pilot Panel. Admittedly, it took some getting used to. But once we did, the experience was seamless. Everything we needed was only a touch away, without having to dig through senseless menus and options.

Then there's the steering wheel. Lucid opted for an unconventional yet ergonomic squircle — a hybrid shape that blends a square and a circle. The geometric oddity didn't seem to hinder the engineers from integrating physical controls for frequently used functions, either. Personally, we enjoyed the design and preferred it to a conventional circular steering wheel. The buttons were intuitive, too.

As for the cabin itself, the Gravity combines minimalist styling with contemporary flair and a selection of premium materials, including leather upholstery, microsuede, and wood trim. The materials felt so luxurious against the body that we found ourselves wanting to dust ourselves off or bang our boots together before getting in.

And after spending hours on the road, the massage function was fantastic. We could work out some of the knots in our backs while cruising down the interstate. Be careful, though. We noticed ourselves getting a bit too comfortable, and that's dangerous territory for someone driving home after a long day.

Between the massage seats and the sound system, the Gravity certainly knows how to make a long drive enjoyable. Music seemed to come from every direction, with crystal-clear audio and just the right balance of bass and treble. Blasting some deep house music while cruising along the rolling highways connecting New York to the western Catskills, with the ever-changing colors of the leaves giving way to fall’s orange and red embrace, was easily one of our favorite experiences in the cabin.

But not every futuristic design choice was quite as pleasant.

The overhead glass canopy contributes to an open atmosphere with such an expansive field of view that, at times, you feel as if you're in a convertible. Unfortunately, the sunlight had an annoying habit of finding its way directly into our eyes, forcing us to constantly fiddle with the sun visors. With the sun beating down through the glass, we often found ourselves reaching for the air conditioning.

The Gravity also has a rather sizable footprint. While its generous cargo space and folding rear seats proved useful when packing for our Catskills weekend, the SUV fills most parking spaces practically to the brim. As a city car, however, the Gravity might be a tougher sell. Unless you have private parking, finding a suitable spot could be quite vexing.

A Mode for Every Occasion

The route to Callicoon was straightforward, as one would expect from a major interstate. But on our detour to the Bashakill Wetlands, one of the largest wetland complexes in southeastern New York, the backroads, tight turns, and rolling hills were enough to make us switch into Swift mode.

We weren't expecting whiplash to be a side effect of the Gravity's enormous power, but the moment the accelerator was pressed, we felt such an immediate surge that it pushed us back into our seats. The steering was light and surprisingly responsive, making the tight turns much easier to navigate than we expected from such a large SUV. Even around the sharper bends, the Gravity remained remarkably stable, with barely any body roll, or that leaning sensation you sometimes feel when taking a corner.

Much of that control comes down to the Gravity's engineering, including its adaptive air suspension, which helps keep the vehicle steady while absorbing bumps and imperfections in the road. Even on the many uneven backroads, the ride was smooth. There was still no mistaking the Gravity for a sports car, but it certainly didn't drive like some lumbering luxury SUV, either.

One feature that took a little getting used to was regenerative braking. Unlike the gas-powered cars we're accustomed to, the Gravity began slowing noticeably whenever the driver's foot lifted off the accelerator. Rather than relying entirely on the brake pedal, the electric motors can help slow the vehicle while recovering some of that energy for the battery. With all those tight turns and yield signs, we had plenty of opportunities to experience it firsthand. We couldn't recall another car in which the brake pedal had to be used so little.

We spent most of the weekend switching between Smooth and Swift, although the difference wasn't quite as dramatic as we expected. Smooth was more than comfortable enough for cruising along the interstate, while Swift gave the steering and braking a slightly firmer feel. The acceleration was still ridiculous either way, but we appreciated having the option to make things a little sportier once the roads became dominated by tighter turns and rolling hills. We also experimented with the Gravity's adjustable ride height, raising the SUV while navigating some of the hills. It was another neat feature to play around with, and not once did we feel like we were in danger of bottoming out.

The Reality of Charging an Electric SUV

Of course, spending three days with an all-electric SUV meant eventually having to think about charging. The Gravity Grand Touring comes equipped with a 123-kWh battery and offers up to 450 miles of EPA-estimated range, depending on its configuration. That's a very large battery, which helps explain how such a powerful, heavy SUV can travel hundreds of miles without recharging.

We had received the Gravity with its battery nearly full, and throughout the weekend, the range held up exceptionally well. We kept an eye on the remaining charge, although we never found ourselves particularly worried about running out of juice.

When it came time to recharge, we stopped at a Tesla Supercharger. Having spent most of our lives in gas-powered cars, the idea of waiting around while a vehicle charged was completely new to us. Starting at around 50%, it took approximately 30 to 40 minutes to bring the battery close to full. We noticed plenty of other drivers sitting in their cars, presumably waiting for their batteries to charge. Personally, we decided to make better use of the time and wandered around the nearby mall to do some shopping.

The experience required more patience than pulling into a gas station for a five-minute fill-up. But we didn't have any trouble finding a charger, and with a little planning, we could easily see ourselves getting accustomed to the routine. That said, we wouldn't particularly enjoy watching our battery drop to five percent while desperately searching for the nearest charging station.

The Verdict

After 72 hours with the Gravity Grand Touring, we genuinely didn't want to hand back the keys. Between the ridiculous acceleration, nimble handling, luxurious interior, and enough technology for gearheads and tech enthusiasts to nerd out on, there was plenty to appreciate while still enjoying the practicality and comfort of a grand touring vehicle.

That doesn't mean it was perfect. The glass canopy was beautiful until the sunlight started beaming directly into our eyes, and its substantial size isn't something we'd particularly look forward to dealing with on a daily basis in New York City. That said, when the time came to part ways, we were almost teary-eyed, already missing the massage seats, the incredible sound system, and the effortless comfort that made our weekend in the Catskills so memorable.

There is, of course, quite a large price tag attached to this vehicle. The 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring starts at $94,900, with optional equipment pushing the price well into six-figure territory. But in our opinion, for a larger family constantly on the go, the vehicle is very much worth it.

‍