Convince me to buy a Gravity DE (current Air DE owner)

I have a DE Performance. I've had it since December 2021. I've been on the fence about the Gravity DE. (I'd only look at the DE or any of the fully-loaded variants). Normally, I'd be fine with buying the car sight-unseen (I did with my DE). I'm interested in the Gravity...but something keeps nagging at me, telling me "no." But for some odd reason, I still want it.

Here's what stacking against and for it:

• I don't NEED the Gravity (but no one NEEDS a Gravity). I'm more of a sedan person, and the looks of the Gravity scream "minivan" to me. Is that just me?
• There is zero chance I can sell my DE for anything close to what it's worth...so if I can find a good, enthusiast owner, I'd be willing to give them a deal. Otherwise, I'd keep it and eventually do what
  • Keeping the Air DE would negate my "fun" car budget until I can get rid of the Air DE.
  • I've had my fun with the Air DE. I don't usually keep cars this long.
• Software is still the Achilles' heel of these cars.
• FOMO
• Should I just get a Sapphire instead? Or should I hold out for the Gravity Sapphire variant?
• My wife has an Etron SUV edition 1. When I asked her if she was interested in a Gravity to replace her 6 year-old Etron, I was met with a resounding "no." (She doesn't care for my Air and largely refuses to drive it)...so if I get a Gravity, zero chance of pawning it off on her. (there's nothing exiciting coming down the Audi electric pipeline, and we don't want an ICE car)

There are no events or showroom near me (the nearest service center is quite a way away). So the likelihood of me seeing even a pre-production one is pretty slim. (I haven't tried emailing sales yet because I've never had good luck with Lucid corporate, even as a DE owner).

If anyone wants to share any real-world experience, details, info, impressions, etc., I'd love to hear it!

Sounds like you need an Air Sapphire! This will satisfy your enthusiast drive. It is also bragging rights on having and experiencing one of the fastest EV vehicles ever. I mean, for the price, it is a great deal. It is the king for the sedans and quite a special vehicle.

However, here is why I got a Gravity DE:
1. I have had, already, some very fast sports cars
2. I need room for my two dogs
3. Wife and I are planning to travel more in the car for sightseeing and hiking. We need cargo room for all the crap we bring with us.
4. The Gravity looks cool but sedate
5. (lastly) I feel it is a great long term vehicle with low cost of ownership. Better than replacing a clutch every 8-10 thousand miles in a GM for $5,500

I hope some element within the 5 reasons will bring you either over to Gravity or just point in the direction of the Sapphire. Either direction, you won't be wrong.

Based on what you wrote would not make the switch. My own situation is somewhat similar (one model level down). I drive and love my AGT. My wife has an Ioniq 5 that she quite likes and I cannot stand. When GGT was first launched I asked if she wanted to swap out her Ioniq 5 for a GGT and she declined.

Only through sending her press reviews, videos, etc. and her falling in love my being driven in our AGT (we got it in 12/2025), did she say “I’d consider a Gravity.” So, we put down a deposit for a GGT and will have her test drive it when that becomes possible before she makes a final decision. That said, if she does not want to upgrade from her Ioniq 5, we will not be getting a Gravity…

As much as I LOVE everything I have learned about the Gravity? I am a sedan guy, not an SUV driver. Besides my AGT has 512 miles of range and can do that at 4.34 mi/kWh. Why would I spend $100k to “downgrade” those things unless I needed the excess hauling capacity? If my wife prefers her Ioniq 5 to the Gravity? Well than that’s our SUV…

Blue Lectroid said:

Based on what you wrote would not make the switch. My own situation is somewhat similar (one model level down). I drive and love my AGT. My wife has an Ioniq 5 that she quite likes and I cannot stand. When GGT was first launched I asked if she wanted to swap out her Ioniq 5 for a GGT and she declined.

Click to expand...

I'm curious what you can't stand about the Ioniq 5. I've been thinking of getting one, and wondering if it's really worth spending almost twice as much for a Gravity. (I did test drive an Ioniq 5 last year and I didn't love it, but it was an older, base SE model; I'm sure that the top-end 2025 is nicer.)

mac26mac said:

I have a DE Performance. I've had it since December 2021. I've been on the fence about the Gravity DE. (I'd only look at the DE or any of the fully-loaded variants). Normally, I'd be fine with buying the car sight-unseen (I did with my DE). I'm interested in the Gravity...but something keeps nagging at me, telling me "no." But for some odd reason, I still want it.

Here's what stacking against and for it:

• I don't NEED the Gravity (but no one NEEDS a Gravity). I'm more of a sedan person, and the looks of the Gravity scream "minivan" to me. Is that just me?
• There is zero chance I can sell my DE for anything close to what it's worth...so if I can find a good, enthusiast owner, I'd be willing to give them a deal. Otherwise, I'd keep it and eventually do what
  • Keeping the Air DE would negate my "fun" car budget until I can get rid of the Air DE.
  • I've had my fun with the Air DE. I don't usually keep cars this long.
• Software is still the Achilles' heel of these cars.
• FOMO
• Should I just get a Sapphire instead? Or should I hold out for the Gravity Sapphire variant?
• My wife has an Etron SUV edition 1. When I asked her if she was interested in a Gravity to replace her 6 year-old Etron, I was met with a resounding "no." (She doesn't care for my Air and largely refuses to drive it)...so if I get a Gravity, zero chance of pawning it off on her. (there's nothing exiciting coming down the Audi electric pipeline, and we don't want an ICE car)

There are no events or showroom near me (the nearest service center is quite a way away). So the likelihood of me seeing even a pre-production one is pretty slim. (I haven't tried emailing sales yet because I've never had good luck with Lucid corporate, even as a DE owner).

If anyone wants to share any real-world experience, details, info, impressions, etc., I'd love to hear it!

Click to expand...

It sounds to me as though you just have an itch for something new. Photographers like to call it "GAS" (gear acquisition syndrome). You have an amazing car that you love, and you prefer sedans. Why get anything? Keep enjoying the Air DE that you have. Forget about it for a few years and then see what you want and need.

mac26mac said:

There is zero chance I can sell my DE for anything close to what it's worth . . . .

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, you can only sell it for what it's worth, as the term is pretty much defined by what the market will pay, not by what we owners feel our Airs are worth.

We went through a household head-scratching similar to yours, except that we have now decided on not one, but probably two Gravities for our household to replace not two, but three cars: 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid, 2002 Lucid Air Dream Performance, and 2018 Honda Odyssey. (There are only two people in our household and, as long as we can get a loaner during car repairs, a third vehicle is just taking up garage space.)

We need at least one vehicle that can cary six older adults comfortably. That is why we have held on this long to the Odyssey despite an itch to become an all-EV household, and the Gravity is the first EV that has come along that we really like for that purpose. So that explains the first Gravity purchase.

Now, why the second?

Well, the Tesla has got to go for several reasons. It's not as well-built a car as our 2015 Model S; once we got our Air, the harsh suspension, subpar handling for that performance class, and cramped interior really began to stick out; and . . . we just no longer want to be seen in a Tesla.

The Air is a much harder case, and not a car we are yet sure we will give up, even if we go forward with the second Gravity. But I have a feeling that, once we start driving a Gravity with UX 3.0, the Air is finally going to start feeling a bit long in the tooth. Also, it is not the easiest car to get into and out of for us silver crests. And, as roomy as the rear seat is, the high floor of the large battery pack does not make the sitting position the most comfortable for the arthritis-ridden friends who are our most frequent passengers. And, while the Air would be the logical choice for our two-person road trips from a range perspective, CCS charging has been a nightmare for most of the past three years -- something that the Gravity's access to Superchargers and charging speed will render less relevant. And then there's the warranty question. The 8-year battery/powertrain warranty helps, but I still worry that we're driving a very early production car from a new maker without really knowing the long-term reliability of other components that will be out of warranty within a year. Our experience thus far suggests it's a very robust car with good prospects for longevity, but . . . .

And, finally: the consistency of the rave reviews from every quarter on the Gravity's power and handling dynamics suggests we'd be giving up nothing in driving enjoyment in giving up the Air, especially with the Dream Edition Gravities we have on order.

So the question finally becomes . . . why keep the Air? The only reasons I can come up with are its much sleeker exterior styling and an interior design and color palette that is the most appealing I have ever seen or owned in a car. But is that enough?

We'll probably make the decision after taking delivery on the first Gravity.

HaltheAerialist said:

I'm curious what you can't stand about the Ioniq 5. I've been thinking of getting one, and wondering if it's really worth spending almost twice as much for a Gravity. (I did test drive an Ioniq 5 last year and I didn't love it, but it was an older, base SE model; I'm sure that the top-end 2025 is nicer.)

Click to expand...

The software and interface is horrible. The software has not been updated once in two years other than for four separate recalls that required full day trips to the Dealer. The quality of the materials in the interior is cheap.

Does it get us from point a to b reasonable well? Sure, but it’s in a COMPLETELY different league than the Gravity. It’s a very cheap feeling experience all around and the ergonomics are god awful…

Blue Lectroid said:

The software and interface is horrible. The software has not been updated once in two years other than for four separate recalls that required full day trips to the Dealer. The quality of the materials in the interior is cheap.

Does it get us from point a to b reasonable well? Sure, but it’s in a COMPLETELY different league than the Gravity. It’s a very cheap feeling experience all around and the ergonomics are god awful…

Click to expand...

It's also half the price.

HaltheAerialist said:

I'm curious what you can't stand about the Ioniq 5. I've been thinking of getting one, and wondering if it's really worth spending almost twice as much for a Gravity. (I did test drive an Ioniq 5 last year and I didn't love it, but it was an older, base SE model; I'm sure that the top-end 2025 is nicer.)

Click to expand...

Don't read too much into one opinion. There are tons of reviews out there from established journalists and they love the car. The Ioniq 5 is a good EV for the money, especially the facelift.

Blue Lectroid said:

It’s a very cheap feeling experience all around . . .

Click to expand...

I have to admit I'm finding this a little bit hard to square with your argument elsewhere that people who find issue with noisy seat motors, malfunctioning accessories, or inconsistent panel gaps in a $125K Gravity are being unreasonably nit-picky.

Motor Trend absolutely loves the new Gravity. It will likely be a finalist for vehicle of the year. Their only negative comment was it looks more like a minivan than SUV.

Mrgaryc said:

Their only negative comment was it looks more like a minivan than SUV.

Click to expand...

I know this is a hot topic but I fail to how this is anything more than a comment. Certainly not negative or positive.

Mrgaryc said:

Motor Trend absolutely loves the new Gravity. It will likely be a finalist for vehicle of the year. Their only negative comment was it looks more like a minivan than SUV.

Click to expand...

I'm betting it's going to win "SUV of the Year". Kyle Conner said he is on the voting panel this year, and he's made his views abundantly clear as well as dropped what sounded like a hint (at least to me) back in his January test drive video.

I've even wondered whether that weird December 30 delivery event had something to do with meeting qualifications to be considered for the award.

marsarbu said:

It's also half the price.

Click to expand...

Of course it is and that WILL be a determining factor for most. IF you are in a position that the extra money will not break the bank AND will give you pleasure and utility that you value at that level there really is no comparison to the two vehicles. If spending twice as much is an issue, than I'd still suggest seriously test driving the Ioniq 5 to make sure it's your cup of tea. I would not personally purchase one at any price.

hmp10 said:

I have to admit I'm finding this a little bit hard to square with your argument elsewhere that people who find issue with noisy seat motors, malfunctioning accessories, or inconsistent panel gaps in a $125K Gravity are being unreasonably nit-picky.

Click to expand...

It is the degree of OBSESSIVENESS over these things that I am pointing out. It's like someone told them that their child will never walk, not that there is a chance they may hear motor noise when the move a seat. It is a matter of proportion that I personally find over done. We definitely don't have to agree on this!

marsarbu said:

Don't read too much into one opinion. There are tons of reviews out there from established journalists and they love the car. The Ioniq 5 is a good EV for the money, especially the facelift.

Click to expand...

Those opinions are largely why we bought the car and, to be fair, my wife likes it VERY much so definitely do NOT take my word for it...drive it and experience it yourself. All of that said, comparison shopping between the Gravity and Ioniq 5? Kinda the same as should I buy a Ferrari or a Toyota Supra...that does NOT mean that the Supra might not be the right car for you, just the comparison is really apples and oranges.

Pragmatic said:

I know this is a hot topic but I fail to how this is anything more than a comment. Certainly not negative or positive.

Click to expand...

It’s just an alert to those that might not be aware of Motor Trends (extremely positive) short review of the Gravity. Chill out.

Blue Lectroid said:

It is the degree of OBSESSIVENESS over these things that I am pointing out. It's like someone told them that their child will never walk, not that there is a chance they may hear motor noise when the move a seat. It is a matter of proportion that I personally find over done. We definitely don't have to agree on this!

Click to expand...

I am not obsessing over this. I have not been pointing these issues out to argue that Lucid is about to deliver seriously flawed vehicles. (I have, after all, put down non-refundable deposits on two of them.) I have simply been using these issues to argue that it's not that big a deal if Lucid needs a few more weeks to iron out as many remaining bugs as they can.

Unlike you, I had an early-production Air and lived through some months of recurrent repairs: warped trunk lid rubbing paint off the bumper, detached trunk trim, frunk lid binding and throwing the car into limp mode, chrome paint peeling off the night-lit Lucid logo, sloppy A/C toggle switches, frunk trim detaching. It did not change the fact that the engineering bones of the car and its structural solidity were superb, but it sure as hell is something that would cause me to welcome a bit more delivery delay on a Gravity if it conferred a chance to avoid some of this.

As another poster recently pointed out, delivery delays will soon be forgotten by the press and by owners. Problems with key fobs not working, advertised software functions not activated, accessories malfunctioning, etc. will not so easily or quickly fade into the background.

There is much more long-term gain for all concerned for Lucid to spend a bit more time fine-tuning the cars where feasible.

Blue Lectroid said:

Those opinions are largely why we bought the car and, to be fair, my wife likes it VERY much so definitely do NOT take my word for it...drive it and experience it yourself. All of that said, comparison shopping between the Gravity and Ioniq 5? Kinda the same as should I buy a Ferrari or a Toyota Supra...that does NOT mean that the Supra might not be the right car for you, just the comparison is really apples and oranges.

Click to expand...

I have read and watched many reviews of the Ioniq 5, and nearly all of them gush about the car--they say that it's quick, comfortable, spacious, handles very well, charges quickly . . . everything that an EV should be. I have seen the complaints about the software/interface, especially route planning. I haven't driven a 2025, but the 2023 SE that I drove, while fun and very capable, looked and felt cheap inside, especially for a $60k (fully loaded) car.

I know that it seems crazy to cross shop Ioniq 5 and Gravity, but my ideal vehicle would be in-between these two size-wise. There is nothing like that available. Anything that is has significantly more cargo space than the Ioniq is as big outside as the Gravity, and has much less space inside than the Gravity. I've driven the Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90, and while they are very good for what they are, neither is my cup of tea. They both felt like driving mid-size trucks, with a big, high nose in front of you and a lot of mass to move around. All of the reports say that Gravity feels smaller than it is when driving it, but when it comes to narrow roads and parking spaces, there is no getting around the fact that it's about the same length and width as the Rivian and Volvo.

So, I have to choose between a vehicles that are either larger or smaller than I really want and need. I'd like to drive the latest Ioniq 5, but it's hard to find one available nearby. And I obviously want to drive the Gravity to see how it feels, if I'll be happy with such a large vehicle, and if I think that it's worth the price premium over the smaller 2-row EV SUVs.

HaltheAerialist said:

I've driven the Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90, and while they are very good for what they are, neither is my cup of tea.

Click to expand...

While I have driven neither the Gravity nor the EX90, I have sat in all three rows of both. I was astonished at how cramped the interior of the Volvo was, both physically and visually, compared to the Gravity.

Lucid really has again pulled off the space engineering miracle they first pulled off with the Air. It shows great promise for the mid-size Earth to come.