Gravity at Natick, MA Studio

[64right1]

OK, road trip!

Not visible from this first picture, but the cargo area is exactly wide enough for two 27 gallon black and yellow totes side-by-side, and possibly two stacked as well. This can't be accidental, and is very convenient. Also, confirmed with the car full that there is *so much legroom* compared to our X, and the ride is fantastically more quiet and smooth.

Driving:
- Nothing new to add; continues to be a delight to actually drive.

- We're in stop-and-go traffic on RT 6 and DreamDrive sure nags a lot. "Pay Attention!" "Look at the Road!" My husband sneezed once and it thought he was drowsy and lit up the coffee cup icon. I'm sure we'll get used to it.

Charging:
- My closest Tesla Supercharger (Somerville, MA) shows up as compatible in the nav system, but does not actually work. Neither the Tesla app nor PlugShare show it as NACS, just the Lucid (HERE?) maps. It's odd, because it's a V3/V4 station but not NACS-compatible. That was frustrating.

- If I explicitly add a charging stop in the nav (vs. it auto-adding one), the route planning doesn't recognize that I plan to charge and says I'll run out of power before I get to my destination. I then added the EA charger in Plymouth as the final destination and it... routed me to a charging stop at the EA charger on the way to the EA charger. Literally a charging stop and then directions to exit, loop around the block, and return to the charger. Software is hard.

- There is a compatible Plymouth, MA Tesla Supercharger, but I wanted to try the EA site. I think I'm going to stick to Superchargers. All four stalls (2x150kW, 2x350kw) were taken so we had to wait a few minutes. A Rivian R1S at 25% SoC was sitting at one 350kW charger pulling... 35kW. Yikes.

- We got the other 350kW stall. Immediately ramped up to 325kW for a while and was still at 250kW at 50% SoC when we unplugged! 56.2kW delivered in 12 minutes... the entire charging session was about double the best case on our 2019 Model X. This will be a total game changer for long road trips. It also made the other people waiting very happy.

- I'm sure it's stable, but the huge CCS plug and adapter feel really wobbly. I also am not certain they latch in place. Not a Gravity-specific issue.

On charging; I thought all Teslas were NACS? Is there not an adapter in case emergency to use CCS vs the NACS?

 

[Bunnylebowski]

Where was the latch to open glove box? My rep had it programmed on the end of the buttons under display but this was a miss IMO; if the buttons are programmable why wld you waste one on a glove box vs having a button on the actual glove box itself?

There’s a screen button for the glovebox, I forget where but they showed it to me in my first test drive. The glovebox is HUGE, you can fit a laptop in there easy.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

OK, road trip!

Not visible from this first picture, but the cargo area is exactly wide enough for two 27 gallon black and yellow totes side-by-side, and possibly two stacked as well. This can't be accidental, and is very convenient. Also, confirmed with the car full that there is *so much legroom* compared to our X, and the ride is fantastically more quiet and smooth.

Driving:
- Nothing new to add; continues to be a delight to actually drive.

- We're in stop-and-go traffic on RT 6 and DreamDrive sure nags a lot. "Pay Attention!" "Look at the Road!" My husband sneezed once and it thought he was drowsy and lit up the coffee cup icon. I'm sure we'll get used to it.

Charging:
- My closest Tesla Supercharger (Somerville, MA) shows up as compatible in the nav system, but does not actually work. Neither the Tesla app nor PlugShare show it as NACS, just the Lucid (HERE?) maps. It's odd, because it's a V3/V4 station but not NACS-compatible. That was frustrating.

- If I explicitly add a charging stop in the nav (vs. it auto-adding one), the route planning doesn't recognize that I plan to charge and says I'll run out of power before I get to my destination. I then added the EA charger in Plymouth as the final destination and it... routed me to a charging stop at the EA charger on the way to the EA charger. Literally a charging stop and then directions to exit, loop around the block, and return to the charger. Software is hard.

- There is a compatible Plymouth, MA Tesla Supercharger, but I wanted to try the EA site. I think I'm going to stick to Superchargers. All four stalls (2x150kW, 2x350kw) were taken so we had to wait a few minutes. A Rivian R1S at 25% SoC was sitting at one 350kW charger pulling... 35kW. Yikes.

- We got the other 350kW stall. Immediately ramped up to 325kW for a while and was still at 250kW at 50% SoC when we unplugged! 56.2kW delivered in 12 minutes... the entire charging session was about double the best case on our 2019 Model X. This will be a total game changer for long road trips. It also made the other people waiting very happy.

- I'm sure it's stable, but the huge CCS plug and adapter feel really wobbly. I also am not certain they latch in place. Not a Gravity-specific issue.

While I have not investigated the Gravity route planning, in the Air you can manually add charging stops, I think you have to delete the recommended one and it will say you won’t make it, then you search and add another charger as if it’s your destination, then once you plug in and start charging at that charger add your next destination and it should update estimated SOC% on arrival as you’re charging. I think the Gravity also allows you to tell it what SOC% you want to arrive at in its settings like A Better Route Planner but I don’t know if that’s active now or coming via OTA.

 

[64right1]

There’s a screen button for the glovebox, I forget where but they showed it to me in my first test drive. The glovebox is HUGE, you can fit a laptop in there easy.

Awesome to hear we can access without using a programmed button. I was blown away by how deep the box is. I have a Tumi man bag and should have tried to slide it in but it seemed like wld fit. I’m doing a f/u test drive when back in town at end of month.

 

[BTBP]

On charging; I thought all Teslas were NACS? Is there not an adapter in case emergency to use CCS vs the NACS?

Old Tesla superchargers (Gen1 and Gen2) use the same connector as NACS, but are not capable of the NACS communication protocols. Only Teslas can charge at these old superchargers.
Newer Tesla superchargers (Gen3 and Gen4) are capable of NACS communication and are identified as "NACS" or "Open to all EVs" on charging apps. All Teslas and NACS EVs can charge at these newer superchargers.

Gravities come with a CCS adapter that can be used at EA and other CCS chargers.

 

[iThinkEV]

There’s a screen button for the glovebox, I forget where but they showed it to me in my first test drive. The glovebox is HUGE, you can fit a laptop in there easy.

If you slide down on the pilot screen. You get a quick access menu to a variety of functions. Including glove box open button.

-iThinkEV-

 

[Bunnylebowski]

OK, road trip!

Not visible from this first picture, but the cargo area is exactly wide enough for two 27 gallon black and yellow totes side-by-side, and possibly two stacked as well. This can't be accidental, and is very convenient. Also, confirmed with the car full that there is *so much legroom* compared to our X, and the ride is fantastically more quiet and smooth.

Driving:
- Nothing new to add; continues to be a delight to actually drive.

- We're in stop-and-go traffic on RT 6 and DreamDrive sure nags a lot. "Pay Attention!" "Look at the Road!" My husband sneezed once and it thought he was drowsy and lit up the coffee cup icon. I'm sure we'll get used to it.

Charging:
- My closest Tesla Supercharger (Somerville, MA) shows up as compatible in the nav system, but does not actually work. Neither the Tesla app nor PlugShare show it as NACS, just the Lucid (HERE?) maps. It's odd, because it's a V3/V4 station but not NACS-compatible. That was frustrating.

- If I explicitly add a charging stop in the nav (vs. it auto-adding one), the route planning doesn't recognize that I plan to charge and says I'll run out of power before I get to my destination. I then added the EA charger in Plymouth as the final destination and it... routed me to a charging stop at the EA charger on the way to the EA charger. Literally a charging stop and then directions to exit, loop around the block, and return to the charger. Software is hard.

- There is a compatible Plymouth, MA Tesla Supercharger, but I wanted to try the EA site. I think I'm going to stick to Superchargers. All four stalls (2x150kW, 2x350kw) were taken so we had to wait a few minutes. A Rivian R1S at 25% SoC was sitting at one 350kW charger pulling... 35kW. Yikes.

- We got the other 350kW stall. Immediately ramped up to 325kW for a while and was still at 250kW at 50% SoC when we unplugged! 56.2kW delivered in 12 minutes... the entire charging session was about double the best case on our 2019 Model X. This will be a total game changer for long road trips. It also made the other people waiting very happy.

- I'm sure it's stable, but the huge CCS plug and adapter feel really wobbly. I also am not certain they latch in place. Not a Gravity-specific issue.

Under the EV Charging menu you can adjust all sorts of parameters like state of charge you want to reach the charger at versus state of charge you want to reach destination at, or at least that’s what Kyle Connor could do in his out of Spec review. Had you adjusted things in there and it still chose a charger you didn’t want but wouldn’t accept one you wanted?

 

[jered]

Under the EV Charging menu you can adjust all sorts of parameters like state of charge you want to reach the charger at versus state of charge you want to reach destination at, or at least that’s what Kyle Connor could do in his out of Spec review. Had you adjusted things in there and it still chose a charger you didn’t want but wouldn’t accept one you wanted?

Correct. I removed the charging stop it wanted that would have been backtracking, and it showed not enough power to reach destination. I then used the charger button on the map to located one along my route and selected that, added it as a stop, but it wouldn't change the calculations to actually include charging there. It was weird.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

Correct. I removed the charging stop it wanted that would have been backtracking, and it showed not enough power to reach destination. I then used the charger button on the map to located one along my route and selected that, added it as a stop, but it wouldn't change the calculations to actually include charging there. It was weird.

Interesting, looking forward to doing a deep dive into the charging preferences when I get Gravity, as I thought I saw an option to check for it to not recommend charging stops and you could then just add them manually, but maybe I’m mistaken.

 

[jered]

Interesting, looking forward to doing a deep dive into the charging preferences when I get Gravity, as I thought I saw an option to check for it to not recommend charging stops and you could then just add them manually, but maybe I’m mistaken.

I'm sure it's supposed to work that way, and this is just a bug.

 

[ghoti_9]

Hey Everyone. I'm in SE Michigan. The closest showroom is in Chicago, and they do not have a Gravity for test drives. Right now, the R1S and the Gravity are the only two vehicles that match my needs of 400+ range and 7 seats. I currently have a Kia EV lease that was a nice POC for having an EV, but I will be happy to be done with. Since I can't get into a Gravity in person, I have a few functional questions for those who do have one. Any feedback you have on these topics is greatly appreciated:

HVAC - the Kia is crap when it comes to heating and cooling. I've heard back seat cooling in the Rivian is meh, and people complaining that their feet are cold in the winter. I was in a Ford land barge in AZ last week and I didn't even need to open the rear seat vent because the front was blowing so hard. How is the HVAC air flow in the front and back of the Gravity? Did they compromise (heh) flow for style?

Windows and pressure - when the back windows of the Kia are open, it gets terrible pressure beats. If any windows are open, t's impossible to drive it without at least one front window open. Has anyone tested the air flow from a window perspective?

Transparent sunroof - since the Gravity doesn't have an opaque mode for the giant glass, how bad in light and heat is it when you get blasted with full-force California sun?

Shiny surfaces - The kia has a lot of shiny plastic surfaces that reflect sunlight. Have you noticed anything like that in the Gravity cabin, or anything else that is annoy like that?

Thanks so much for your feedback.

 

[jered]

HVAC - the Kia is crap when it comes to heating and cooling. I've heard back seat cooling in the Rivian is meh, and people complaining that their feet are cold in the winter. I was in a Ford land barge in AZ last week and I didn't even need to open the rear seat vent because the front was blowing so hard. How is the HVAC air flow in the front and back of the Gravity? Did they compromise (heh) flow for style?

So far, the cooling in the Gravity has been fantastic (coming from an X). It's very powerful and adjustable in both first and second rows. I haven't tested out the 3rd row yet, and there's a thing right now where it may be presence-activated by weight, so I need to test when not loaded with luggage. I obviously cannot comment on the heating yet, but having the ventilated/heated seats is a win.

Windows and pressure - when the back windows of the Kia are open, it gets terrible pressure beats. If any windows are open, t's impossible to drive it without at least one front window open. Has anyone tested the air flow from a window perspective?

This is something that also drives me crazy. I'll test this on the highway trip home Saturday. So far I haven't wanted the windows open because they are double-layered and extremely noise-isolating.

Transparent sunroof - since the Gravity doesn't have an opaque mode for the giant glass, how bad in light and heat is it when you get blasted with full-force California sun?

It's been fine in Massachusetts summer sun, but I intend to get the accessory shades all the same.

Shiny surfaces - The kia has a lot of shiny plastic surfaces that reflect sunlight. Have you noticed anything like that in the Gravity cabin, or anything else that is annoy like that?

I haven't noticed any interior reflections. Most surfaces are either leather or microfiber.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

I like these questions as they get to the liveabilty and long term things about the vehicle that could bother you over time. The Gravity HVAC is excellent, I have an Air GT 2022 which had the worst HVAC (newer airs are better) and I found myself having to dial down the HVAC in both Gravity test drives I did. I tested the 3rd row also, to use the 3rd row HVAC you must first turn on rear climate and then it must sense a passenger in the 3rd row, then those vents will work great. The second row will blow air if you just turn it on manually regardless of sensing anyone in the second row.

For glass roof, as you have more headroom than the air you don’t feel it as much, but I think on 90+ degree days if you’re tall you’d benefit from Lucid sunshades (I don’t think they’re available yet but will be, but they make a huge difference on my Air GT), or just tint the glass.

For wind buffeting when the window is open, yeah on the Air if my kid opens the rear window above 35mph holy crap the buffeting is intense, but that’s partly due to the severe aerodynamic design of the Air. I haven’t tried an open rear window in the Gravity so it might not be as harsh as in the air, but the added back space should buffer the buffeting some? Maybe just roll down both rear windows?

As for shiny reflective plastic in the Gravity, it seems to be much less than the Air except for the pilot panel controls both those are also less glare prone than the Air as far as I could tell. They’re lower down than in the Air so aren’t gonna blast you right in the eye like the driver side temp control does in the Air, that’s for sure.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

I have an R1S and have done the demo drive of Gravity and crawled all over it. And had my kids test third row, in/egress, etc.

R1S has awful baffeting or whatever the name is for window pressure issue. I have G1, so roof doesn’t have extra tint, but it’s still not an issue at all.

The only reason I can think of to buy an R1S over a comparably priced GGT is if you legit off-road and need to tow - like a real working car. Can not wait to sell my R1S and get my Gravity.

Just wanted to give you the view of someone who has lived an R1S Quad for two years.

 

[fleming23]

I have an R1S and have done the demo drive of Gravity and crawled all over it. And had my kids test third row, in/egress, etc.

R1S has awful baffeting or whatever the name is for window pressure issue. I have G1, so roof doesn’t have extra tint, but it’s still not an issue at all.

The only reason I can think of to buy an R1S over a comparably priced GGT is if you legit off-road and need to tow - like a real working car. Can not wait to sell my R1S and get my Gravity.

Just wanted to give you the view of someone who has lived an R1S Quad for two years.

I would also add that getting 400 miles in an R1 is definitely the best-case scenario. Both of mine were Quads (R1T and R1S), so they weren't advertised at 400, but I think the general consensus is that 400 is a pipe dream that can only be achieved by an exact set of circumstances.

 

[Jomsh]

Oops, i guess video was too long -- here's a trimmed version of the pretty woo.

Can’t view on mobile unfortunately

 

[californiaboy935]

OK, I just got home from dinner and we sat in the driveway in the rain and played with this a bit. It's very pretty, but obviously not all finished yet.

Here's a picture of the shiny, and a video of one of the Sanctuary Mode segments. Not being a Californian I had to suppress some snickering.... I've done my share of yoga and meditation, but it was a bit silly. OTOH, the seat recline with massage is fantastic and I could easily fall asleep for a few hours here. I look forward to a long road trip.

As a native Californian, I feel pretty called out.

 

[ChestRockwell]

Hey Everyone. I'm in SE Michigan. The closest showroom is in Chicago, and they do not have a Gravity for test drives. Right now, the R1S and the Gravity are the only two vehicles that match my needs of 400+ range and 7 seats. I currently have a Kia EV lease that was a nice POC for having an EV, but I will be happy to be done with. Since I can't get into a Gravity in person, I have a few functional questions for those who do have one. Any feedback you have on these topics is greatly appreciated:

HVAC - the Kia is crap when it comes to heating and cooling. I've heard back seat cooling in the Rivian is meh, and people complaining that their feet are cold in the winter. I was in a Ford land barge in AZ last week and I didn't even need to open the rear seat vent because the front was blowing so hard. How is the HVAC air flow in the front and back of the Gravity? Did they compromise (heh) flow for style?

Windows and pressure - when the back windows of the Kia are open, it gets terrible pressure beats. If any windows are open, t's impossible to drive it without at least one front window open. Has anyone tested the air flow from a window perspective?

Transparent sunroof - since the Gravity doesn't have an opaque mode for the giant glass, how bad in light and heat is it when you get blasted with full-force California sun?

Shiny surfaces - The kia has a lot of shiny plastic surfaces that reflect sunlight. Have you noticed anything like that in the Gravity cabin, or anything else that is annoy like that?

Thanks so much for your feedback.

Hey I am also in SE MI- Are you getting home delivery or going to pick it up at a studio?

 

[jered]

Not visible from this first picture, but the cargo area is exactly wide enough for two 27 gallon black and yellow totes side-by-side, and possibly two stacked as well. This can't be accidental, and is very convenient. Also, confirmed with the car full that there is *so much legroom* compared to our X, and the ride is fantastically more quiet and smooth.

Here's a picture pre-luggage. You can definitely do two 27-gal totes side by side, and also stacked, which is amazing if this is your default carting unit. (Most Burning Man folks have standardized on these because you can get them from HD, Costco, or Lowes for like $9 each.) I think it might be possible to get more behind also -- I need to find enough bins not covered in dust that I'm willing to put in a new car and test.

 

[jered]

Windows and pressure - when the back windows of the Kia are open, it gets terrible pressure beats. If any windows are open, t's impossible to drive it without at least one front window open. Has anyone tested the air flow from a window perspective?

You definitely do not want one of the the rear windows open at speed. It has the same resonant buffeting, and it's painful to me (as with our X).

I also don't want a window open because it's so quiet with them closed.