QUESTION Prospective buyer questions

[Vizard]

Hello,

I did a test drive and kept the Gravity overnight. First impression: wow. The car is outstanding overall and is seriously under consideration for purchase/lease.
That said, I have a few concerns about day-to-day ownership and would really appreciate feedback from current owners. Sorry for the long list.
I am especially interested in real-world experience after living with the car for a few months, not just first impressions.

Questions:

1. Is the key fob / phone key entry issue fully resolved now?
2. Does the car reliably turn off and lock when walking away?
3. Does the regen “stop” setting work reliably every time?
4. How common are rattles, squeaks, trim issues, or alignment problems? Our test vehicle had rear seats that were misaligned.
5. For owners in Southern California or other hot climates: how bad is heat from the glass roof in summer?
6. How effective are the Lucid snap-in roof shades?
7. Is ceramic tint a better solution, or do most people end up using both?
8. Any regrets about not having a built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass?
9. Does the lack of kick-to-open tailgate bother you in daily use? Especially for those, who’s keys are in a bag not pocket.
10. How annoying is the manual third-row folding over time? The seats felt heavy to open and close.
11. Same question for the second row after folding down — does manually raising it get old?
12. Are the small sun visors a real issue in daily driving?
13. What software bugs still bother you regularly?
14. What issues have required a service visit?
15. How has Lucid service been — appointment wait times, mobile service, parts availability?
16. If you were buying again today, would you still choose the Gravity?
17. For those who cross-shopped Volvo EX90, Rivian R1S, Mercedes EQS SUV, or Kia EV9, what made you stay with the Gravity?
18. If you leased your Gravity, are you considering buying it at the end of the lease? What would make you buy it versus walk away?
19. Given Lucid’s current company situation — leadership changes, layoffs, stock decline, and uncertainty around long-term scale — would you still buy or lease the Gravity today? How much does company risk factor into your decision?

My better half had a few strong disappointments, especially given the vehicle’s price point:

• No kick-to-open tailgate.
• Manual folding and unfolding of the third-row seats, which felt fairly heavy.
• Manual return of the second-row seats after they are folded.
• The exposed second-row seat mechanisms looked unfinished and raised concerns about little fingers getting caught.
• The powered second-row entry/exit motor was noticeably loud.
• No built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass.
• The cabin became noticeably warm from the glass roof, even on a relatively mild Southern California day.
• The sun visors felt quite small and weren’t very effective at blocking low-angle sun.

For those of you who have owned the Gravity for several months: which of these ended up being non-issues in daily use, and which still bother you today?

That last question is likely to generate much more useful responses than simply listing the shortcomings. It encourages owners to distinguish between things that looked concerning during a test drive versus issues that genuinely affect long-term ownership.

I still think the Gravity is one of the most impressive EVs I’ve driven, but I’m trying to understand which issues fade into the background and which ones remain annoying after ownership.

Thank you

 

[borski]

Questions:

1. Is the key fob / phone key entry issue fully resolved now?

Yes.

1. Does the car reliably turn off and lock when walking away?

Yes.

1. Does the regen “stop” setting work reliably every time?

I think you mean “hold” vs “roll,” and yes. The only time it changes is if the setting changes, which can happen (rarely) after a software update. So after an update, just check that setting.

1. How common are rattles, squeaks, trim issues, or alignment problems? Our test vehicle had rear seats that were misaligned.

Aside from a second row squeak which is largely unresolved (we have it too), it’s completely silent. You can work around the squeak by (ironically) misaligning the 2nd row seats slightly; just move one of them forward or back by an inch or two.

Otherwise we haven’t had any other issues with alignment or anything like that.

Wr had a couple missing clips on some interior trim, but that was remedied in a few minutes, and I suspect that was because we got an early vehicle.

1. For owners in Southern California or other hot climates: how bad is heat from the glass roof in summer?

I’m in NorCal, and for me it hasn’t been bad, but we also keep the (extremely good) Lucid sunshades in during the really hot months. They’re perforated, so you still get light and a bit of view, but far less heat.

Some people also tint their windshields for better heat protection. I did this on my Air but haven’t felt the need to ok the Gravity. We did tint the side windows though which helped with heat rejection.

1. How effective are the Lucid snap-in roof shades?

They’re incredibly effective. And they look great.

1. Is ceramic tint a better solution, or do most people end up using both?

It varies. The sunshades are the obvious easy solution for the summer months. If you don’t like the look, tint them. If you find it’s still bad, do both.

We’re happy with just the sunshades.

1. Any regrets about not having a built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass?

No. IMHO, it’s just more things to break.

1. Does the lack of kick-to-open tailgate bother you in daily use? Especially for those, whose keys are in a bag not pocket.

No, because it has a button on the exterior. Even if I’m holding bags, I just hit the button with a finger and it’s fine.

When there were keyfob issues more frequently, this was a bit more of a bother if the car didn’t recognize the fob.

I’ve never owned a car with “kick to open” but in every one I’ve rented it worked only like 25% of the time. YMMV, of course, and I don’t have a lot of experience with it.

1. How annoying is the manual third-row folding over time? The seats felt heavy to open and close.

Not annoying, in part because we don’t use them often. But also, you get used to the motion. I can do it blindfolded now lol.

1. Same question for the second row after folding down — does manually raising it get old?

Nah. It’s a little heavy, but not so heavy that it’s hard for me.

It is harder for my wife, so you’ll likely get varying opinions on this.

1. Are the small sun visors a real issue in daily driving?

They’re small? Lol.

I wear polarized sun glasses but haven’t had issues with the visors.

1. What software bugs still bother you regularly?

Honestly? Not very many. We will very occasionally have a glitch where one screen is on the wrong “app” and will have to reselect it, but I think that’s happened twice ever?

Before 3.6.0 there were more software issues. Now, we honestly haven’t run into very many.

1. What issues have required a service visit?

We’ve had one service visit. Here is the list:

Gravity service issues

• Second row squeaks when at highway speeds
• Rear AC whistles.
• Seat belt recall check
• Trim piece in passenger footwell is falling (clip)
• Driver side massage stops working after a while; right side stops working
• New gravity DE rear badge
• Replace wheel covers with DE wheel covers (bear)
• Seat cover/airbag recall (NHTSA 25V855000 / Lucid SR.25.05.0)
• Driver seat jerks when reclining backward
• Redundant light error (intermittent, but frequent)
  • When this happens, turn signal cameras also go out, and lane changes trigger lane keep assist (steering wheel vibrates) even when the turn signal is on.
• Passenger seat button adjustment sticks (lube)
• Driver door window not closing
• Charger door doesn’t open all the way (lube)

All except the top one were fixed in a single visit. They tried to fix the top one but I don’t know that there is a solution yet. There will be one though.

1. How has Lucid service been — appointment wait times, mobile service, parts availability?

Previously? Amazing.

Recently, as you’ve likely read, wait times can be very long. Parts availability for service centers is relatively quick. For body shops, it can be a bit longer.

Lucid is very aware this is a problem and is working on fixing service. It used to be awesome. I have hope it will be again.

FWIW, the service *teams* and *techs* are spectacular and really care.

1. If you were buying again today, would you still choose the Gravity?

Without a doubt. There is still no other car that compares in almost any metric.

And I’d get a DE again, despite the depreciation. It is an incredible driver and I cannot see us giving it up except to get into a smaller vehicle. It’ll be hard to convince us unless that smaller vehicle drives as well.

1. For those who cross-shopped Volvo EX90, Rivian R1S, Mercedes EQS SUV, or Kia EV9, what made you stay with the Gravity?

We looked at the EV9; huge car, but relatively little space on the interior. That killed it for us.

My wife hated the EQS SUV styling, and I hated how it drove.

The R1S is a fantastic car, but drives well “for a truck,” whereas the Gravity needs no such qualifier. It just drives well, even compared to many vehicles outside its class.

1. Given Lucid’s current company situation — leadership changes, layoffs, stock decline, and uncertainty around long-term scale — would you still buy or lease the Gravity today? How much does company risk factor into your decision?

Yes. I’m not worried about the company, though I know some others are. Even if it failed, which I don’t think it will, the engineering means the company would get bought, not killed.

Lucid needed a corporate turnaround. We’re all hopeful Silvio succeeds.

My better half had a few strong disappointments, especially given the vehicle’s price point:

• No kick-to-open tailgate.
• Manual folding and unfolding of the third-row seats, which felt fairly heavy.
• Manual return of the second-row seats after they are folded.
• The exposed second-row seat mechanisms looked unfinished and raised concerns about little fingers getting caught.
• The powered second-row entry/exit motor was noticeably loud.
• No built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass.
• The cabin became noticeably warm from the glass roof, even on a relatively mild Southern California day.
• The sun visors felt quite small and weren’t very effective at blocking low-angle sun.

For those of you who have owned the Gravity for several months: which of these ended up being non-issues in daily use, and which still bother you today?

The exposed mechanisms is mildly annoying, even though I personally love the look (I’m a fan of “industrial” interior design too)

The reason is because items, not fingers, get under the seat sometimes. This is true in any car, and the exposed mechanism makes things easier to retrieve, but it also means things can full under there a bit easier, too.

The rest has been a non-issue (for us), though they’re all valid criticisms of the car.

 

[DeaneG]

Agreeing overall with @borski here, though my Gravity GT is 4 months newer than his Dream and has never needed service in the four months I've owned it. The only issue I had turned out to be a quirk of my phone, not the car.
I've never had trouble with the fob, lock/unlock, etc.
We haven't folded the seats down yet, so I can't comment on that. Ours do not squeak. The car is blissfully silent and solid.
I plan to leave the roof sunshades in for about 9 months of the year, as I did for the Air GT I owned for 3.5 years before the Gravity. Incidentally, the Air never needed an unscheduled service visit.
The kick-to-open tailgate on our Volvo EV is pretty handy, as is its native Google maps. Gravity is quite a step up in comfort and technology otherwise though.

 

[pyle112]

Hello,

I did a test drive and kept the Gravity overnight. First impression: wow. The car is outstanding overall and is seriously under consideration for purchase/lease.
That said, I have a few concerns about day-to-day ownership and would really appreciate feedback from current owners. Sorry for the long list.
I am especially interested in real-world experience after living with the car for a few months, not just first impressions.

Questions:

1. Is the key fob / phone key entry issue fully resolved now?
   No. Buttons don't respond quickly. I disable walk up, but pressing the handle seems more reliable lately.
2. Does the car reliably turn off and lock when walking away?
   See above. I disable walk away
3. Does the regen “stop” setting work reliably every time?
   Yes
4. How common are rattles, squeaks, trim issues, or alignment problems? Our test vehicle had rear seats that were misaligned.
   No real issues on
   mine
5. For owners in Southern California or other hot climates: how bad is heat from the glass roof in summer?
   I'm in NE. Hear is bad. Max AC is quite strong but loud. Get the roof shades.
6. How effective are the Lucid snap-in roof shades?
   Very effective
7. Is ceramic tint a better solution, or do most people end up using both?
   No clue
8. Any regrets about not having a built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass?
   Well yeah those would be great/cool
   
9. Does the lack of kick-to-open tailgate bother you in daily use? Especially for those, who’s keys are in a bag not pocket.
   Yes. My other car has this and it is really great with groceries and kids gear. Surprised that a 7 seater minivan doesn't have this feature
10. How annoying is the manual third-row folding over time? The seats felt heavy to open and close.
    Still heavy.
    
11. Same question for the second row after folding down — does manually raising it get old?
    
    I have car seat so don't take it down ever
    
12. Are the small sun visors a real issue in daily driving?
    No
    
13. What software bugs still bother you regularly?
    Sirius is annoying- no channel surfing with steering wheel buttons. Too many clicks to get to favorites.
    
14. What issues have required a service visit?
    
    Too many to name. Recalls. Garage opener issue. Multiple faults that have since resolved with software updates. Rear sprayer issues.
    
15. How has Lucid service been — appointment wait times, mobile service, parts availability?
    Fine. Dates are far out.
    
16. If you were buying again today, would you still choose the Gravity?
    Probably not. It's too minivanish for me, looks a bit like my neighbors kia carnival. My Air would turn heads
    
17. For those who cross-shopped Volvo EX90, Rivian R1S, Mercedes EQS SUV, or Kia EV9, what made you stay with the Gravity?
    Performance, range.
    
18. If you leased your Gravity, are you considering buying it at the end of the lease? What would make you buy it versus walk away?
    
    No. Depreciation is crazy. Maybe if they offered it at market. Residuals are ridiculous in the end.
    
19. Given Lucid’s current company situation — leadership changes, layoffs, stock decline, and uncertainty around long-term scale — would you still buy or lease the Gravity today? How much does company risk factor into your decision?
    
    TBH probably not. I don't ever get to use the hp and the full advertised range- I probably get 70%. So would probably opt for something that turns heads or is tried and true luxury.

My better half had a few strong disappointments, especially given the vehicle’s price point:

• No kick-to-open tailgate.
• Manual folding and unfolding of the third-row seats, which felt fairly heavy.
• Manual return of the second-row seats after they are folded.
• The exposed second-row seat mechanisms looked unfinished and raised concerns about little fingers getting caught.
• The powered second-row entry/exit motor was noticeably loud.
• No built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass.
• The cabin became noticeably warm from the glass roof, even on a relatively mild Southern California day.
• The sun visors felt quite small and weren’t very effective at blocking low-angle sun.

For those of you who have owned the Gravity for several months: which of these ended up being non-issues in daily use, and which still bother you today?

The mechanism isn't an issue for little fingers. Almost never fills 2nd row. Roof and tailgate still annoying.

That last question is likely to generate much more useful responses than simply listing the shortcomings. It encourages owners to distinguish between things that looked concerning during a test drive versus issues that genuinely affect long-term ownership.

I still think the Gravity is one of the most impressive EVs I’ve driven, but I’m trying to understand which issues fade into the background and which ones remain annoying after ownership.

Thank you

 

[9point81]

1. Yes for i think almost everyone. I haven’t had a problem in months.
2. Yes
3. Yes. One pedal driving is very strong. Especially in high mode
4. Some have had the rear seat squeak issue and I have too but a simple adjustment and it goes away. It’s a weird thing where if the seat is in this EXACT position, it squeaks. No other issues otherwise.
5. I live in Alabama and the roof isn’t bad in the extreme heat but it can get hot.
6. The sunshades help quite nicely with the heat that isnt handled by the roof tint.
7 I have ceramic tint on windows and that helps a lot too
8 No for shade, yes for electrochromic as that is a great option that should have been included.
9 Nope. Had it on my last car and almost never used it.
10 Dont take it out too often, so no big deal for me. I would either leave them out or put them away all the time, not go back and forth constantly.
11 Same as 10.
12 Nope, they work just fine for me
13 None really. Occasional very minor stuff now for me.
14 Recall for second row, frunk and trunk closing issues, window seal issues.
15 They are generally overwhelmed but trying HARD to be as good as they can be. Patience is a must.
16 Yes, at this point with software. I’m not sure I could have said that about a year ago when I got it. It was a bit rough.
17 Gravity is more lux and drives far better than any of those. We have the EV9 for my wife and i cross shopped the R1S, Escalade and Vistiq. None of them had the total package of smoothness, performance and lux I was looking for.
18 NA
19 Yes. I naturally have concerns for the company’s future like most, but I think they will still have a few more years in them at least. We will see how Cosmos does and how the company handles themselves going forward.

 

[EVCar]

I agree with @borski.
I'm in Arizona, so I have both ceramic tint and the sunshades.
The sun visors are indeed very small so we asked the tint shop to put on a visor strip and that really helps.
No squeals so far from the 2nd or 3rd row since December delivery.
The only unanticipated problem was the light bar on the frunk, which appeared segmented, instead of continuous.
It has been replaced once, but just last week, it looked like the one that was had been replaced.
The fobs had not performed maybe a handful of times.
That's it.
Edit: Forgot a recall for some coolant thing resulting in a Drive Error.

 

[RandomDesign]

1. For owners in Southern California or other hot climates: how bad is heat from the glass roof in summer?
2. Any regrets about not having a built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass?
3. Does the lack of kick-to-open tailgate bother you in daily use? Especially for those, who’s keys are in a bag not pocket.
4. Are the small sun visors a real issue in daily driving?

Good answers here but wanted to add a SoCal perspective and touch on a few of these.

I'm in San Diego and we ended up getting the shades. The Gravity gets a lot of solar gain sitting when out and about and having them helps reduce how much AC you need to run to cool the car (and the cooled seats help a lot too). We had the Gravity for a few months before getting them and it definitely made a difference in comfort for us. The front ones are very easily removed/readded so it's nice to have the option to pop them out. The back one is a little trickier to do alone but with two people it's simple. An electrochromic roof would have been amazing but definitely not a deal killer for us.

Kick to open tailgate is one feature I really do wish it had. I got the Gravity for it's storage space and am often loading up a lot of photo gear with my hands full and wish it had it. That said I use an iPhone and was able to create Siri commands to open and close the trunk and frunk using Shortcuts and it works well enough for me if my phone can hear me when it's in my pocket.

The visors are ok. They definitely could use more horizontal coverage but I've gotten used to them.

 

[Vizard]

@bordki @9point81 @pyle112 @EVCar
@RandomDesign,
thank you all for taking the time to respond to so many questions so thoughtfully, and for offering referrals as well.

I really appreciate your generosity and willingness to help someone who is still evaluating the Gravity. It’s clear this forum has a great community of knowledgeable and genuinely helpful people.

Like many of you, I hope Lucid succeeds. They’ve built impressive cars, and I hope they continue refining the ownership experience and grow into a long-term success story.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences, it has been extremely helpful as we work through our decision.

 

[kkumar99]

Regarding the squeaks, I had 2 when I purchased, got them serviced (one in door, one in tailgate), haven't had a squeak since, going on 16 k miles. Can tell you this is the opposite of the 2 Teslas I owned which had rattles from the beginning, that got serviced, but always seemed to come back....

For the tailgate, hoping they do follow the Tesla path, where a software update implemented standing there for a few seconds with phone in pocket opens the tailgate now... Not sure if lucid will do this, but it is possible as done by Tesla...

Just finished a big road trip and can tell you I was overall ecstatic with the car. An occasional software issue did sometimes show up, but usually resolved within minutes or a software reset. There are still some issues you'll likely have, but they are being addressed well and reasonably quickly... No car is perfect, but this is the best I've owned and it's continually improving with updates. Have no regrets so far!

 

[BrianBigNFun]

regarding service- I've had 3 trips so far
Had the steering wheel replaced (was causing problems with Dream Drive Pro not working)
Center Console replaced (was not reading the key card)
Had the rear seat rewelded for a recall
Had a drive system warning where my coolant manifest needed replacing

I knew getting a 1st year car I'd likely have some issues so it wasn't too unexpected

All was done in a timely manner and I received a Gravity loaner twice and an Air loaner one time
That said- my service center is in King of Prussia PA and is no where near as busy as SoCal

 

[Macgreiner]

How did you get an overnight demo drive? I have requested this and they are not a thing on the east coast.

 

[Lycra]

How did you get an overnight demo drive? I have requested this and they are not a thing on the east coast.

I had even 3 days. But in Germany. I guess I was lucky.

 

[Vizard]

@kkumar99 and @BrianBigNFun, thank you for sharing your experience; it's reassuring to hear that issues are being resolved.
@Macgreiner, actually, the sales associate offered the car without asking towards the end of the test drive; I was very surprised and thought there would be a catch, but there wasn't. I was blown away when they handed me the key; no paperwork, no sales pressure. The salesperson stayed back after their closing on Friday evening and did not rush us out. They patiently provided all the information I had been asking the studio for. Overall, an amazing experience; in contrast, Lexus ended the conversation with us in 3 minutes (rude, curt, and a total jackass salesperson).

 

[Saksak]

My better half had a few strong disappointments, especially given the vehicle’s price point:

• No kick-to-open tailgate.
• Manual folding and unfolding of the third-row seats, which felt fairly heavy.
• Manual return of the second-row seats after they are folded.
• The exposed second-row seat mechanisms looked unfinished and raised concerns about little fingers getting caught.
• The powered second-row entry/exit motor was noticeably loud.
• No built-in power roof shade or electrochromic glass.
• The cabin became noticeably warm from the glass roof, even on a relatively mild Southern California day.
• The sun visors felt quite small and weren’t very effective at blocking low-angle sun.

These are things I noticed when I first got my Gravity and it would be nice if Lucid addressed them in the next iteration. However, every car has a “personality” and they no longer bother me. No car is perfect and the rest of the Gravity makes up for some of the quirks. The things I compensated for:

• Purchased Lucid sun shades for the summer. I’d prefer an electrochroamatic roof, but the sun shades help quite a bit.
• Purchased clip-on visor extenders. They work great and are used often.

The highest priority item (besides the electrochromic roof) is replacing the second row exit/entry motors. All my passengers ask me if the motor is broken and it’s not a good look for Lucid.

 

[BrianBigNFun]

@kkumar99 and @BrianBigNFun, thank you for sharing your experience; it's reassuring to hear that issues are being resolved.
@Macgreiner, actually, the sales associate offered the car without asking towards the end of the test drive; I was very surprised and thought there would be a catch, but there wasn't. I was blown away when they handed me the key; no paperwork, no sales pressure. The salesperson stayed back after their closing on Friday evening and did not rush us out. They patiently provided all the information I had been asking the studio for. Overall, an amazing experience; in contrast, Lexus ended the conversation with us in 3 minutes (rude, curt, and a total jackass salesperson).

Traditional dealerships are bad enough but Toyota/Lexus are the absolute worst

My wife is getting a Cadillac Lyric in September to replace her Ioniq 5
Rather than deal with dealerships I’m using Delivrd to get the car

 

[Macgreiner]

Rather than deal with dealerships I’m using Delivrd to get the car

I'd be interested in hearing how your experience goes with this. It's crazy (and yet totally understandable to me) that the dealership experience is so bad that people would rather pay someone $1k to have it dealt with. I'd rather hurt myself than have to go into a dealership.

 

[BrianBigNFun]

I'd be interested in hearing how your experience goes with this. It's crazy (and yet totally understandable to me) that the dealership experience is so bad that people would rather pay someone $1k to have it dealt with. I'd rather hurt myself than have to go into a dealership.

And so you know…
I was a car salesman in the 90’s and I know how to negotiate a good deal and know generally what is a good deal
But I’d rather give Delivrd the grand and save myself the 4-5 hours or more
As most of us here are affording a lucid and can relate knowing it’s not worth my time in real dollars

 

[Macgreiner]

Like I said, I understand and am right there with you. Next time if I ever have to work with a dealership, I would gladly see $1k as a fair exchange. Really a commentary on on system that we we see both the need and value in doing so.

 

[exxxviii]

Never heard of Delivrd until now, and it is super intriguing. I bought my last car from a broker, and I figured out there are generally two kinds of services. One is a broker that has a standing relationship with several dealerships and pre-established pricing. They do not negotiate, because that already occurred when they set the relationship. They have lower fees and can tell you up front what the price will be. The downside is that they can only work with their specific dealers or brands. The other is an advocate that does the negotiation on your behalf. Their prices are higher, and the price may not be known until the deal is negotiated. It seems like Delivrd is like the latter, but maybe a bigger organization versus just a local guy.

One of my massive attractions to the new form automakers (Lucid, Rivian, and Tesla) is that I can bypass the time wasting and get what I believe is a fair price. That is very difficult with a legacy automaker unless you have a lot of time to waste or use a broker.

 

[Vizard]

@Saksak thanks for sharing about sunshades and visor clips, they’ll definitely be one of the first thing that we’ll get if we purchase.
I agree with noise from second row motor is bad. My better half, had a bad reaction to it, and it was a turn off, we had similar and bit milder noise develop in our Honda Clarity (wonderful car BTW) after 7 years, and the whole seat got replaced by Honda under extended warranty.

I have couple additional questions

1. differences or issues with and without dynamic power handling package, l have mixed opinion about it.
2. differences or issues between 21/22” vs 22/23” tires. Ride quality and tire wear between (fewer places have the larger ones available, only one manufacturer Perrelli currently). I am leaning towards mid size tire option, smaller wheels shows more mechanical back side and car look is affected, the big tires, may result in firmer ride
3. Will Lucid be willing to change to smaller wheels, if buying from existing inventory
4. Is there a link to regular maintenance schedule? What is typical cost and turn around time?
5. How often does OTA require service center visit, I hope this is never