Rivian Tri Motor R1S vs. Lucid Gravity Comparison Review by Edmunds

[Great Gatsby]

Weird comparison, but glad the Rivian R1S “won”. I was surprised that they said the Lucid Gravity’s interior felt cheap. Were they trying to cut costs on a $100K vehicle?

Based on my experience, there is a huge discrepancy between the interior options and quality for Lucid. Ocean Coast or Black Mountain you are getting similar materials on a Rivian. In a Lucid, you can get a very cheap feeling faux-leather versus real leather. The white interior I was in (the faux-leather) left a lot to be desired and was already falling apart in some areas and had visible stains. The brown real leather interiors felt a lot more premium and felt better put together. Just depends which interior of a Lucid you end up sitting in. Though this review looked to have the brown leather...so who knows what Edmund is reviewing or looking at nowadays...

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[Gen(R3)Xer]

I do wish Rivian had a warm brown interior choice. Doesn’t have to be real leather.

 

[johnj2803]

I have test driven the Gravity and it drives like a big car. Driving dynamics are very Tesla like. I did not like the steering wheel.

I would dare to say that materials in the Gravity feel more lux than my R1s

 

[Vantripping]

The Gravity will never have true off road chops, but this upcoming X package will satisfy many.

I test drove a Gravity a little over a week ago and it's fantastic. Much smoother acceleration and braking, cornering, and feels like it floats on the road and so much quieter without all of those electronic and air suspension clunking and whirring sounds of my R1S. Nearly as quick, but much nicer to drive and the interior is also much nicer and feels much newer. Excellent dash and screens and seats (massage). They had this GravityX concept there: It has different bumpers, wheel arches, lifted suspension, more rugged interior, recovery hooks, and more. The sales person was very clear that it is only a concept and they are not taking deposits for it which is a bummer as that is the one I'd want but until that is available will hold onto my R1S as I want to feel confident I can drive on rough dirt roads and in deep snow the Gravity didn't give me that. Here is a photo I took of the X concept at Lucid.

 

[Vantripping]

I do wish Rivian had a warm brown interior choice. Doesn’t have to be real leather.

I agree. I really liked the "Tahoe" leather in the Lucid. Nice color and feel.

 

[McWriteface]

I love Lucid's tech, just amazing but the Gravity is to minivan-ish for my taste.

Imagine if BMW or Mercedes bought Lucid for the tech, now those would be amazing vehicles.

i saw a video with Lucid brass talking about wanting to license their tech as a possible revenue stream. that could be their real golden goose. their motors are so efficient, they would have people lining up to take a piece.

when i was researching, the Gravity and R1S were the only 2 options with 7 seats and 400+ range. I opted for an R1S thinking it could handle winters in the North better, I also think Rivians software is quite a bit more mature than Lucid.

 

[Great Gatsby]

I test drove a Gravity a little over a week ago and it's fantastic. Much smoother acceleration and braking, cornering, and feels like it floats on the road and so much quieter without all of those electronic and air suspension clunking and whirring sounds of my R1S. Nearly as quick, but much nicer to drive and the interior is also much nicer and feels much newer. Excellent dash and screens and seats (massage). They had this GravityX concept there: It has different bumpers, wheel arches, lifted suspension, more rugged interior, recovery hooks, and more. The sales person was very clear that it is only a concept and they are not taking deposits for it which is a bummer as that is the one I'd want but until that is available will hold onto my R1S as I want to feel confident I can drive on rough dirt roads and in deep snow the Gravity didn't give me that. Here is a photo I took of the X concept at Lucid.

I don't think Lucid is here to eat Rivian's lunch, but if the concept X becomes reality, then RJ might have a reason to be concerned. Honestly, a higher stance, more aggressive design and the metal front bumper fixes a lot of the weirdness with the original gravity design. I could see many (myself included) hesitating to go from the R1S to the Gravity. With this X concept, the pill becomes a lot easier to swallow. Heck, I'd be lying if I wouldn't be open to reserving one if they opened it up for it.

Heck, maybe its the push Rivian needs to update the R1S with an 800V architecture, rear wheel steering and a much better ride. Seems harder to justify the R1S, as good as it is, when it still takes 40+ minutes to charge and at max of 220kw at best case scenario.

 

[mkhuffman]

I don't think Lucid is here to eat Rivian's lunch, but if the concept X becomes reality, then RJ might have a reason to be concerned. Honestly, a higher stance, more aggressive design and the metal front bumper fixes a lot of the weirdness with the original gravity design. I could see many (myself included) hesitating to go from the R1S to the Gravity. With this X concept, the pill becomes a lot easier to swallow. Heck, I'd be lying if I wouldn't be open to reserving one if they opened it up for it.

Heck, maybe its the push Rivian needs to update the R1S with an 800V architecture, rear wheel steering and a much better ride. Seems harder to justify the R1S, as good as it is, when it still takes 40+ minutes to charge and at max of 220kw at best case scenario.

FYI - the Gravity cannot hold a sheet of drywall.

 

[cwardak]

Interesting comparison. I haven't seen a Gravity yet, so I'll just post the article.

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2026-lucid-gravity-rivian-r1s-comparison-test.html

Thanks for sharing. I was actually contemplating getting the Gravity. But felt it was more like the Model X. Not really an SUV but more of a cross over. And really wanted something that is truly meant for off roading and camping. Couldn’t be happier with my new 2026 R1S Quad.

 

[savethemanual]

I'd bet money the Gravity X will go into production, folks love the faux off road stuff....all about image. But, as many have stated...the Gravity is a very nice vehicle!

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

I don't think Lucid is here to eat Rivian's lunch, but if the concept X becomes reality, then RJ might have a reason to be concerned. Honestly, a higher stance, more aggressive design and the metal front bumper fixes a lot of the weirdness with the original gravity design. I could see many (myself included) hesitating to go from the R1S to the Gravity. With this X concept, the pill becomes a lot easier to swallow. Heck, I'd be lying if I wouldn't be open to reserving one if they opened it up for it.

Heck, maybe its the push Rivian needs to update the R1S with an 800V architecture, rear wheel steering and a much better ride. Seems harder to justify the R1S, as good as it is, when it still takes 40+ minutes to charge and at max of 220kw at best case scenario.

I definitely think that the R1T and the R1S need updating specs wise, but Rivian is small and trying to concentrate on mass-market vehicles, like the R2 and R3, in order to grow. Maybe after those two vehicles launch they’ll return to the R1s with the cost savings they acquired from the more affordable models (zonal architecture, less wiring, improved ADAS, etc.)

 

[ACDC]

"We need to talk about the poor build quality in the Lucid Gravity" - Edmunds review

 

[portdirect]

"We need to talk about the poor build quality in the Lucid Gravity" - Edmunds review

Ok - the seat at the end is really poor, but latch noises etc dont seem any different to many other vehicles, and the charge port seal sounds like a assembly SNAFU?

I'm in Chicago this weekend - going to go check one out at the showroom (also looking at a Taycan, while my wife is suggesting giving me the S and getting an iDBUZZ for herself - so I'm properly all over the place ): Not keen on the exterior for the Gravity, but luckily you don't drive cars looking at them from the outside that much (ideally).

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