TROY, Michigan — Mrs. Payne and I recently enjoyed “Tron: Ares,” an action-packed sci-fi movie featuring lightning-quick light bikes and glowing digital displays.

Then we climbed into our own Tron-mobile.

As I approached the 2025 Lucid Gravity SUV tester with key in pocket, the electric SUV awoke. Door handles popped out to meet us and LED lights wrapped the front and rear ends (what, no Tron-like LEDs ringing the wheels?). We slipped into the interior and big digital screens glowing to life at the touch of the brake pedal.

I selected SWIFT mode on the console and electric motors let out a low, menacing HUMMMMMMM. I toggled the left turn signal, merged into traffic, and mashed the brake pedal.

Holy Mother of Pearl.

ZOT! We were at the next stoplight in an instant. Did the 6,048-pound cyber-ute time travel? Was there an orange, Tron-like streak behind me? Aptly named, the 828-horsepower Gravity defies it. What is this thing?

A 2026 North American Utility of the Year nominee, it’s the brilliant creation of Peter Rawlinson — the engineering genius who helped father the Tesla Model S. The mercurial Rawlinson left Tesla Inc. and in 2016 launched Lucid (Latin for “Tesla on Steroids,” methinks) as an EV maker before stepping aside last February. As he remains a technical adviser, I trust his spirit lives on — like Jeff Bridges' character in Tron — in the creations he left behind.

In crafting its similar hyper-fast three-row SUV back in 2015, Tesla went big on innovation with gull-wing doors and Full Self-Driving. Lucid just goes big.

This is a Chrysler Pacifica minivan disguised as an electric rocket ship. Call it CyberVan.

To use another movie analogy, the Gravity is like Eddie Murphy in “The Nutty Professor.” The SUV plays multiple roles: sports car, minivan, pioneer.

Gravity’s Air stablemate is the sexiest, best-looking sedan in the market. You can’t take your eyes off it. Gravity shares the Air’s signature chromed beak and narrow headlights but is otherwise a big box on 21-inch wheels. Its performance is in part shocking because you don’t expect a box to hug the road like a sports car.

It reminded me of Ford’s electric SuperVan 4.0 that I rode shotgun in next to CEO Jim Farley around Charlotte Motor Speedway’s infield track in 2024. Blinding acceleration, tenacious grip. What is this thing?

Gravity’s interior is not just Tron high-tech, but gorgeous too. Its curved 34-inch display reminds of the Porsche Taycan. The dashboard is carefully carpeted in suede, the cabin’s lines uninterrupted by big buttons as controls are either subtly located (see the piano-key-like climate controls below the console screen) or in screen. Seats and dash-and-door accents are wrapped in milk-chocolate leather.

Lush appointments aside, Gravity’s cabin is utility focused. At 6’5”, I could comfortably sit behind myself sitting behind myself in the third row. Want to flatten all three rows like a Pacifica for big cargo like plywood sheets? Gravity has stow ’n’ go seats like the Chrysler.

Want to watch the kids play soccer next to the field? The cavernous frunk (front truck) can be turned into a bench seat complete with front fascia protector so your dangling legs don’t mar the paint. Carting a junior soccer team home with muddy cleats? Throw them all in the sub-cargo storage in back.

The Model X is a distant second in utility to CyberVan.

Of course, no SUV is capable unless it does road trips — the Achilles heel of three-row EVs like the $56K Kia EV9. The Lucid costs twice that in part because it offers nearly 50% more range at an impressive 386 miles.

“Navigate to Charlevoix, Michigan,” I barked and the SUV used the “Lucid Network” — a quilt of third-party chargers — to navigate me along the 256-mile route, including Tesla Superchargers since the Lucid shares a NACS port with its EV rival. Nicely done. Another route?

Navigate to Charleston, West Virginia.

Lucid navigated a 381-mile path to my hometown, complete with charging stop.

Unlike Tesla, Lucid offers Android Auto/Apple CarPlay navigation. But, as in the Tesla, I preferred the internal navigation system because it was better at route planning with chargers.

Here’s where Tesla asserts its software superiority.

Its nav system creates a universe around its proprietary charger network, allowing me to search for nearby restaurants and stores. You can even set the percentage of battery charge you want left on arrival should you have other errands to run.

Tesla extends that superiority with Full Self-Driving, which enables hands-free driving anywhere — most compellingly on long interstate trips where you can relax while the car automatically changes lanes and navigates to your exit. Gravity only offers adaptive cruise control — which often runs up on traffic, unlike the more advanced Tesla system.

Lucid remains a small startup automaker without the volume of Tesla, which makes the latter’s service network as accessible as legacy automakers. I love the Lucid’s spare style and blistering performance, but exclusivity comes with a price.

The only Michigan service center? In Coldwater, with the mothership sending out mobile service calls for repairs.

On the Lucid Owners Michigan Forum, Ry4an writes:

I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the mobile service has been great. Once they came out to my home to cover some post-delivery items and worked from my driveway. Once they came down and traded my touring for a loaner grand touring, swapping back a week later. Never a hassle and comes back beautifully detailed.

My experience with Tesla indicates EVs need minimal maintenance. It’s the electronics and (especially) the Lucid’s sophisticated seats that may need attention. Another owner named Stratus addressed the issue:

Many of us have a concern, whether we openly admit to it or not. That being said, the Saudi backing certainly seems to give that extra level of long-term security.I will say unequivocally that the car is just so outstanding and fun to drive, that it almost seems too good to fail. I put my worries aside and just went for it and I would wholeheartedly recommend that to anyone pondering a lease or purchase.

Back to my tester. I gripped Gravity’s square steering wheel, then ran my thumbs over the touchpad on the left spoke to set my ACC speed. HUMMMMM went the Tron-mobile.

Then I pushed hard on the accelerator and defied ... gravity.

ZOT!

2026 Lucid Gravity

Vehicle type: Battery-powered, all-wheel-drive, seven-passenger hatchback

Price: $81,550, including $1,650 destination fee ($122,950 Grand Touring as tested)

Powerplant: 89-123 kWh lithium-ion battery with dual-electric-motor drive

Power: 560-828 horsepower, 811-909 pound-feet of torque

Transmission: single-speed automatic

Performance: 0-60 mph, 3.4 seconds (mfr.); top speed, 137 mph

Weight: 6,048 pounds (as tested)

Fuel economy: EPA est. MPGe: 92-108; range, 386-450 miles

Report card

Highs: Stupefying performance, palatial interior

Lows: Pricey; lags Tesla in charging software, self-driving, service centers

Overall: 4 stars

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