Lucid EVs Named to Car and Driver’s Prestigious 10Best for 2026
On December 16, 2025, Lucid Group, Inc. announced that Car and Driver has named both the Lucid Gravity and Lucid Air to its prestigious 2026 10Best lists following an extensive evaluation process. The annual 10Best awards recognize the top vehicles in the car and truck or SUV segments based on value, mission fulfillment, and overall driving experience. Lucid Gravity and Lucid Air are the only fully electric vehicles included on their respective lists, underscoring Lucid’s emphasis on advanced engineering, performance, and efficiency.
The Lucid Gravity, available in Grand Touring and Touring trims, earned a place on the 2026 10Best Trucks & SUVs list in its first year of eligibility. The new electric SUV offers up to 450 miles of EPA-estimated range, peak charging power of 400 kW, and the ability to add up to 200 miles of range in under 11 minutes. Featuring advanced air suspension, agile handling, and seating for up to seven adults, Gravity combines versatility with high performance. Pricing for the Gravity lineup starts at $79,900 for the Touring trim, which delivers 560 horsepower and an EPA-estimated range of up to 337 miles.
“Both of Lucid’s products are on the 10Best list this year,” said Tony Quiroga, Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver. “The Air returns for the third year and continues to offer luxury, refinement, sophistication, range, and driving excitement in a practical and spacious sedan package. New to the list this year, the Gravity wowed us with its impressive range, fast charging, quick acceleration, and agile handling. Lucid’s attention to detail shows throughout, from the spaciousness of each row of seats to the large frunk to the way the tailgate closes, every inch of the Gravity is thoughtfully designed.”
The Lucid Air Pure was named to the 2026 10Best Cars list for the third consecutive year. Starting at $70,900, the Air Pure pairs elegant design with strong driver engagement and Lucid’s proprietary EV technology, delivering up to 420 miles of EPA-estimated range. Car and Driver editors evaluated more than 100 qualifying vehicles over two weeks, scoring each on a 100-point scale to determine the 10Best selections. Full coverage of the 2026 10Best lists is available online, with the complete feature published in the January–February 2026 issue of Car and Driver.
“It’s a tremendous achievement to have both of Lucid’s vehicles named to Car and Driver’s renowned 10Best – in the first year of eligibility for Lucid Gravity and a three-peat for Lucid Air,” said Emad Dlala, SVP of Engineering & Digital at Lucid. “It’s a testament to the concerted efforts from this company’s engineers and employees to continually innovate while ensuring an unparalleled driving experience.”
Car and Driver, a Trusted Resource
Car and Driver is one of the most influential and enduring automotive media brands in the world, with a reputation built on rigorous testing, editorial independence, and a deep passion for driving. Founded in 1955, the publication has evolved from a print-focused enthusiast magazine into a multi-platform authority that reaches millions of readers through digital, video, and social channels.
A defining characteristic of Car and Driver is its commitment to objective, data-driven evaluation. The editorial team conducts instrumented testing, long-term vehicle evaluations, and real-world driving assessments to provide readers with measurable, comparable insights. Acceleration times, braking distances, handling metrics, and efficiency data are paired with subjective impressions, creating reviews that are both technically credible and highly readable.
Car and Driver is also widely recognized for its annual awards programs, most notably the 10Best Cars and 10Best Trucks and SUVs lists. These selections are highly competitive and influential.
Lucid Says it is Far Superior to Tesla
Former Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson argued in August 2024 that Lucid now leads Tesla on core electric vehicle technology, particularly in powertrain integration and battery efficiency measured in miles per kilowatt-hour. He contends that Tesla’s growing focus on adjacent initiatives such as AI and robotics has diluted its attention on foundational EV engineering, creating an opening for Lucid to claim leadership in U.S. EV technology. While acknowledging Tesla’s continued dominance in sales volume and brand recognition, Rawlinson points to the Lucid Air’s class-leading efficiency as tangible proof of Lucid’s technical advantage, suggesting it would take Tesla years to fully catch up.
“We are considerably ahead of where Tesla is. We’ve taken that mantle. When I was at Tesla, Tesla was the tech leader. They’ve become distracted, and we have taken that place,” Rawlinson said to Yahoo Finance, referring to what he believes is Lucid’s technological advantage in EV batteries, software, and powertrain.
Rawlinson emphasized efficiency as a primary differentiator, noting that Lucid vehicles achieve materially higher miles per kWh, with certain Lucid Air variants exceeding 5.0 miles per kWh compared with roughly 4.0 miles per kWh for Tesla’s Model S. He also highlighted Lucid’s integrated powertrain and battery architecture, which he says is several years ahead of competitors and reflects engineering leadership he helped establish during his tenure at Tesla. According to Rawlinson, Tesla’s diversion of focus toward AI, robotics, and other initiatives has slowed progress in core EV technology, leaving room for Lucid to advance.
