Tesla’s Story

Tesla began the EV market as we know it today and the company remains the strongest seller of EV models in the world. From China, BYD is close, but nothing in the United States compares. The Tesla Model Y is currently the world’s best-selling vehicle. Alongside the compact SUV, the Model 3 sedan is the second most popular. Higher-end models include the Model S sedan and the Model X SUV. Most recently, the Cybertruck has captured the imaginations of EV buyers.

Rivian’s Story

Several EV startups have tried to take on Tesla and gain success, but only a few have managed to produce a large number of vehicles and get them to customers. Rivian is one of those. The California company began in 2009 and in 2021 it launched its first vehicle, the Rivian R1T pickup truck. It was the first electric pickup of the modern EV era. Rivian followed that with the R1S, a big SUV based on the same platform. Rivian also makes a delivery van for Amazon, one of its original investment backers.

Comparing Rivian and Tesla Vehicles

Tesla’s trademark is mostly medium-sized sedans and SUVs, while Rivian is going after buyers who want larger vehicles with off-road ability. Rivian’s brand description embraces the outdoors. Both Tesla and Rivian vehicles are packed with cutting-edge and thoughtful features.

For example, the R1T has a nifty gear tunnel where you can stash items between the cab and bed. The Rivian truck and SUV have a choice of four motors, an adjustable height suspension, and multiple drive modes for taking on rough terrain.

On the other hand, Tesla’s vehicles are strongly geared toward urban and suburban driving. They’re designed to deliver on-road performance, and that’s especially true if you look at a sporty model like the Model S Plaid. There is some overlap between the two brands, including modern technology and design simplicity.

Both Rivian and Tesla have done away with physical buttons, which is cool on one front, but frustrating when you need to use the touchscreen simply to change the air vent direction.

Buying a Tesla or Rivian

One perk of buying either a Tesla or a Rivian is that you can order easily online. Both companies reject the traditional dealership model and instead sell their models directly to customers via their websites. This easy ordering method makes both companies feel distinctly modern and it may even represent the future of the auto industry.

Which Should You Choose?

It’s difficult to say that one brand is heads and tails better than the other as they both appeal to different consumers. If a truck or a large SUV with impressive off-road chops is your preference, then Rivian beats Tesla easily. However, Rivian doesn’t have an answer for Tesla’s sportier offerings either. So, it largely depends on what you want.

The post Rivian vs. Tesla: How the Startup Compares to the EV Giant first appeared on Ride4Watts.com.

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If you though the Lucid Air was and incredible EV that set the bar much higher than any other company, you’re sure to admire the new Gravity. Lucid has done it again, giving us an SUV that could reset the market and show the luxury EV world where their standard should be. This new EV is an evolution from the Air, not just an SUV built to share the same platform.

A better entry

The only demerit of the Lucid Air is the low ride height and doors. This makes it difficult for drivers of nearly every height to enter and exit without hitting their heads. The driving position is also a little tight. Thankfully, the new Gravity SUV changes that. This SUV has a low and smooth look, but it also has a larger ingress and egress position to make it much easier for passengers to enter and exit without too much trouble.

The new Lucid Gravity comes in two suspension heights, making it easy to have a low-riding sporty model or a high-riding version that could be good for light off-road driving. With the lower suspension and smaller wheels, the Gravity appears to be almost carlike, which could make it a good choice for many families.

The seating is versatile

The Gravity comes in two forms, one with seating for five people across two rows and the other offering seven seats across three rows. There could be a six-seat version that arrives later on, but initially, this SUV will be set up to seat five or seven passengers. This means you can have a large cargo hold for your stuff or have a third-row seat for those times when you need more seating for your family and friends.

Technologically advanced

We expect the new Lucid SUV to be a technological marvel, but this SUV does something that you might not expect. It can be had with an available rear-wheel steering system and an air suspension that automatically adjusts based on speed. These tech items improve the ride quality, low-speed handling, and complete driving experience to give you the feeling you want when you get behind the wheel of this new electric SUV.

Expected driving range

The Lucid Air set the bar high. This incredible electric vehicle came with the best driving range in the industry and no other EV found a way to match it. The new Lucid Gravity should have a driving range of 440 miles on a full charge, which is more than enough to allow anyone to drive all week long without recharging.

This driving range is better than the Tesla Model X with 350 miles and the Rivian R1S with a claimed 400 mile driving range. Lucid claims the Gravity can add 200 miles of driving range while charging a 300-kw charge rate. This charging only takes about 15 minutes, which is impressively fast.

The new platform used for the Gravity gives it improved motors when compared to the Air. This SUV also has a low drag coefficient of only 0.24 on some trims, which is incredibly aerodynamic. Unlike the Air, the Gravity won’t have two different rear floor heights based on the battery pack. In the Air, you gain three inches of legroom in the rear seat area with the smaller battery pack, but that won’t be a concern for the Gravity.

Not meant for the trails

The new Lucid Gravity is a capable SUV that could probably go off-road, but the price and luxury build make that a big no-no with this vehicle. Still, the Gravity can tow up to 6,000 pounds, which is pretty good for an SUV that’s meant to be kept on the roads. Expect this new electric SUV to rocket to 60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds.

The post 2025 Lucid Gravity: High-Tech Luxury Driving In a New Electric SUV first appeared on Ride4Watts.com.

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This futuristic SUV came to the market in 2022 and has been one of the most successful and popular electric vehicles in the market. The iX has a spacious cabin with chic styling and comfortable seating for up to five people to enjoy the ride together. Both models use a dual-motor layout with AWD and plenty of power for those looking for some electric excitement in their BMW.

Here’s what the new 2025 model brings to the table.

Very few changes

When you do something right, and the market hasn’t passed you by yet, it’s possible to go ahead and continue onward. That’s basically the philosophy of this BMW electric SUV. The iX carries over into 2025 with very few changes, at least changes that you would notice. The Highway Assist hands-free driving feature now has an eye-tracking tech that allows the driver to change lanes by glancing in the direction of one of the rearview mirrors. The My BMW smartphone app also gains a digital key feature to lock and unlock the iX without using the app, which makes it much more convenient.

One goes up, the other goes down

Typically, when more power or battery capacity is offered, the additional driving range is the result for EVs. The new BMW iX does something a little differently. The xDrive50 model now has 309 miles of driving range when equipped with 19-inch wheels. That’s two additional miles of range compared to the previous model year. If this version is equipped with 20-inch wheels, it has 303 miles of range, and with the 21-inch wheels, the result is 302 miles of driving range.

When we turn to the M60 model, the iX loses 11-12 miles of driving range, which is nearly four percent compared to the 2024 model year versions. This means the diving range goes down from 296 miles to 284 miles for versions with 21-inch wheels and 285 miles if this BMW is equipped with 22-inch wheels.

Most of the other driving specs appear to be the same from one year to the next.

Is this BMW electric SUV more expensive than before?

BMW increased the price of the xDrive50 models by $150, which is a minuscule change in prices. Many times, we see significant increases in prices from one year to the next, but that’s not the case here. The M60 models maintain its starting price with no increase at all. This electric SUV doesn’t qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit when purchased, which means shoppers must least this SUV to enjoy the benefits of this credit.

How much power does the iX provide?

The base model of the BMW iX has plenty of power at 516 horsepower from the dual-motor AWD system. This is an excellent power figure, allowing this SUV to rocket down the road in a hurry. Turn up the heat in the M60 model, which sends 610 horsepower to the wheels. BMW includes an adjustable air suspension and rear-wheel steering as options for both models, which can make this SUV more capable and fun on any road. There’s very little road noise entering the cabin during your drive, making this SUV feel more luxurious than ever before.

When it comes to quickness, this SUV has what you need. The base model rockets to 60 mph in only 4.0 seconds, while the more powerful M60 can hit that figure in 3.2 seconds. These numbers certainly make the iX a fun and active SUV that you can enjoy on any road.

What you’ll find inside

When you’re thinking about size, consider the BMW X5. The iX is about the same size as the X5, making it easy to understand how this BMW electric SUV can be ideal for a family of five to enjoy their time on the road together. The iX’s interior design is simple and modern, with lots of high-tech features. You’ll see a large, curved touchscreen instrument panel and a hexagonal-shaped steering wheel.

Over you head is a panoramic sunroof featuring an electrochromic shading option which gives the overhead screen an opaque look. The front seats are heated and offer power functions, making it easy to get comfortable when you sit up front.

Is the new 2025 BMW iX the right choice for you? This electric BMW SUV is extremely similar to its predecessor, offering only minor upgrades to make it just a little bit better than before.

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