In a unique comparison challenging the conventional view of powertrain choices, MotorTrend assembled three formidable electric, three-row luxury SUVs to determine which offers the ultimate in posh and performance: the 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring, the 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance Ultra, and the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Platinum. The focus was not merely on electric power but on how these vehicles embody luxury through their smooth, silent operation and advanced features.

Leading the pack in price, the 2026 Lucid Gravity Grand Touring, following its MotorTrend Car of the Year–winning Air sedan, arrived with a hefty $123,950 price tag. Its exterior was described as boldly minivanish, while the interior initially delivered a breathtaking impression with sweeping screens, cool graphics, and two-tone leather, evoking a sense of "Oz." However, this wonder quickly faded as critical eyes found numerous flaws: a poorly positioned steering wheel obstructing the instrument panel, cheap-feeling rubber touchpads, loose exterior trim, and an unsightly tangle of wires under the manually unfolding second-row seats. Operationally, the Gravity suffered from lagging screens, glitchy software, and a consistently faulty proximity key. Despite its impressive 828 hp and 909 lb-ft, delivering a best-in-test 0–60 mph time of 3.2 seconds, and its class-leading 386-mile EPA range (335 miles in Road Trip Range test) with exceptional fast charging (194 miles in 15 minutes), its performance wasn't flawless. While fun in curves with good balance, its abrupt transition to understeer and inadequate friction brakes raised concerns. Furthermore, the vaunted Dream Drive semi-autonomous system was inoperable, leading to a verdict that the Gravity felt "unfinished" and "half-baked," reminiscent of earlier Lucid Air issues.

The 2025 Volvo EX90 Twin Motor Performance Ultra, priced at $94,640, offered a familiar and serene experience. Its timeless exterior styling and basic cabin layout, dating back to the 2015 V90, were well-received. The interior boasted supremely comfortable seats and a phenomenal Bowers & Wilkins stereo with an "Abbey Road Studios" mode. Yet, Volvo adopted some of Tesla's controversial cost-cutting measures, moving critical adjustments like steering wheel and mirror controls to the center screen, and simplifying power window switches, which reviewers found inconvenient for a $100,000 SUV. Performance-wise, its 510 hp propelled it to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. Its EPA range was 300 miles (247 miles in Road Trip Range test), with faster charging than the Cadillac (94 miles in 15 minutes). Handling received mixed reviews; some found it disconnected, but others discovered its entertaining side when sporting modes were activated. The ride remained comfortable and composed. However, its center-screen interface proved problematic, with apps often failing to work, requiring a full system reset that erased data, and a built-in Google voice assistant that lacked control over many car functions. Ultimately, the EX90 was deemed a strong contender, but its software bugs and "Teslafication" of the interface held it back.

Emerging as the unexpected winner was the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq Platinum, with a price tag of $100,115. Cadillac, after years of chasing competitors, has redefined its approach, resulting in an interior hailed as a "monument to American design." Everything inside the Vistiq felt luxurious and tactile, blending modern details like a curved main screen with classic chrome motifs. Even its less spacious third row was meticulously trimmed. Minor issues included a climate control system monopolizing the lower screen, a design mismatch between the screens, and some drivers experiencing a partially blocked instrument panel view. Despite being the slowest of the group with 615 hp and a 0–60 mph time of 4.7 seconds, its suspension admirably managed its 6,407-pound heft, providing a plush and composed ride. The Vistiq's standout feature was its Super Cruise driver assistance system, considered the best available, enhanced by a large, colorful augmented reality head-up display for navigation and automated lane changes. Its primary drawback, however, lay in EV-specific metrics: a disappointing 234 miles in the Road Trip Range test (compared to 300 miles EPA) and slow fast charging, gaining only 62 miles in 15 minutes. Despite these charging limitations, the Vistiq was praised for feeling thoroughly tested, vetted, and debugged, surpassing expectations and embodying a potential revolution for the Cadillac brand.

In conclusion, the comparison was remarkably close, with each SUV offering unique strengths and weaknesses. The Lucid Gravity, despite its raw power and striking design, finished last due to its pervasive quality and software issues, feeling like an unfinished product. The Volvo EX90, with its serene interior and excellent stereo, secured second place but was hampered by its buggy software and design choices that felt like cost-cutting. The Cadillac Vistiq ultimately claimed victory, not for being the fastest or having the longest range, but for its exceptional interior design, polished user experience, advanced driver-assistance system, and the overall impression of a complete and refined luxury vehicle that delivered more than expected, proving itself worthy of Cadillac's historical "Standard of the World" moniker.