Fisker Inc Ocean (2024)

Brian Wong from Edmunds highlights the Fisker Ocean as a spacious and powerful electric SUV with impressive real-world range and brisk acceleration, especially in its top Ultra trim. The Ocean offers a comfortable ride, quiet cabin, and a standout ELS sound system, making it appealing in several practical aspects. However, Wong’s tone is largely disappointed due to Fisker’s bankruptcy, which leaves many promised features unfulfilled and raises concerns about long-term ownership and support. The review points out significant flaws in handling, braking, and infotainment reliability, including buggy software, poor Bluetooth connectivity, and inconsistent driver-assist systems. While the Ocean’s efficiency and powertrain performance are competitive, the lack of adaptive cruise control, incomplete one-pedal driving, and problematic key fob diminish the overall experience. Wong ultimately views the Ocean as a vehicle with potential that is undermined by execution issues and the company’s collapse, making it difficult to recommend despite some notable strengths.

Richard Ingram from Auto Express highlights the Fisker Ocean as a distinctive and desirable electric SUV that stands out with its bold styling, unique features, and strong performance, especially in the top-spec Extreme trim. He praises its thoughtful design touches like California Mode and the innovative Taco Tray, as well as its competitive acceleration and spacious interior. However, Ingram tempers enthusiasm with measured criticism, noting that the Ocean feels built to a price, with some material quality falling short of premium rivals. The current software and connectivity features are incomplete but expected to improve via over-the-air updates. While the ride is generally comfortable and the driving experience engaging, efficiency and refinement lag behind some competitors. Overall, the review conveys a cautiously positive tone, appreciating Fisker’s ambition and innovation but recognizing that the Ocean still needs refinement to fully realize its potential as a serious Tesla Model Y rival.

Matt Saunders assesses the Fisker Ocean as a distinctive and thoughtfully designed electric SUV that blends California-inspired style with European build quality. He highlights its standout features like the innovative SolarSky roof, which adds modest but free solar range, and playful “California mode” and “Hollywood mode” functions that add character without feeling gimmicky. The Ocean’s interior emphasizes sustainability with recycled materials and a pared-back, practical design that avoids premium-brand pretensions while maintaining solid build quality. Though heavier than rivals, its ride is comfortable and refined, favoring a mature, composed driving experience over sporty dynamics. Saunders praises its impressive real-world range and strong value proposition, positioning it well against established competitors. However, he notes potential concerns about dealer support and the usual risks of software teething problems from a new brand. Overall, the Ocean impresses as a pragmatic, stylish, and range-capable EV that could appeal to buyers prioritizing sustainability and sensible usability.

John M. Vincent from U.S. News & World Report highlights the 2024 Fisker Ocean as a promising electric SUV that impresses with its striking design, sustainable interior materials, and thrilling performance, especially in its dual-motor variants. Praising its build quality and innovative features like the “taco tray,” doggie windows, and a rotating infotainment screen, Vincent emphasizes Fisker’s commitment to sustainability and unique manufacturing approach. However, he notes that the Ocean’s software and connectivity lag behind competitors, with slow touchscreen response, buggy smartphone integration, and missing features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the driving experience is engaging, some mechanical jolts and artificial steering detract from refinement. Vincent sees the Ocean as an affordable, well-built EV with strong potential that currently requires software improvements to fully compete with established rivals like the Tesla Model Y. The review balances enthusiasm for Fisker’s fresh approach with measured critique of its early-stage software shortcomings.

Matt Degen from Kelley Blue Book highlights the Fisker Ocean as an electric SUV with intriguing design, innovative features like a solar roof and rotating touchscreen, and a commendable focus on sustainability. However, despite its promising specs and eco-friendly ambitions, the review conveys a largely critical and cautious sentiment. The driving experience is described as inconsistent and sometimes unsafe, with issues such as unreliable software, awkward power delivery, and uncomfortable ergonomics undermining the vehicle’s appeal. The Ocean’s range and some unique features like California Mode and two-way charging stand out positively, but these are overshadowed by numerous bugs and hardware quirks. Additionally, Fisker’s uncertain financial stability casts doubt on the long-term viability and support for the vehicle. Overall, while the Ocean shows potential and creativity, the execution falls short, leading to a lukewarm recommendation compared to more dependable competitors in the electric SUV market.

Bengt Halvorson from Green Car Reports highlights the Fisker Ocean (2024) as a well-designed and thoughtfully packaged electric SUV with strong hardware fundamentals and impressive styling. The roomy, cleverly laid-out interior and unique features like the solar roof and California mode stand out as notable positives. However, Halvorson expresses clear reservations about the vehicle’s software maturity and driving dynamics, describing the Ocean’s software as lagging behind expectations and potentially frozen in an unfinished state due to Fisker’s June 2024 bankruptcy. While the hardware impressed with solid build quality and promising performance, the software glitches, inconsistent stability control, and incomplete driver-assistance features significantly detract from the overall experience. The reviewer acknowledges that Fisker’s OS 2.0 update addressed some issues but that many bugs remain, and future promised features are unlikely to arrive. Despite these challenges, the Ocean shows considerable potential and could become a strong competitor if revived and properly supported, though likely under a different brand name.

Jamie Kitman from Road & Track delivers a cautiously critical assessment of the 2024 Fisker Ocean, highlighting significant shortcomings despite some promising features. While praising Fisker’s ambition to re-enter the electric SUV market with a competitively priced, sustainably built vehicle boasting up to 360 miles of range and innovative touches like a swiveling 17.1-inch touchscreen and a solar roof, Kitman finds the Ocean fundamentally unready for prime time. The review points to subpar build quality, harsh ride, excessive road noise, and cheap-feeling controls that fall well short of rivals like the Jaguar I-Pace and Hyundai Kona. Kitman also contextualizes Fisker’s troubled corporate history and recent production and financial struggles, casting doubt on the brand’s long-term viability. Ultimately, the Ocean is seen as a participation-level contender rather than a serious competitor, with the reviewer recommending more established alternatives for buyers seeking a reliable electric SUV.