Fisker can’t seem to catch a break these days. After a tumultuous few weeks that saw the company grappling with the aftermath of an exceedingly negative review from a popular tech YouTuber, reports of hiring bankruptcy advisors, and the subsequent crash of its stock price, to top it off, they’ve halted production of the Ocean SUV for six weeks. Now, another damning review has emerged.
Consumer Reports bought its very own Fisker Ocean and things aren’t going well. In fact, they’re downright dismal. Its very first road test report features some hard-hitting language. After a series of trialsome events, this is the latest blow to a brand still struggling to find its footing.
“So far, our experience with the Ocean is like ordering pizza at a new, buzzy restaurant, only to get a pie with undercooked dough and no sauce because the tomatoes are still growing,” wrote CR. “The tantalizing promise of the final product is right there in front of us, but it’s quite unappealing in its current state. “
More: Fisker Pauses Production And Raises $150M, Holds Out For OEM Rescue
And it doesn’t get any better from there. In its assessment, CR echoes what YouTuber Marques Brownlee highlighted: numerous software issues that Fisker promises to fix but has yet to address. One tester specifically remarked “This is the most incomplete car I’ve driven in my career, and that includes pre-production models.” Ouch.
Features Seem To Come And Go
The publication’s primary concern revolves around safety tech that evidently functions inconsistently. According to the CR, when the car arrived, the advanced driver’s assistance systems worked properly. The very next day the blind-spot warning and lane-keep assist were non-functional. It sounds like they come and go but another feature, adaptive cruise control, isn’t available at all despite being listed on the window sticker. Fisker says it’s coming in 2024 but it’s not functional for now.
“It’s inexcusable that safety and other features promised on the Ocean’s window sticker come and go, with their absences only occasionally accompanied by warning messages,” said the reviewer.
The list doesn’t stop there though. The staff said, “It feels like the Ocean’s software designers got some sadistic pleasure from programming new and different ways to prevent Bluetooth from connecting.” They complain heavily about the braking experience too and it’s easy to see why.
First, the system defaults to the most aggressive regenerative braking setting every time the car is turned on. Changing it requires a three-step process through the touchscreen, which is evidently so laggy that it reminds the staff of a $99 kids’ tablet. On top of that frustration, the tuning is so bad that the experience of modulating the brakes is “nauseating.”
Cabin Feels Like A “Cheap Polyester Suit”
Issues don’t only lie in the software though. They describe the upholstery by saying that it “feels like a cheap polyester suit.” The door pull is situated toward the back of the door requiring an awkward motion to close it. The dashboard already rattles and the suspension allows harsh impacts to “punch into the cabin.” To put it simply, Consumer Reports isn’t wildly happy with its Fisker Ocean and a major software update can only fix some of these problems.
To add insult to injury, the publication notes that the Fisker Ocean’s $2,438 destination fee “is by far the highest of any vehicle” it has ever tested, pointing out, “It feels especially high given the delivery experience.” Interestingly, despite the hefty $63,981 price as optioned, Fisker never cashed CR’s check. “They told us they couldn’t find it,” the review quipped.
An Ocean Of Troubles
Things haven’t gone especially well for the automaker in recent months. In December it slowed production to raise working capital. Then, in January, it ditched its direct sales model and the U.S. government began an investigation into a potential braking issue.
In February, the share price dropped below a dollar, a fall from over $6 less than six months ago. This month, it’s cut its workforce by 15%, tried (and so far failed) to find an OEM partner, and ultimately it’s paused production and is now talking about bankruptcy. This new review from Consumer Reports isn’t going to help things get any better.
