Preview: Fisker Ocean

We rarely get a chance to talk about “start-up” manufacturers. However, this is not your usual start-up automaker.

Noted Danish automotive designer Henrik Fisker had his own car company before. His namesake vehicles were expensive plug-in hybrids wearing a very sleek design. When that company ran into financial trouble, it was sold to a new company now called Karma.

This is Fisker’s second chance at creating a vehicle under his own name. This time, he choose to offer a fully battery-electric compact SUV to compete in a growing segment of similar vehicles from both legacy and start-up manufacturers.

We had a chance to briefly drive the new Fisker Ocean to see if it has a chance to compete in the marketplace.

Built in Graz, Austria at Magna’s contract plant, the Ocean arrives with a fresh approach to the EV SUV. The exterior fits with current design trends in the segment showing off its slab sides, a minimal front end with a large “grille” and narrow horizontal taillights at the back. 

There are few twists to the Ocean’s design. Above the cabin is a Solar Sky Roof above you that serves to recoup some energy back into the vehicle. You also have the ability to lower and raise all of the windows, including the C-pillar and liftgate glass panels. Our Fisker One example had a matte paint finish and a set of 22-inch F3 SlipStream alloy/carbon fiber wheels finish up the launch edition’s design. 

The Ocean’s interior follows a lot of design conventions found on other EVs. Dominating the dashboard is a 17.1-inch central screen, where most of the Ocean’s functions are controlled. You start with the screen to set up some functions that are utilized on one of the steering wheels controls to finish – such as the tilt/telescope wheel and instrument cluster. The latter is a small screen with more than enough information for drivers to view. 

Seating is for five, with a roomy rear seat area. Front seats are supportive, but they do offer some comfort. Rear seat space is decent for average-sized adults. For cargo space, you only get 16.81 cubic feet behind rear seats, which is expandable to 32.43 cubic feet.

Driving the Ocean One is a two-motor set-up with each motor installed on each axle. You have a total of 468 horsepower to begin with. Power can be “boosted” for up to 568 horsepower, using the “Hyper” drive mode. There is also 514 to 543 pound-feet of torque available, depending on the drive mode setting. The all-wheel drive system offers a rear disconnect in certain modes, which you can select between Earth, Fun, and Hyper. 

Fisker claims that this model can yield a range of 360 miles from its 113-kilowatt-hour battery. DC Fast Charging takes under 35 minutes from 10-80% state of charge. 

The Ocean is rated at a 5,369-pound curb weight, which yielded a very solid and firm ride and tight handling. There was no sign or lean or roll in turns and evasive maneuvers were solid. 

The steering wheel has a flat bottom with a very thick rim. Combied with the Ocean’s weight, on-center feel was very solid, and yielded a decent turning radius. While pedal feel was fine, you need to keep on the pedal before you switch to the accelerator. Otherwise, the vehicle might roll if you leave the pedal. 

The Fisker Ocean lineup has four trim levels, starting from $37,499. Our Ocean One example was priced from $68,999. All Ocean One models are sold out, but you can get an Ocean Extreme with the same level of features for the same price.

While the Fisker Ocean seems like something different in the EV SUV space, there are plenty of other choices to look at. Its competitors include the Cadillac Lyriq, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y, Mercedes-Benz EQB SUV, BMW iX, Audi Q4 e-tron, Jaguar i-Pace, Genesis GV60 and Electrified GV70.

 However, the Fisker Ocean is a different take on a familiar type of vehicle. It offers a completely different point-of-view for those of you who like being first-adopters. With other brands vying for your EV SUV ownership, take a look at the Fisker. There will be more models coming from this second iteration of this start-up manufacturer.

 Credits: CarSoup Editors