Sony Honda Mobility's Afeela 1, still stuck in neutral speed six years after its debut at CES 2020, continues to feel woefully out of touch. The car is set to arrive at a staggering $89,900 price tag, with a range of just around 300 miles and an exterior design that has aged surprisingly poorly.
Despite the improvements in fit and finish inside, the Afeela 1's overall design still appears to be stuck in the past. It lacks an SUV shape that would make more sense given the increasingly crowded electric vehicle market. Instead, it sticks out as a sedans-only option that will likely only appeal to die-hard PlayStation fans.
One area where the Afeela 1 shines is with its advanced entertainment and display features. The car boasts impressive tech, including a sweeping dashboard display and 800 TOPS of processing power. Sony Honda Mobility claims this will provide a "luxury experience" for customers.
However, despite these advancements, the numbers just aren't working in the Afeela 1's favor. The inclusion of expensive LiDAR sensor technology, which provides Level 2+ driver assistance at launch but may not be fully utilized for years to come, raises questions about whether customers will be willing to pay more for a luxury and safety experience that isn't necessarily unique.
To make matters worse, other established luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz are shifting their focus to more affordable EVs. This puts the Afeela 1 in an increasingly competitive market where price is a major consideration.
Sony Honda Mobility's commitment to this project remains unchanged, with president and COO Izumi Kawanishi stating that "we do have that LiDAR, which is expensive, and introduces more safety." However, it's hard to see how the Afeela 1 will stay ahead of the curve when so many other companies are making similar advancements at a lower price point.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether Sony Honda Mobility can convince customers to shell out $90,000 for an EV that feels woefully outdated compared to its competitors.
Despite the improvements in fit and finish inside, the Afeela 1's overall design still appears to be stuck in the past. It lacks an SUV shape that would make more sense given the increasingly crowded electric vehicle market. Instead, it sticks out as a sedans-only option that will likely only appeal to die-hard PlayStation fans.
One area where the Afeela 1 shines is with its advanced entertainment and display features. The car boasts impressive tech, including a sweeping dashboard display and 800 TOPS of processing power. Sony Honda Mobility claims this will provide a "luxury experience" for customers.
However, despite these advancements, the numbers just aren't working in the Afeela 1's favor. The inclusion of expensive LiDAR sensor technology, which provides Level 2+ driver assistance at launch but may not be fully utilized for years to come, raises questions about whether customers will be willing to pay more for a luxury and safety experience that isn't necessarily unique.
To make matters worse, other established luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz are shifting their focus to more affordable EVs. This puts the Afeela 1 in an increasingly competitive market where price is a major consideration.
Sony Honda Mobility's commitment to this project remains unchanged, with president and COO Izumi Kawanishi stating that "we do have that LiDAR, which is expensive, and introduces more safety." However, it's hard to see how the Afeela 1 will stay ahead of the curve when so many other companies are making similar advancements at a lower price point.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether Sony Honda Mobility can convince customers to shell out $90,000 for an EV that feels woefully outdated compared to its competitors.
I mean, $89,900 is just crazy expensive, right? 
And 300 miles of range is basically nothing in the EV market now... 
They should've gone for a more modern design and added more features, but nope! 
Still loving the entertainment tech tho! 
On one hand, Sony Honda Mobility is trying to bring that luxury experience to EVs, which I think is awesome 
. But on the other hand, all these established brands are coming out with more affordable options and it's hard not to wonder if Afeela 1 will be left in neutral 
...I mean, who pays 89k for a car that's like 6 years behind the curve? The design is straight out of the 90s, and the price tag is just ridiculous...300 miles of range? Come on! BMW and Mercedes are killing it with their EVs right now, and they're way more affordable 
. The tech is nice, don't get me wrong, but if you can get the same features at half the price, why bother? 
However, I'm not sure if that's enough to sway people from more affordable options. 
? I mean, I remember when they first showed it off at CES 2020 and thought it was gonna be a game-changer, but now it just feels like Sony is trying too hard to be fancy 
. And don't even get me started on the design... it looks so last gen 
. Where's the SUV vibe?! I guess if you're a die-hard PlayStation fan, this might be for you, but otherwise, no thanks 
. BMW and Mercedes are killing it with their affordable EVs, and Sony is like "yeah, we'll just charge more for our fancy tech" 
And the price tag is just too much, I dont think many people will drop 89k on this thing. The design looks old school, like they just used some leftover parts from the PlayStation console 
lol. But hey, the tech inside is pretty sick, I guess. That LiDAR sensor and all... but it's still gonna be a tough sell in a crowded market with other luxury brands offering more affordable options 
. EVs are all about range & practicality now, and this thing just doesn't cut it. And those LiDAR sensors? Yeah, they're cool & all, but do we really need that level of tech for safety features at that price point? 
. It's like they're trying to hold onto something that's already passed its prime 
. Maybe it's time for a refresh or a rebrand? 
. Need to bring prices down or risk getting left in the dust... again 
. It's like, can the Afeela 1 really deliver on that "luxury experience" promise without being more... reasonable? 
. It's not like it's a bad car or anything, I mean, have you seen those other luxury EVs out there? They're like, super expensive too! $89,900 is pretty steep for a first-gen model 
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... I hope Sony Honda Mobility is just trying to test the market or something because this thing needs a serious redesign ASAP 