Sony’s Afeela 1 Feels Outdated in a Competitive EV Market

Sony’s Afeela 1, its first electric vehicle (EV), has finally been revealed at CES 2025 after years of teasers. Unfortunately, this $89,900 car feels more like a concept from five years ago than a true next-gen EV.

Bland Design and Questionable Features

The Afeela 1 has a minimalistic exterior design that lacks personality. The only standout feature is the roof-mounted sensor pod, which houses LiDAR and cameras. A media bar on the front grille displays messages, but its readability is limited, and there’s a visible seam where two screens join.

Opening the doors requires pressing a button in the app or on the car itself—there are no traditional handles. This raises practical concerns, like how to access the car in freezing conditions.

Underwhelming Interior

Inside, the dashboard-spanning display is the car’s highlight. It’s vibrant and customizable with themes inspired by Sony’s PlayStation 5, such as Ghost of Tsushima. The ambient lighting matches these themes, adding a touch of personality.

However, the software feels unfinished. The interface is a simple grid of oversized icons, and controls often stretch out of reach, making navigation cumbersome.

The car includes a massive volume knob for its 28-speaker Dolby Atmos system, but that’s hardly enough to elevate the experience.

Performance and Price Problems

The Afeela 1 offers a 91 kWh battery with a range of 300 miles and a max charging rate of 150 kW. These specs are underwhelming compared to competitors like the Lucid Air, which charges faster and offers over 400 miles of range at a lower starting price.

Sony offers two trims:

• Afeela 1 Origin ($89,900): Only available in black.
• Afeela 1 Signature ($102,900): Adds larger wheels, rear-seat entertainment, and more cameras. However, color options are limited to black, white, and gray.

At these prices, the Afeela 1 faces stiff competition from more capable EVs like the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S.

Final Thoughts

Sony’s Afeela 1 feels outdated and overpriced. Its limited range, slow charging, and uninspired design make it hard to recommend in a market filled with better options.

Five years ago, Sony’s EV ambitions seemed exciting. Today, the Afeela 1 struggles to justify its place in a rapidly evolving industry.

If Sony wants to compete in the EV space, it needs to do better—starting with a car that feels like it belongs in the PS5 era, not the PS4.