Affordable Luxury: Sony’s Sensor-Loaded Electric Car Rebranded to Disrupt the Market
Sony Honda Mobility Unveils Afeela 1 Electric Vehicle: Pricing and Preorders Now Available
The wait is almost over for the highly anticipated Afeela 1, the first electric vehicle from the joint venture between electronics giant Sony and automaker Honda. At CES 2025, the companies announced the pricing and start of preorders for this revolutionary new ride. But don’t expect to get behind the wheel just yet – deliveries won’t begin until 2026, with the Afeela 1 initially available only in California.
The Afeela 1 will come in two versions: the base Afeela 1 Origin, priced at $89,900, and the Afeela 1 Signature, which adds 21-inch wheels, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a center camera monitoring system for a whopping $102,900. To reserve a spot in line, you can pay a refundable $200 deposit, which will be honored when production begins at Honda’s new EV manufacturing hub in Ohio.
Tech and Features
While the Afeela 1’s tech features are impressive, be prepared to pony up extra cash to keep them running. The company is offering a three-year complimentary subscription to its driver-assist features, voice assistant, entertainment features, and 5G connectivity, implying that fees will kick in after that period.
Design and Interior
The Afeela 1’s design remains similar to the prototype shown at CES 2023, with a few key additions that likely accommodate the numerous cameras, lidar, radar, and ultrasonic sensors making up its driver-assist sensor suite. These include a door-to-door screen setup, powered by the Unreal Engine, and an audio system utilizing Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound tech. The cabin also features proprietary noise-canceling tech and a focus on sustainable materials.
Performance and Charging
The Afeela 1 boasts a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, with one 241-horsepower motor per axle, paired with a 91-kilowatt-hour battery pack promising a targeted 300 miles of range. You’ll have access to Tesla Supercharger stations, thanks to a built-in North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, but the 150-kilowatt maximum power rate restricts charging capabilities. Expect a more respectable 11-kilowatt Level 2 AC power rate, however.
Competition and Conclusion
With the Afeela 1, Sony Honda Mobility is aiming to raise the bar on driver-assist and in-cabin tech, but the competition is fierce. For nearly $20,000 less, you could opt for the Lucid Air Pure, with 420 miles of range and faster charging. The base Tesla Model S, for now, is $10,000 less, with 402 miles of range. The Afeela’s mechanical hardware may even find its way into Honda’s upcoming 0 Series EVs, potentially at a lower price point.
