The Fisker Ocean got a second chance thanks to a popular YouTuber who gave it a terrible review last month.
Marques Brownlee, known for his technology-focused videos, said in a video posted Wednesday that Fisker gave him a new Ocean, equipped with a software update that some said changed his initial negative review.
“I’ve never tested a car twice before,” Brownlee says at the start of the video, referencing the original, in which he called the Ocean the worst car he’s ever driven.
This first review, which has garnered 5 million views since its publication a month ago, sparked a certain outcry on social networks.
In the original video, Brownlee borrowed the Fisker he examined from a Mitsubishi dealership in New Jersey. That dealership then posted a TikTok in which someone claiming to be a Fisker employee asked about the loan to Brownlee, stating that his negative review had caught the attention of upper management.
Brownlee said he was willing to try an updated model (this time provided by Fisker), but warned his viewers about the company itself, which appears to be on the verge of bankruptcy.
“Fisker, as a company, may or may not be around to update existing cars,” Brownlee said at the start of his video.
Fisker Ocean Improvements
The 2.0 software update fixed several of the initial issues reported in Brownlee’s first review, he said.
First, the “California Mode” button on the remote, which opens all the windows and the sunroof, worked this time.
Brownlee was also happy to see more information provided about the Ocean’s solar roof and how much power is generated for the vehicle. Although he said, like other solar-roof EVs, the extra power really isn’t much (about six miles of range in the week he had the car).
Hill hold, a largely standard feature that makes it easier to start a stopped car on an uphill grade, was also fixed with the software update, Brownlee said.
Other small things have been improved, including a reduction in annoying beeps and alerts while driving, and a fix to allow the car to be plugged in while updating.
Too little, too late
Even with these improvements, Brownlee said the Ocean remains the worst car he’s ever reviewed – by a smaller margin.
And these improvements have led to new problems, such as a longer boot time for the vehicle’s software.
Given Fisker’s precarious state as a company, Brownlee said that even with improvements, he could not in good conscience recommend the car to anyone.
“I’ve been able to experience some real changes,” Brownlee said, “but I still don’t feel like I can recommend this version of this car given the state of the company and everything that’s happening to it.”
Are you a Fisker owner or employee? Contact this reporter from a non-work email device at nnaughton@insider.com
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