Fisker Karma

Fisker Karma stands out because it is one of the early luxury plug-in hybrid sedans, aimed at buyers who wanted an electric-first feel without giving up a gasoline range extender. By our assessment, that mix of sleek styling and hybrid hardware is the whole point, and it still makes the car interesting as an idea even after newer rivals pushed the technology forward. The downside is that such a car carries the usual complexity of an early hybrid premium model: more systems to manage, more things to age, and a lot more dependence on how well the whole package was built. In practice it is a low, dramatic grand-touring shape rather than a simple commuter appliance. Compared with plain luxury sedans, Fisker Karma is more about design and concept than easy ownership, and that is exactly why people remember it. The charging and petrol parts have to work together, or the charm vanishes.