2026 AFEELA Sedan

Yes, this is a joint venture between two giant Japanese corporations. We’ve looked at it, sat in it, and tried some of the technology, albeit while stationary.

What is the Afeela EV?

The car itself is a sedan, a couple of inches shorter than a Honda Accord. It’s roomy enough for average-sized adults to sit in the back. This, along with electric motors and general car components, is presumably what Honda is bringing to the mix — as well as the manufacturing wherewithal. Sony’s contribution is evident in things like the cabin-wide digital dashboard that houses several displays, including an instrument cluster and a wide screen for the front passenger to enjoy video streaming and games.

Other features include B-pillars capable of housing facial recognition technology so the car can open its doors automatically. And the ingredients exist for partially autonomous driving. Like the lidar (light detection and ranging) sensor front and center on the roof (not a particularly good look — you almost expect it to say For Hire — perhaps it will eventually migrate to behind the grille or up in the windshield). The Afeela EV can also employ cameras, radars, and ultrasonic sensors to perceive its immediate environment.

At the moment, the nose accommodates a media bar, an LED strip that can display messages, or generally do a spine-chilling impression of the evil Cylons in “Battlestar Galactica.”

What else does the Afeela EV do?

We sampled an augmented-reality driving system, where the screen shows a representation of what would be happening around the car in real life, enhanced by things like direction arrows. But we can’t be completely sure about what’s going to end up in the production model, because the car we saw was a prototype and subject to change in virtually every area. For another example, even though the Afeela EV prototype has a yoke-style steering wheel, that may or may not be available in the finished product.

That said, Afeela has released some tech specs. The car comes with two electric motors making all-wheel drive, and each motor generates a substantial 241 horsepower. Staggered-width tires go on 21-inch alloys wheels, and Afeela says an air suspension will be standard.

How much? How far? How soon?

Our expectation is that pricing will begin in the $50,000 region.

There’s no talk of range yet, although having a 91 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery bodes well for a competitive figure. And the fast charging rate of 150 kW with a DC supply could mean about 30 minutes for a major replenishment, which is about average in today’s technology. There are charge ports on both sides of the prototype car.

The order books are expected to open in 2025. What does give us mild hope is that although Japanese car makers have been conspicuously behind the electric-vehicle curve, the 2026 Afeela EV does have the backing of major companies with tremendous expertise and resources; it’s not some plucky start-up with a high likelihood of falling by the wayside.