Is the Karma Revero a Good Car?
What goes around comes around. That’s the basic idea behind karma. Additionally, it’s also perhaps an inspiration for the name change that car manufacturer Fisker recently underwent when it rebranded itself as Karma. Karma’s sports sedans are some of its more popular models, with the Revero receiving occasional accolades for its performance and speed. However, is the Karma Revero a good car? Let’s take a closer look.
Karma wasn’t always called Karma
According to TopSpeed, Karma arose out of the ashes of Fisker, an automotive company founded in 2008. The only model that Fisker produced initially was the Karma, one of the first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles on the market. It debuted at the North American International Auto Show that year.
Before long, though, Fisker began facing financial difficulties. As a result, it was purchased by the Chinese Wanxiang Group and rebranded as Karma, clearly in homage to its inaugural vehicle. Since that time, Karma has continued producing luxury electric vehicles for the high-end market. One of these is the Karma Revero, an electric sports sedan.
A closer look at the Karma Revero
There are currently two main types of Karma Revero on the market: the higher-end GT and the relatively new GS-6, which is more of a base model. MotorTrend has taken a look at the GT and offered their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of Karma’s sport sedan.
In their review, MotorTrend gives the Revero GT particular props for its design, which it inherited from its predecessor, the Fisker Karma. Features that get singled out include the car’s large wheels, extravagant dash-to-axle spacing, and wide, low stance. These qualities combine to make MotorTrend deem the Revero “one of the better-looking cars on the road.”
The Revero does have several challenges working against it, however. First, it lacks the powerful engine that some of its competitors possess. As we’ve noted elsewhere, this plug-in hybrid model can go from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds (or 3.9 seconds with launch control.) That sounds pretty good, but competitors such as the BMW i8 get there in 3.8 seconds, and the Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid blows them both away at 3.5 seconds.
MotorTrend also gives the Karma Revero low marks for cargo space and interior room. While most luxury sedans seat five passengers, the Revero only has room for four due to a central console that runs the length of the cabin. Additionally, at just 6.4 cubic feet, space in the trunk also leaves something to be desired.
Finally, the original Revero’s electric range as a PHEV is pretty limited. The newer Karma Revero GT has a range of 61 miles on electricity and 330 miles of total range, which is somewhat of an improvement.
What changes were introduced with the GT?
The Karma Revero GT first appeared on the scene in 2020 and was designed to iron out some wrinkles associated with the original Revero. As Car and Driver reports, the 2020 Revero GT featured restyled front and rear fascias, as well as improved aerodynamics. Additionally, new rear-axle motors had a combined 536 horsepower, which was 134 more than before.
Those weren’t the only changes underlying the Revero GT. Karma also introduced a BMW-based 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine as a range extender. This change, combined with a more energy-dense lithium-ion battery pack and a much lighter body, significantly increased the car’s acceleration capability and range.
Of course, none of these Karma vehicles come cheap. According to Car and Driver, the highest-end Reverso GT Sport has a starting MSRP of $154,600, while the GS-6 comes in at a much more affordable (though still not inexpensive) $85,700. If these cars sound like your dream vehicles, it’s time to start saving your pennies.