2012 Fisker Karma vs. Its Competition
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It's hard to know precisely what to compare the 2012 Fisker Karma against.
The company will tell you it's competing with mid-size German luxury sedans like the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series--and perhaps their upcoming hybrid models--though it has far less room for people and luggage than either.
In looks, it may be closest to the Aston Martin Rapide, also a sleek four-door sport sedan from a company where Henrik Fisker worked.
But we think among those willing to put down deposits on cars from startup companies before they can even drive them, the closest match is the 2012 Tesla Model S, the all-electric mid-size sport sedan due to launch in the summer of 2012.
We've heard of several buyers who put down deposits for one, then switched to the other.
But we suspect the market for plug-in luxury sedans may be slow to develop once the early-adopter and high-tech crowd takes delivery.
 2012 Fisker KarmaGet FREE Price Quote |  2012 Audi A6Get FREE Price Quote |  2012 BMW 5-SeriesGet FREE Price Quote |  2012 Tesla Model SGet FREE Price Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Specs | |||
| Meta Rating | |||
The 2012 Fisker Karma is a curious and unique beast, a stylish, luxurious, and pricey sedan with 32 miles of electric range, low gasoline efficiency, and a tiny interior and trunk | It's the same V-6 blast to drive as the far more sexy A7, which makes the 2012 Audi A6 a little irrelevant for those not fixated on five seats or four cylinders. | The 2012 BMW 5-Series appears somewhat conservative on the outside, but it packs an armada of advanced-tech firepower, and new fuel-efficient engines, without interrupting its sport-sedan mission. | The 2012 Tesla Model S sedan turns out to be a much better car than most expected; it just might meld sport-sedan driving, interior space, and comfort with zero-emission running in one revolutionary package. |
| MSRP From | |||
| $102,000 | $41,700 | $46,900 | $57,400 |
| Gas Mileage | |||
| 20 MPG City / 21 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | |
| Engine | |||
| Gas/Electric I4 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Electric |
| EPA Class | |||
| Subcompact | Midsize Cars | Mid-Size | NA |
| Style Name | |||
| 4-Door Sedan EcoStandard | 4-Door Sedan FrontTrak 2.0T Premium | 4-Door Sedan 528i RWD | 4-Door Sedan |
| Drivetrain | |||
| Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||
| 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||
| 4 | N/A | 4 | 4 |
| Body Style | |||
| Sedan | Sedan | 4dr Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | |||
| Automatic | Continuously Variable Ratio | Automatic w/Manual Shift | NA |
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