My First Ride in Waymo's New Ojai
I recently took my first ride in Waymo's newest vehicle, the Ojai. Overall, I came away impressed with the passenger experience, though there are still a few areas where I think there's room for improvement.
Calling For a Ride
Since the Ojai vehicles are currently only available to Waymo’s Trusted Tester program, I had to enlist the help of a friend to request the ride.
Dusty has been a Trusted Tester in Los Angeles for a while and joked that he hadn’t seen much benefit from the program until the Ojai rollout.
When requesting a ride, he had the option to choose between “First Available”, the traditional Jaguar I-PACE fleet, or the new Ojai vehicle. Interestingly, I’ve heard that some Trusted Testers only see the ‘First Available’ option and aren’t able to specifically request an Ojai vehicle. Lucky Dusty.
Availability also seemed quite good. Our vehicle was only about four minutes away on the first ride (and five minutes away on the second), and during non-peak hours there appeared to be plenty of vehicles on the road.
The other big benefit for Trusted Testers is that all Ojai rides are free!
First Impressions
The first thing that stood out to me was how spacious the vehicle felt upon entry. Compared to the Jaguar I-PACE that Waymo has used for years, the cabin feels more open and purpose-built for passengers. And for someone like me who stands at 6’ 3”, there’s a ton of leg room in the back seats and front seat.
The back seats didn’t recline and were a little too upright for my liking after 20-30 minutes of driving (I have a tight lower back) but the front seat had all the bells and whistles and I was able to adjust the seat to my liking.
I loved the sliding doors which allow you to enter and exit from either side of the vehicle. It seems like a small thing, but it makes pickups and drop-offs more convenient and gives the vehicle a futuristic feel. It also reduces the risk of dooring cyclists or other cars, which is a nice safety benefit.
The overall fit and finish were also impressive, not as high quality as a luxury BMW or Mercedes, but definitely solid. The seats were comfortable, there was plenty of room to stretch out, and the vehicle offered many of the creature comforts you’d expect from a premium ride. Wireless charging, cup holders, three very high quality large infotainment screens, and other passenger-focused features help reinforce that this is a vehicle designed around the rider experience. I did notice that it was missing a glass sunroof though, like the I-PACE and many other newer EVs.
There’s also ample room in the back for luggage.
What I Didn't Love
While the passenger experience was excellent, I found the driving style to be a bit less polished than what I’ve experienced in Waymo’s Jaguar I-PACE fleet.
The vehicle wasn’t bad by any means, but it felt slightly jerkier at times and not quite as smooth as the I-PACE. That said, it still felt totally safe throughout the ride. The best way I can describe it is that the Ojai feels like it knows how to drive but still has its training wheels on. The fundamentals are all there, but some of the confidence and refinement haven’t fully arrived yet.
I also noticed the vehicle being a bit more cautious than necessary in a few situations. At one point, it slowed down and changed lanes to move around a jogger who wasn’t really in its path (they were in a painted bike path). While I’d always rather see an autonomous vehicle err on the side of caution, the maneuver felt more conservative than necessary.
The 3 Infotainment Screens Are Great!
The three infotainment screens are high quality and do an excellent job showing surrounding vehicles in detail, and overall the in-cabin tech feels thoughtfully designed for passengers.
That said, the audio experience could use some improvement. The speakers were adequate, but they didn't feel particularly premium, especially compared to what many riders are accustomed to in modern vehicles. I was also surprised that Spotify integration isn't available yet, especially as robotaxis increasingly compete with personally owned vehicles and premium ride-hailing services where entertainment and personalization matter more.
Overall
Despite a few nitpicks, I came away impressed. The vehicle feels thoughtfully designed, comfortable, and purpose-built for autonomous transportation. The passenger experience is arguably the best I’ve seen in a robotaxi so far.
The driving style still feels a bit conservative and could use some refinement, but if this is where the platform is today, it’s easy to see how quickly it could improve as Waymo continues to iterate.
- Harry
Thanks for the review. There have been mixed reviews about the audio. I wonder how much the complete removal of the automotive and entertainment head units impacted Waymo to comply with our Byzantine mandates.
The space efficiency and cost to build of this vehicle blows me away. This is a Model Y footprint with expansive space, adjustable ride height, steer by wire, a Mini Cooper turning circle likely built at close to a $30-32K price point and ready to convert like a conversion van from the factory. Oh and the part count is very low because it shares a megacast rear stamping with 6+ other cars.Add in sci-fi charging and battery tech we might not see in America for another 4-5 years. There is a reason we are a dark kingdom in nearly every sector of tech and have resorted to turning inward with tariffs and outright bans of companies. I think the number of companies that COULD build this car are Tesla (and only if they did it in Shanghai with the supply chain) and a handful of the very best Chinese automakers. Toyota and Ford have a planned signature effort that we might see something from in 18-24 months. Try to envision what a vehicle of this sort could be made for in the US if at all. My guess is not at all at this point.
My big fear is the recent and unilateral shutdown of the Geely (Zeekr parent) plant in South Carolina portends further restrictions for the US economy and focused on a wide array of materials the US cannot live without.