► ID.3-sized hatchback bigger than you might expect
► Less than £32k for the fully loaded First Edition
► 193-mile range, 0-62mph in 8.3-seconds
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past 15 years of electric car growth, it’s that building an EV gives you carte blanche to call it whatever daft name you want. Ora Funky Cat? Why not?
We’ll forgive you if you’re unfamiliar with Ora, an offshoot of Great Wall Motors (GWM) who you might have heard of. After all, you could buy a GWM Steed pickup truck for a few years in the UK at a bargain price.
While the Funky Cat significantly undercuts similarly sized rivals such as the Cupra Born, Renault Megane and Volkswagen ID.3, it’s similarly priced to top versions of the surprisingly brilliant MG4.
So, it’s another cheap Chinese EV, then?
Not quite. If an MG4 is a sensible family hatch, the Funky Cat is a more distinctive and ‘Premium’ alternative. The retro-inspired looks will certainly make you stand out, albeit at the expense of some practicality, while the interior promises plush materials and plenty of toys for the money.
So far, we’ve only sampled the initial First Edition model that combines a 48kWh battery and 169bhp electric motor with all the bells and whistles possible. In time, there will be a bigger battery long range version and even a sporty-looking GT, with Ora’s range expanding to include a Tesla Model 3 rival next year.
As Oras will be handled by an existing importer that also deals with Subaru and Isuzu, there are already a few dealers in place with a slow ramp-up planned in 2023. Similarly, there’s already parts warehouses and distribution networks, so buying and running an Ora shouldn’t prove a frustration.
It looks a bit like a Mini, does it drive like one?
No, although that’s not actually a bad thing. Where a Mini Electric is stiffly sprung for ‘maximum go-kart feel’ (groan), the Funky Cat is nowhere near as uncompromising. It’s not quite as soft as an MG4, but it has better body control than that car and deals with bumps far more agreeably than a Cupra Born.
Unsurprisingly it means the Funky Cat isn’t as darty as a Mini, partially down to its greater size. Even so, the steering has a pleasing weight and response and there’s not a great deal of roll, either. It’s front-wheel drive unlike the MG4, so don’t expect any sideways shenanigans. Push too hard and the nose gently runs wide in a safe and predictable manner, making it perfectly competent if not terribly fun.
Similarly, the acceleration is nothing to write home about, the 8.3-second 0-62mph time proving more than adequate in the real world if not particularly brisk. According to Ora representatives the upcoming GT doesn’t get any more power, so the Cupra Born remains the closest you can get to an electric hot hatch in terms of performance.
Is the interior as fancy as it looks?
For the most part it is, with a swathe of fake suede topping the dashboard and a decent spread of premium plastics in areas you’ll interact with regularly. We can’t moan too much about the harder plastics on the lower reaches of the dash, doors and around the centre console, though. You’ll find similarly hard (if more attractively textured) materials in the Born, ID.3 and Megane, although the MG4’s definitely feels a bit cheaper.
You can get boring black for your interior, but an optional colourful two-tone scheme adds to the retro charm. Getting comfy is easy thanks to standard electric seat adjustment, although heated seats and steering wheel aren’t even on the options list. Are we being picky? Maybe, but who doesn’t like a toasted bum on a cold winter’s morning?
The digital driver’s display and infotainment screen are both 10.25-inches in size, possess a good if not class-leading sharpness and are sat next to each other under one piece of glass like a modern BMW. Like the MG4, some of the menus can be a bit long and convoluted especially for settings, while some icons are small.
Even so, it’s better than the glitchfest that is the Born and ID.3’s system, although you’ll have to wait until 2023 to get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. At least it’ll be a free over the air update for existing owners.
What about space?
This is a tale of two halves. Passengers will be happy enough whether they’re up front or in the back, even if everyone’s around six-feet tall. Head and legroom is better than you’d get in a Megane and seems to compare well to the Born/ID.3. With five doors, it’s also easy to get into and out of.
Unfortunately, the boot suffers partially because of the Funky Cat’s distinctively rounded rump. Capacity is a paltry 228-litres, less than you get from a Ford Fiesta and only slightly more than a Mini Electric. In comparison, a Born/ID.3 gets 385-litres and a Megane a whopping 440-litres.
Charge!
As important as a decent range is, we must also consider charging times. So far Ora has only provided a 15-80% figure for home, public and rapid charging, although the small battery means you shouldn’t need to add too much time.
On a typical home wallbox, you’ll be waiting 5hrs 24min, although a three-phase 11kW supply you might see at your office drops this to 3hrs 12min. The highest charge rate the Funky Cat will accept is 64kW, more than a Mini Electric or Peugeot e-208 if not an amazing figure as highlighted by the 42min charge time.
Ora Funky Cat: verdict
There’s no doubt the Funky Cat does bring a little something different to the EV hatchback market. Judging by initial interest there are plenty of people who love the looks and the price is perfectly acceptable, too.
However, while the MG4 isn’t as posh inside it has a far longer range, a decent boot, is better to drive and costs even less if you avoid top-spec Trophy. Of course, we could be looking at this all wrong. After all, the Funky Cat massively undercuts similarly sized rivals and is a similar price to the far shorter-range Mini Electric.
In summary, this is a solid if not outstanding initial gambit from Ora that’ll certainly appeal to those more focused on style than sensibility.
