Ora Funky Cat review

Pros: Stylish design, high-tech interior, spacious cabin.

 

Cons: Small boot, limited dealer network.

 

The Ora Funky Cat is the latest compact electric car to go on sale in Ireland. Ora is a Chinese car brand that's new to Ireland and part of the Great Wall Motor Company. With its quirky name, stylish looks, and choice of two batteries offering range between 300 and 400 kilometres, the new Funky Cat will be a competitive offering in the growing market for electric cars. 

 

 

The Funky Cat is certainly not shy when it comes to styling. It’s a similar size on the outside to hatchbacks like the Volkswagen ID.3, but in many ways it feels more closely aligned to fashionable small electric cars like the Fiat 500e and the Mini Electric. The FunkyCat has lots of charisma, and though some of the design details like the large circular LED headlights seem inspired by other style icons (hello Mini!), the whole look comes together very well to make it one of the chicest small electric cars you can buy. The light bar integrated into the rear window adds a unique, high-tech finish to this car. 18-inch alloy wheels are standard on every Cat, while a GT package will become available later in 2023 with sportier styling.

 

 

Ora pitches the Funky Cat as an upmarket small car and the interior does a good job of living up to that with plenty of soft touch materials and lovely quilted, leatherette seats. A black interior comes as standard, but more glamourous two-tone styles will also be available. It all feels well screwed together though you will find some harder plastics if you look for them. A digital instrument cluster comes as standard and combines with the touchscreen for a fashionable widescreen effect. There’s also voice control that responds to commands of ‘Hello Ora’, wireless smartphone charging, a reversing camera, 360-degree surround cameras and even facial recognition to personalise your settings to the car.

 

Built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, interior space feels more on par with larger hatchbacks like the MG4 and Volkswagen ID.3. Adults will be able to sit comfortably in the rear and the five-door design adds practicality. The boot is a little disappointing at just 228 litres, which is more than a Fiat 500e, but smaller than a Peugeot e-208, Renault Megane E-TECH, MG4 or Volkswagen ID.3. You can let the rear seats down and there is a small bit of storage under the boot floor for a set of charging cables.

 

 

The Ora Funky Cat comes with the choice of two batteries. The Funky Cat 48kWh offers a range of up to 310 kilometres (WLTP), which is competitive with small EVs like the Peugeot e-208 and Fiat 500e, but not outstanding. The Funky Cat 63kWh costs more but offers up to 420 kilometres of range (WLTP). AC charging is possible up to 11kW, while DC charging is possible up to 67kW. No matter which version you go for, the Funky Cat uses a 171hp motor to send power to the front wheels and feels nippy and responsive in every driving situation. It excels in town and city driving with its compact dimensions and good ride quality that errs on the side of firm but keeps the car nice and controlled in the corners. At high speeds on the motorway it does get quite noisy, though it rides well over the tarmac.

 

 

The range kicks off with the 48kWh 300 PRO (priced from €31,995) with a range of 310 kilometres (WLTP). The 63kWh 400 PRO+ with a range of 420 kilometres (WLTP) is priced from €39,995. There are a number of Ora dealerships set to open in the coming weeks, the first in Dublin to be followed by locations in Cork and Galway.

 

 

The Ora Funky Cat arrives in Ireland as a competitive offering with a nicely appointed interior with lots of high-tech features. It’s not cheap and family buyers will find more practical options, but it is nice to drive and comes with lots of equipment that leaves little to be desired. The Funky Cat is one to watch with stylish good looks that could quickly garner it an army of fans