CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG

It's no secret that the MG 4 is our favourite small electric car - but is its position under threat from Chinese brand Ora's new contender?

When electric vehicles (EVS) first burst onto the scene, they came with the promise of being kinder to Mother Earth and with running costs that were far lower than petrol and diesel alternatives. While that's still largely true, the issue is that EVS tend to carry hefty price tags. And if you want something with a good range for driving long distances, you have to pay even more.

At least, that was the case until the MG 4 EV came along last year. Okay, calling it 'cheap' might be a stretch (even the entry-level version is more than twice the price of a Dacia Sandero), but it instantly made cars like the Peugeot e-208, Renault Zoe and Vauxhall Corsa Electric seem overpriced by offering a longer range and more interior space than those cars for similar money.

The MG 4 starts at £26,999, and even if you want the Long Range version and lots of standard kit, you'll be paying a reasonable £32,495 - which is only £500 more than a brand new and similar-sized EV called the Ora Funky Cat. Like the MG 4, the Funky Cat hails from China, and there's currently only one version, called the First Edition. It has a smaller battery than its compatriot but promises to be a more upmarket choice in other ways, particularly when it comes to interior quality.

So, has the MG 4's reign at the top of the class come to an abrupt end already? Or is the Funky Cat as weak as a kitten?

DRIVING

Performance, ride, handling, refinement 

In Long Range form, the MG 4 has a relatively large battery with a 61.7kWh usable capacity. The Funky Cat makes do with a much smaller, 45.4kWh battery - so it's hardly surprising that it can't travel as far between charges.