Purr-fect pitch?

The GWM Ora Funky Cat blends electric drive and stand-out style in a value package. Can it beat the MG4? 

Testers' notes

"While Ora is a new brand to the UK, commercial vehicle drivers might recognise the name of its parent company. GWM is short for Great Wall Motors, which sold the Steed pick-up truck here between 2012 and 2017." Sean Carson Associate editor

TAKE a look at the Chinese Zodiac, and 2023 is due to be the year of the Rabbit. However, if one newcomer to the UK car market has its way, then we could be heralding the year of the Cat instead.

The GWM Ora Funky Cat is the latest in a wave of new metal to emerge from China, with far more set to come along from a variety of brands which, to most UK buyers, will seem unfamiliar. The overwhelming majority of these will be fully electric - and the Funky Cat is no different. Having sampled the newcomer already, we've seen that it shows some promise, so it's now time to subject it to an in-depth twin test.

And there's no stronger rival for the Funky Cat than the MG4. While it wears an historic British logo on the nose, like Ora, MG is under Chinese ownership - but it's already proven itself to be a car which could rejuvenate the marque. While previous MGs have offered value for money as a key selling point, the MG4 also has genuine ability. So can the Funky Cat become another promising new EV, or will the MG4 prove to be too strong?

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MODEL TESTED: GWM Ora Funky Cat First Edition

PRICE: £31,995 POWERTRAIN: 1x e-motor, 48kWh battery, 169bhp