Ora 07 review: A sleek and cute EV with a sense of fun

I saw an online comment from a friend the other day who said that new cars all look the same nowadays.
While there's probably some truth in that with the advent of electric vehicles (EVs) and the popularity of SUVs that mostly follow a generic shape and formula, there is also the occasional oddity that pops up every now and then that serves to break the mould.
One of them is the Ora 07, a cute looking EV that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously, and yet possesses some impressive credentials under the hood.
Ora is a brand from Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor, which explains the large GWM badging plastered prominently across the back of the car.
Like many large Chinese car manufacturers, GWM has several brands under its stable. Ora is supposedly meant to be the youthful and cheeky one that appeals to a younger generation of buyers, and that is reflected in the kind of cars it has come up with since its introduction in 2018.
The brand has clearly gone for a feline theme, with most of its cars bearing some form of the name Cat. Previous models included the Black Cat and the White Cat, while its current lineup consists of the Ballet Cat, which features styling inspired by the classic Volkswagen Beetle, and the Good Cat, which was its first car to be exported out of China.
However, while the Cat names are clearly popular in its domestic market, it hasn't fared quite as well overseas. As a result, while the car tested here is known as the Lightning Cat in China, it has been renamed as the Ora 07 for export markets.
Ora has stated that it will be adopting a different naming strategy for cars to be sold outside of China, and the Good Cat is expected to be renamed as the Ora 03 in the near future. It's a bit of a shame, because a name like Good Cat just seems like so much more fun.
Well, you can see a little bit of the cat connection through its cheeky face, with its big round headlight 'eyes' and the smiley face that gives the Ora 07 quite a cheerful look.
The rest of the Ora 07's styling takes on a sleeker form, with its curvy lines evoking a sense of sportiness and perhaps even a tinge of luxury.
Some critics have derided the Ora 07's design as an imitation of the Porsche Panamera, with bits of Bentley thrown in the mix. There is certainly resemblance from some angles, especially from the rear, but we'll leave that debate for you to judge.
The interior of the Ora 07 has a similarly sporty, Porsche-esque vibe, with its circular driver instrument dials and the central spine stretching down the middle of the interior being suspiciously similar to what you'll find in a Porsche. Obviously it's not a full-blown copycat (pun unintended), but you can see where Ora gets their inspiration from with this car.
It does give the cabin a sort of premium and upmarket ambience, but at the same time the decision to ditch most physical controls, with the exception of three rotary dials and a handful of switches to select and adjust the drive modes and climate control system, is evidence of the car's inherent Chinese-ness.
What that means is that most of the functions are accessible only via the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, like many Chinese cars these days. The one in the Ora is particularly annoying though, as it requires you to go through multiple menus to access many of its features, like adjusting the air-con vents or activating the massage seats.
Still, it at least keeps up with its fun-loving character by playing a cool animated sequence featuring a whimsical story involving a cat and fish, complete with animal sounds, when you start the car. There's no real point to it, but it's the sort of thing that just livens up your day a little bit.
At the back, the Ora 07's sloping roofline means that headroom is slightly compromised. But it does compensate for that a little with its unique glass roof, which stretches all the way back and connects with the rear windscreen in one single piece. The effect is one of airiness, with the large glass letting plenty of light into the cabin and making it feel less claustrophobic for occupants.
For Singapore, there's currently only one version of the Ora 07 available, with a single electric motor driving the front wheels, and producing a total of 201hp and 340Nm of torque.
It doesn't sound like a lot, especially when 0 to 100km/h comes up in a merely average 7.9 seconds, but the car does offer a pretty decent acceleration pace when you put your foot down, as is expected from any good EV with their instant torque delivery.
It even simulates engine noises as you go along, with three different varieties to choose from. It's definitely an odd thing to have in an EV, but it does add that little bit of charm to an already-interesting car.
There is apparently a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel-drive Performance version with over 400hp available in other markets, but Ora's local dealer, Cycle & Carriage, says that there are currently no plans to bring in that model just yet.
It is a pity though, because the Ora actually feels like it is capable of much more. With all the power going to the front wheels, there is noticeable understeer when you try to push it through corners. The steering also struggles to keep up sometimes, and generally implores you to back off a bit if you're going too hard.
There is a sense that the chassis would benefit from a more balanced setup, and an all-wheel-drive version would likely provide more traction and grip, potentially giving the Ora 07 a much more well-rounded driving experience.
It's not all bad news though, because the 07 positively excels with its ride quality. It glides over bumps with ease, with plenty of composure and pliancy that makes it an exceedingly comfortable car to cruise around in.
The Ora 07 was launched with a price tag of just under $200,000 with COE earlier this year, which made it an extremely attractive proposition, especially given the market it is competing in.
At that price point, it finds itself being pitted against the lower end versions of cars like the BYD Seal, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3, all of which make for tough competition indeed.
That said however, the Ora 07 is a car that definitely appeals to those with a certain personality type. Its exuberant nature might not be for everyone, even though it is undoubtedly entertaining. And some of its flaws, like its cumbersome infotainment system and lack of headroom, might put off those looking for a more practical option.
Nevertheless, there's no doubt that the Ora 07 has plenty of character, and if that appeals to you, then it is certainly an option worth thinking about. At the very least, the Ora 07 is something that's quite a lot different from most cars out there.
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