• Head-turning looks
• Great interior presentation, but falls short in execution
• Firm ride

Last week, Great Wall Motor (GWM) held a media test drive event for the Ora Good Cat and we had the opportunity to get initial impressions of the EV.

Immediately, its retro design makes the Good Cat stand out from the crowd, attracting eyeballs everywhere we drove.

At the rear, it does look like it’s missing a set of taillamps but it’s integrated into the lower part of the rear window as a full-width light bar.

The 18-inch wheels do fill up the arches nicely but its relatively slim profile tyres do affect the ride quality, but more on that in just a bit.

The interior is also rather pleasing to the eyes, if not a little derivative. There’s a hint of Mercedes-Benz, MINI (the switchgears at the centre of the dashboard), and even Kia. Though quality of materials isn’t quite at their levels, as one would have expected.

In execution, it can be a little frustrating to operate. For one, there’s no shortcut of physical controls for the air-conditioning. The driving mode selection button is on an odd location, placed on the dashboard on the right side of the steering wheel.

Also read: 5 things we now know about GWM in Malaysia; CKD work in the pipeline

Navigating the digital instrument cluster proved to be tricky. We found out that you need to hold the “ok” button on the steering wheel for a few seconds before other buttons will do anything.

And lastly, there’s no telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel. At its estimated price range of around RM 150k, this is a sin and results in a slightly uncomfortable driving position for taller individuals.

Also read: Preliminary Ora Good Cat specs for Malaysia: Priced from RM 140k, 400 to 500 km range, 143 PS

To drive, it’s not the most refined EV out there, with some tyre roar and external noises permeating the cabin. Steering is incredibly light with absolutely no feedback, not that it would concern most buyers. Brakes aren’t great with the typical vague feel from the regenerative system.

Power delivery is progressive. It’s doesn’t snap your neck like a Tesla would (output figures are 143 PS/210 Nm) but it’s more than brisk enough for daily driving.

Ride quality is on the firmer side. While primary ride over large undulations is generally settled, secondary ride over sharper edges and broken tarmac isn’t as resolved as it tends to send a jolt to the cabin. The 18-inch wheels could be a factor and larger sidewalls can help. But overall, it’s decently comfortable.

So there we have it, our initial impressions of the Ora Good Cat. It’s not quite as fuss-free as the Hyundai Kona EV, but it is far more attractive, inside and out. All that’s left now is to wait for its official pricing from the launch, happening later this month. Stay tuned for more.

Also read: Can't wait for the launch in Malaysia? Here are 25 photos of the Ora Good Cat to soothe the wait