Does everything to be considered cute, including games of lights when opening the doors from the remote, and closing them (Photo: Walla! System, Udi Etzion)
Price:
138/145 thousand shekels (details in the text)
Score:
8.5/10
We liked:
design, space in the back, comfort, actual range, price
We didn't like:
Trunk
from the Arrangements Law approved by the government together with the state budget two weeks ago, the section that suggested starting to collect tax was dropped Driven by an electric vehicle.
Collecting 15 cents for every kilometer traveled to balance the fact that electric vehicles do not consume gasoline which is heavily taxed, and which brings into the state coffers a total of NIS 20 billion per year.
The Treasury had hoped to begin closing the gap in electric car rentals in state revenues from 2026, but the politicians who are now having trouble dealing with unpopular decisions, especially those that will upset members of the center who bought Tesla, preferred not to advance this section.
The message from the state: buy trams.
Since the world is already starting to prepare and even collect such a tax, eventually it will be approved in Israel as well.
The current postponement only extends the period in which it will be possible to enjoy maximum savings from purchasing an electric vehicle, which consists of energy costs worth only about 20% of gasoline for the same distance, from much lower treatment costs, and to a new announcement also from an extremely cheap licensing fee of NIS 540 per year.
The problem is that trams are not cheap.
The big jump in sales in the last two years means that most second-hand trams on the market are still relatively expensive, and this is even before the brokering attempts of some owners who have not yet been informed that the supply problems from last year have almost disappeared and most tram importers have stock available for delivery.
The cheapest electric car in Israel, the Mini Leap Motor T03, which competes with the Kia Picanto, costs NIS 100,000.
Next in line after her is the Fiat 500e whose price starts at NIS 130,000.
The cheapest electric family car is the Ora Funky Cat Pro 300 that we drive today.
When an electric jeep costs more than NIS 150,000, and the popular ones cost more than NIS 160,000, the Ora Funky Cat Pro 300 is an interesting option.
Last month, right after the local launch, we drove the long-range version whose price starts at about NIS 170,000.
But this cat also has a version with a smaller battery, 48 kWh instead of 63 kWh, and a combined range of 310 km instead of 420 km.
The engine is the same, the equipment levels are the same, and only the price drops to NIS 138,000 if you manage to catch one of the cars from the first shipment released from customs according to the purchase tax increase, or to NIS 145,000 if you miss out.
The Ora, for those who didn't listen in the previous lesson, is a young brand of Great Wall that imports a car and does everything to escape the image of a Chinese tram.
It starts from the name which is designed and manages to evoke a smile, and is expressed even in the passenger compartment with a cat's footprint sewn on the armrest between the driver and the passenger.
Today when everyone is racing with a horse and equipment, a little sense of humor does no harm.
So that you don't forget the name, there is also a cat's nose on the armrest between the front seats (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Design:
The design also tries to be cute, with round headlights reminiscent of a Volkswagen Beetle, and games of lights in the front and back when opening the vehicle from the remote, and closing it.
The retro design also hides the fact that in terms of dimensions it is a small Jeep, with a height of 1.6 meters.
The electric drive enables an efficient design of the vehicle, and thus on a length of 4.2 meters it has a wheelbase of 2.65 meters which is good for a compact vehicle, and so is the width - 1.8 meters.
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The driver's environment is modern and colorful.
Human engineering is usually good (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Cabin:
the same as the expensive model with the large battery: a pair of large 10.25-inch screens that are very reminiscent of the arrangement in the Ionac 5, one for vehicle operation and multimedia (still without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that will be offered in a remote update in a few weeks), and the other as a dashboard.
Unlike other streetcars, there are also switches as before, prominent and nickel-colored, for urgent tasks such as turning on the air conditioner and blowing hot air into the windshield to disperse steam.
There is also effective voice operation in English, but some sessions require wandering between several screens.
The seating is high and spacious, with the rear seat especially impressive, with a flat floor, and plenty of room for the head and legs.
Adults feel completely comfortable here.
If only there was an air conditioner outlet for the back seat it would be perfect.
At least there is a USB socket.
Was the brief: "They don't need a trunk there in Europe. They don't shop, they order everything at Walt" (Photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Trunk:
the only problem remains even in this version, the trunk, which has a volume of only 228 liters, less than a mini car.
There are many types of strollers that won't fit here, and those that do won't leave room for anything else.
The back seat is rather spacious, but it does not have an air conditioner outlet for passengers (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
Equipment:
The small battery version is offered in two trim levels.
We drove the basic Pro 300 which, in addition to the pair of screens, also comes with electric front seats, wireless mobile charging and leather-like upholstery.
Ramat Pro Plus adds a panoramic sun window, heating, cooling and massage to the front seats and an electric trunk door, and costs NIS 147,000 from the initial stock, and NIS 154,000 after it runs out.
Another worthwhile addition is the service package: maintenance once every two years or 30,000 km, and for the first five years the vehicle owner will have at his disposal, even if he is the second or third buyer, a 24/7 service center, charging services on the way, collection and return of the vehicle for maintenance and a replacement car in case the treatment time is extended beyond 4 hours.These are things we have seen so far only in luxury cars.
The highest score in the group in the European crushing test (Photo: Euroencap)
Safety:
The safety specification is the same and included a high level of active systems, as reflected in the European crash test where the Ora received 5 out of 5 stars and was awarded the title of the safest compact family car.
Only a decade ago this would have seemed an imaginary achievement for a Chinese car.
Very agile in family terms, but not like the competing Geely Geometry C (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
Performance:
with the small battery, the light is 40 kg lighter, not really significant, and with the same 171 hp that is also in the large battery, the performance is very good.
The weight reduction shortens the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h by 2 tenths of a second, to a brisk 8.3 seconds. The
good road behavior is maintained, as is the good ride comfort compared to trams. The suspension calibration is European, with good restraint of the vehicle's body movement On a wavy road and in turns.
Slow loading in fast positions.
It's good that the battery is small (photo: Walla! system, Audi Etzion)
Range and loading: and for the big question: the actual driving range.
We drove in Ora with the big battery during the previous storm, and the cold really affected the range we achieved, about 300 km in practice. This week, in three days of driving in pleasant weather, which included intercity driving in the city, a short strenuous section in the Jerusalem mountains, and a little urban driving, the Funky Cat recorded Average consumption of 14.8 kWh per 100 km, less than the manufacturer's figure for combined driving which is 16.7 kWh.
Most of the drive was on "economy" mode, which doesn't hurt performance too much, but is less thirsty for electricity.
Either way, a range of 310 km is certainly realistic in relaxed driving, and is similar to what the Hyundai Kona and Geely Geometry C electrics achieve in their small battery versions.
There are three regeneration modes, including a one-pedal driving mode, where as soon as you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal Recharging at maximum power begins.
The fact that the Ora is capable of fast charging at a maximum rate of only 80 kWh is less significant when the battery is smaller, and fills up faster: 38.5 minutes for fast charging from 20% to 80% battery (46 minutes for the large battery) and 5.5 hours from 0 to -100% at home charging (less than an hour).
Good value for money, provided you can live with the small trunk (photo: Walla! system, Udi Etzion)
The bottom line:
the small battery version is much better value for money than the expensive big battery versions, with not much of a trade-off if you don't make long trips all the time.
True, you will have to charge once on the way to Eilat, but how many times will it happen.
On long trips you will have to be less spontaneous and plan more stops to charge, but how many times do you travel more than 300 km at once? And you saved 25 thousand shekels which are required as an extra for the additional 15 kWh.
The Ora 300 Pro is a well-equipped and very agile car relative to its price, spacious for its passengers, comfortable and even a bit of a head turner.
If you can live with its limited trunk, it will be a successful buy.
On the technical side
Engine, drive:
electric, front wheel drive
Power:
171 hp
Torque:
25 kgm
Gearbox:
auto, direct transmission
Battery:
48 kWh
Dimensions:
Length (m):
4.235
Width (m):
1.825
Height (m):
1.60.3
Wheelbase (m):
2.65
Trunk (liters):
228
Performance:
0-100 acceleration (seconds):
8.3
Maximum speed (km/h):
167
Combined range (manufacturer):
310 km
Combined range (test):
310 km
Safety:
European crash test score: 5 out of 5 stars (2022)
Active safety:
Lane deviation correction, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, warning of a vehicle in a "dead zone" in the mirror, traffic sign recognition, automatic braking in reverse, child neglect warning Air pollution: Group 1
of
15
Warranty:
5 years or 100 thousand km For a car, 8 years or 160 thousand km for the electric system
Competitors:
Geely Geometric C 350, Hyundai Kona EV.
Comparative test, Geely vs. Hyundai
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Vehicle tests
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