2024 ORA Good Cat 500 Ultra Review

In the past two years, the competition in Malaysia's B-class electric vehicle market has become increasingly fierce. Many brands are focusing on configurations and pricing to attract family users who value cost-effectiveness. As one of the earlier models to enter the local market, the 2024 ORA Good Cat 500 Ultra version boasts an official range of 500 kilometers and offers numerous practical configurations. In this test drive, we will focus on whether its actual performance lives up to the specifications and how it fares in daily use.

In terms of appearance, the 2024 Good Cat 500 Ultra continues with the round and retro design style, characterized by smooth overall lines. The front face features a closed grille paired with round LED headlights, giving it high recognition; the lower part of the front section includes a horizontally chrome-trimmed air intake, which adds some flair to the design. The side waistline extends from the headlights to the tail lights, complemented by 18-inch alloy wheels that create a balanced proportion. The rear design is relatively simple, with through-type LED tail lights that are highly visible when lit at night. The shape of the rear bumper echoes the front and features hidden exhaust outlets (after all, it's an electric car). As for the lighting system, automatic headlights, front fog lights, and daytime running lights come as standard, making daily use convenient.

Sitting inside, the first noticeable feature is the solid interior materials. The dashboard and door panels are wrapped in soft-touch materials, providing a good tactile feel. The overall layout is driver-centric, with a 10.25-inch central touchscreen positioned high enough that you don't need to look down much when operating it. The screen's responsiveness is relatively fast and supports Bluetooth, CarPlay, and Android Auto, with a clear and logical interface. The digital instrument cluster displays information such as range, speed, and driving mode, all at a glance. The configurations offer standout elements: the driver's seat is a 6-way power-adjustable seat with memory and massage functions, which helps relieve fatigue during long drives; the passenger seat is a 4-way manually adjustable seat, which is also sufficient. The front air conditioning is single-zone automatic with PM2.5 filtration to maintain fresh air inside the car. There is a single sunroof that enhances interior lighting when opened.

Regarding space, the car measures 4,235mm in length, 1,825mm in width, and 1,596mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,650mm, which is average for a B-class car. When the front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position, passengers with a height of 175cm still have a fist's worth of headroom, and legroom is ample. The rear seating is even more surprising: passengers of the same height have two fists' worth of legroom and one fist of headroom; it doesn't feel cramped even with three occupants. Storage-wise, the door pockets can hold two bottles of water, the central armrest box has a decent depth, and there are two USB ports and a wireless charging pad in the front. The boot space is sufficient for two 20-inch suitcases, and the rear seats support a 60:40 split-fold for accommodating larger items.

In terms of power, the Good Cat 500 Ultra is equipped with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum output of 105kW (143PS) and a peak torque of 210N·m. It features a 63.139kWh ternary lithium battery, offering an official range of 500 kilometers. In actual driving, the power response during start-up is very quick; even a light press on the accelerator delivers a noticeable push-back feeling, making it nimble for overtaking or lane changes in the city. When switched to Sport mode, power output becomes more direct, and acceleration is sufficiently explosive; in Eco mode, the power delivery is smoother, suitable for daily commuting. On highways, while driving at 120km/h, the vehicle still has ample power for further acceleration, making overtaking easy. For braking, the pedal feel is linear, not overly sensitive in the initial phase, while the latter phase offers adequate stopping power, and the vehicle remains stable during emergency braking.

The handling and chassis performance are decent. The steering wheel is light, so even girls won't find it tiring to drive. The steering precision is acceptable with no significant slack. The chassis uses a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion-beam non-independent suspension, tuned for comfort. When going over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension absorbs most of the jolts, avoiding any harsh impacts. However, there is noticeable body roll during fast cornering, but since it's a family car, one can't demand too much. Noise control is well-done; at speeds below 60km/h, there is almost no wind noise or tire noise inside the cabin. When the speed exceeds 80km/h, wind noise becomes more noticeable but still within an acceptable range. The energy recovery system offers three adjustable levels. The highest level provides a strong drag effect suitable for single-pedal driving in traffic jams, while the lowest level feels similar to a fuel car and does not affect ride comfort.

In terms of range and charging, we tested it for a week on city roads at an average speed of about 30km/h, with the air conditioning and music on. The actual range was approximately 420 kilometers, achieving 84% of the claimed range, which is fairly stable. On highways at a cruising speed of 110km/h, the range decreased to about 380 kilometers, which aligns with the characteristics of an electric vehicle. Regarding charging speed, fast charging from 30% to 80% requires about 40 minutes (0.67 hours), while slow charging takes 10 hours. For daily use with a home charging station, overnight charging is entirely sufficient.

Safety features are a strong suit of the Good Cat 500 Ultra. It comes standard with 6 airbags (front dual airbags, side airbags, and front & rear curtain airbags), as well as ABS, ESP, lane departure warning, active braking, forward collision warning, and blind-spot assist, among other active safety features. The ACC adaptive cruise control is very useful on highways, automatically following the car ahead and reducing driving fatigue. The 360-degree surround-view camera and front & rear parking sensors help avoid scrapes while parking. The automatic parking function is very beginner-friendly, capable of performing parallel and perpendicular parking automatically.

Overall, the 2024 ORA Good Cat 500 Ultra's core advantage lies in its balance — adequate range, rich features, practical space, and a price of 143,800 RM, which offers good value among vehicles in the same class. It's slightly more expensive than the BYD Atto 3 Standard Range but comes with higher configurations (such as the driver's seat with massage and memory functions). It's also cheaper than the MG4 Electric Extended Range, with better space performance. It is suitable for users who prioritize family utility, with a daily commute of within 50 kilometers and occasional short trips on weekends without frequent charging. It also caters to young people who value features and comfort, offering an easy, stress-free driving experience with configurations that meet their needs.

In conclusion, the Good Cat 500 Ultra is a well-rounded family electric car with no significant weaknesses. Its features and space meet the needs of most families, and its range performance is reassuring. If you're looking for a balanced B-segment electric vehicle, it's worth considering.