MG 4 Trophy vs ORA Good Cat

Bringing together two models that compete in the same segment is useful because you can place both cars side by side to see which might be a better fit for your lifestyle.

It's even more interesting when the two models in question, such as the MG 4 and ORA Good Cat, happen to be polar opposites. Everything about them, from their design to the way they are tuned to drive, are points and counterpoints in a lively debate.

Instead of being a fiery altercation, this meeting turned out to be a cordial discourse, as the MG 4 and ORA Good Cat offered their own versions of driver-friendliness. Now, which one proves to be more attractive?

The MG 4 and the Good Cat are total opposites especially when it comes to styling

A tale of two outlooks

One can imagine the MG 4's designers seeing the Good Cat and saying, "Our hatchback will be everything that the Good Cat isn't." Indeed, to describe the MG 4's styling as 'angular' would be modest.

Everything about the MG 4's exterior is sharp, from the creases on its bonnet to the air intakes to the shoulder lines. The rear end is especially striking, thanks to taillights that span nearly the width of the car, and illuminated, decorative lines above them adding to the pizzazz.

And in case you didn't get the sporty vibes, the twin spoilers jutting out from the roof should do the trick. Their presence alone is enough to put other drivers on notice, because the MG 4 looks like a hot hatch.

The MG 4's snazzy taillights are embellished by these funky lines

The Good Cat 'smiles' at you with its tail-lamp as you walk away

While the MG 4 draws glances with its athletic design, the Good Cat attracts buyers with its adorably retrolicious styling. In contrast to its competitor's sharp lines, this kitty is soft and round. Gentle, sloping curves can be found throughout its body from head to tail. Even the round headlamps have a kawaii feel to them.

The Good Cat doesn't stop there either. Walk towards the rear and the body panels remain rounded as ever. Heck, the 'rump' is also a gentle slope. And instead of circular taillights, it's a curved line stretching across the rear windscreen that makes the car look like it's smiling at you (and other drivers). How cute is that? If you find the Good Cat charming, you'll have to resist walking over to pinch and squeeze its body.

The MG 4's sporty cues include a square-shaped steering wheel, a gearshift dial that's easier to reach, and dark upholstery

The Good Cat's retro touches include handy toggles on the centre console, tasteful chrome trimmings, and two-tone upholstery

Diverging decors

The Good Cat's 'Retro Futuristic' interior complements the exterior design. Just as you slide onto the driver's seat, you'll notice a pair of koi swimming across the high-resolution instrument and infotainment screens.

Screens aside, the Good Cat feels more upmarket than the MG 4 because of its two-tone upholstery, which is even 'quilted' on the door panels. The toggles on the centre console add to the retro vibe, but more importantly, the space itself feels roomier compared to the MG 4.

The MG 4, in contrast, doubles down on its sporty character with a darker and more sombre theme. Its square-shaped steering wheel is thicker and offers a more positive grip compared to the Good Cat's, which nicely complements the more supportive front seats.

The Good Cat's instrument panel is more expansive, so the pertinent info is easier to digest

The MG 4's cluster looks plain in comparison, and the reflective rather than matte screen can be irksome at times

The layout is more driver-focussed, too. It doesn't take much adjustment to find the ideal driving position and the gearshift selector is placed higher, making it easier to reach. Said dial is also more accurate, with precise clicks denoting each transmission mode. The one in the Good Cat requires several turns to get the right setting.

The Good Cat's infotainment system, though, is the more intuitive of the two. It also responds quicker to taps and swipes, so you're able to tweak settings faster. On the other hand, the touchscreen in the MG 4 sometimes doesn't detect your inputs, resulting in repeated taps.

The haptic controls on the Good Cat's steering wheel, on the other hand, are less desirable than the physical buttons found on the MG 4's steering wheel. Again, it must be said that the MG 4's system needs to be more responsive to inputs.

The Good Cat has a shorter wheelbase, but the lighter upholstery and sunroof make it feel more spacious than it is

In terms of backseat accommodations, the MG 4 offers more legroom thanks to its longer wheelbase (2,705mm vs 2,650mm), even if it's not obvious because of the dark upholstery. What's surprising, though, is that despite its sporty character, the rear bench here is plusher than the one in the Good Cat.

The Good Cat's backseat isn't all bad, of course. The two-tone hues make the space brighter and look roomier, which then makes it feel more welcoming. Like the MG 4, the floor is also relatively flat, so middle occupants won't be sitting in an awkward position.

When it comes to practicality, it's the MG 4's 398-litre boot that has the edge over the Good Cat's cargo hold, which is a diminutive 228 litres. But drivers who want to keep their belongings from sliding out might still want to stow them in the Good Cat's boot since it has taller sills.

The MG 4 impresses with its eagerness, while the Good Cat suits drivers who like taking it easy

Time for a workout

The MG 4 doesn't just look sporty - it feels sporty, too. Even with the drive mode set to 'Normal', the hatchback feels so punchy that the 133bhp and 250Nm of torque from the electric motor seem more like 200bhp and 300Nm. Its 8.5-second century sprint time certainly testifies to this.

It's so eager to go that you find yourself nailing the accelerator pedal whenever there's a gap in traffic or a clear stretch of road. And the MG 4's handling is pleasing, too. You only need to punt it around a few corners to realise that clearly, engineers have tuned the suspension and handling, and ensured that the steering feels tight and precise as well.

ORA, on the other hand, has taken a more relaxed approach with the Good Cat. Though its powertrain makes 141bhp (or 8bhp more), the torque figure only comes to 210Nm. Even with the instantaneous nature of electric motors, the Good Cat takes 11 seconds to go from rest to 100km/h.

The MG 4's menus are relatively neat, and the physical shortcut buttons are a convenient touch

Navigating through the Good Cat's menus is more pleasant, thanks to the intuitive layout and responsive display

And instead of carving bends, Good Cat prefers to glide around them in a more measured manner. The upshot, though, is that the ride quality is noticeably comfier than the MG 4's. If your daily commutes take you along undulating roads, the Good Cat is the car to be in.

Now, onto trickier topics: Range and consumption. Both the MG 4 and Good Cat have nearly identical battery capacities (64kWh vs 63kWh) and claimed average consumption figures (5.9km/kWh vs 6.0km/kWh). But the MG 4's range is 450km, while the Good Cat is rated at 420km.

Range and consumption are heavily influenced by driving conditions and driving styles, though, so two people driving the same car can have widely varying figures. Personally, 30km doesn't make a huge difference whether I'm driving the MG 4 or Good Cat. Based on my lifestyle and commuting pattern, I'd be charging either model every seven to 10 days.

Emotions vs practicalities

The MG 4's dynamics make this a sweet hatchback to drive. Forget about paper figures and the lack of marketing spiel about how it handles, because once you're behind the wheel, you'll find it spirited and engaging.

Drive aside, the MG 4 also ticks the boxes for practicality, since it has a cushier backseat and more boot space compared to the Good Cat. The fact that its price tag of $160,888 is $1,889 more than the Good Cat is reasonable, too.

But to overlook the Good Cat would be to ignore one's emotions. The Good Cat might not be as athletic as its rival, but its exterior design and cute touches are equally attractive. The 'smiling' taillight, Bentley-esque two-tone interior, toggle switches, and swimming koi, make this hatchback a delight to live with.

If I worked odd hours and enjoyed freer roads, I'd take the MG 4 in a heartbeat. But as someone who spends most of his weekday commutes sitting in traffic, I find the Good Cat even more charming than the MG 4.

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