GWM Ora 2024 Range Expanded
Australians have been craving affordable electric vehicles for years, and three new options have arrived throughout 2023 to quench the thirst – and they all cost less than $40,000 before on-road costs.
The first of the three companies to open coverage in Australia is GWM Ora – the same Chinese carmaker that produces the Haval SUV and Tank 300 off-road vehicle.
The Chinese conglomerate's first try at an electric vehicle was the most affordable electric vehicle you could buy in Australia, at one time, but it's a fast-moving segment, and has since been overtaken by more affordable competitors like the MG 4 and BYD Dolphin .
Speaking of strange electric car names, GWM Ora also uses the names Ora Good Cat and Ora Funky Cat in other markets around the world, but fortunately the Oz version no longer refers to cats.
What is also unique is Ora's style. To me, this car combines aspects of the Volkswagen Beetle, Mini Cooper, Porsche 911, and Fiat 500. What's more, it comes with an exclamation point (!) on the hood.
There's no doubt it's strange – but we're more interested in whether it's any good. We've spent time behind the wheel of the entry-level Standard Range model, but the Extended Range car is the focus of this review.
How much does GWM Ora cost in Australia?
The Ora GWM range in Australia consists of a total of four variants. This starts with the Ora Standard range priced from $39,990 before on-road costs, and ends with the performance-oriented GT flagship spec priced at $51,990 (plus ORCs).
The GWM Ora Extended Range sits between those two extremes with prices starting at $45,990 (plus ORCs). Of course, driving range is improved over its Standard Range stablemate, ranging from 310 km to 420 km of claimed WLTP range. It is able to claim a wider driving range thanks to an enlarged 63kWh battery.
However, all are powered by a 126kW/250Nm motor driving the front wheels. This includes the Ora GT variant, which only emphasizes its sporty appearance.
Key spec highlights for the Extended Range include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with daytime running lights, wireless smartphone charging, faux leather and suede upholstery, power-adjustable seats and rear parking sensors.
Given its low entry price, the GWM Ora comes with a fair amount of standard equipment, making it an attractive buy value compared to its competitors.
Important details of GWM Ora 2024 Expanded Range
Price is $45,990 plus on-road costs
The color of the test car is Glacier Blue
Options None
Price as tested is $45,990 plus on-road costs
Drive away price $48,835 (Melbourne)
MG 4 Rival | Mazda MX-30 | BYD Dolphins
How much space does GWM Ora have?
With its short, sturdy stature, the GWM doesn't promise much in terms of interior space. But jump inside and the amount of space inside the cabin is a pleasant surprise.
There's no need to bend over or duck under the roof to get inside, while the amount of space on offer once you're in the driver's seat is generous. However, the position of the driver's seat is less comfortable and it is difficult to find the right perch.
In particular, the seats are small and don't have enough support under the thighs, and the steering wheel doesn't move up enough for where I'd normally place my hands. This also hinders viewing of the infotainment screen.
Additionally, there is an ergonomic flaw in that the cupholders are placed on the floor instead of the center console. One thing I've always disliked on Havals is the rotating gear selector that keeps turning even after you've reached the last gear. It should lock after driving, and then lock again after reverse.
I'm not a fan of all the controls for things like AC via the infotainment. I wish there was a dedicated button for airflow. I also couldn't find any volume knobs or buttons – they can only be controlled via the steering wheel buttons.
Most of the surfaces are covered in a decent material on initial impressions, especially considering the price. The seats are plush and feel durable, and the dash has a nice soft-touch covering. However, if you look closely, the plastic won't feel scratched. The window switches feel cheap and the parking brake is unpleasant to use.
Storage-wise, there's a center console bin for stashing things out of sight, plus a small tray on the floor containing two cup holders.
The second row is spacious. Despite my height of 194cm, I felt more than comfortable in terms of headroom, legroom and space to store my feet. There's nothing particularly exciting about the amenities – no air vents, just one USB-A port, and a pair of map pockets.
Boot space is a small 228 liters with the seats up. It can be expanded to 858L by lowering the rear seats, but the floor isn't flat. There's also no spare tire – just a repair kit for emergencies.
Loading items in and out of the trunk is very complicated due to the high loading lip and closed trunk opening, making it even more difficult to load large items.
20 24 GWM Or Expanded Coverage
Seat Five
Seat 228L boot volume up
858L foldable seat
Length 4235mm
Width 1825mm
Height 1603mm
Wheelbase 2650mm
does GWM Ora have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
What is currently popular, GWM has equipped twin 10.25 inch screens side by side on the dashboard to handle all infotainment and cluster information.
Most annoyingly, for me, the steering wheel partially blocks the view of the infotainment screen.
This is a basic system without satellite navigation or digital radio, but the system accepts Apple CarPlay (wired and wireless) and Android Auto (wired) connectivity.
In my experience, the system's functionality is slick, but we've noted issues with the Ora's infotainment in the past. Most frustrating is the fact that you can't access the AC while using Apple CarPlay – you have to exit CarPlay and then move on from there.
The graphics are high quality and the 360 degree camera feed is sharp and clear.
I'm not a fan of six-speaker stereo systems that, while offering the ability to tune and change settings, sound bassless and inconsistent when changing the volume.
Currently, there is no app-based function to connect to the car while traveling.
Is the GWM Ora a safe car?
GWM Ora earned a full five-star rating from ANCAP when it was last tested in 2022.
Specifically, Ora was awarded 92 percent protection for adult passengers, 84 percent for child passengers, 74 percent for vulnerable road users and 93 percent for safety assistance systems.
202 4 GWM Or Extended Coverage
ANCAP rating Five stars (tested 2023)
Safety report Link to ANCAP report
What security technologies does GWM Ora have?
In terms of passive safety systems, the GWM Ora receives seven airbags, regardless of model class – a very impressive number for a small car. This includes an important center airbag to reduce the risk of front seat occupant head impacts.
It also has all the active safety systems to prevent accidents: front autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, rear AEB, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, blind spot monitoring , and speed sign recognition.
There is a door opening warning to prevent passengers from being injured after exiting the right side of the vehicle, driver attention monitoring (camera-based), tire pressure monitoring and a 360-degree parking monitor. However, you miss out on the front parking sensors.
In practice, this system really helped me during my week with the car. Lane keeping assist gently guides me back to the center of the lane if I veer off to the side, while lane centering is finely tuned to keep me consistently in place. I love how the instrument cluster shows the cars around you at any given moment – it makes you feel much safer as the car detects objects around you.
However, there are very loud beeps and warnings caused by the lane keeping system and adaptive cruise control that can disturb the cabin atmosphere.
How much does GWM Ora maintenance cost?
All GWMs come with a seven year/unlimited kilometer warranty in Australia. This comes with five years of roadside assistance and five years of capped price service.
Each of the first five services is capped at a very affordable $99. This is recommended every 12 months or 15,000 km. Some EV makers will have more lenient service intervals, but considering each service visit only costs $99, that's a good deal.
Insuring the Ora Extended Range with a comprehensive insurance policy costs $1986 annually. This is a comparison quote for a 35 year old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history and personal circumstances.
Compare that to recent offers of $1821 for the MG 4 Excite 51 and $1957 for the BYD Dolphin Premium.
At a Glance 202 4 GWM Or Expanded Range
Seven year guarantee, unlimited km
Eight year battery guarantee
Service interval 12 months or 15,000km
Service fee $297 (3 years)
$495 (5 years)
Is GWM Ora energy efficient?
Efficiency is the name of the electric car game and GWM promises a lot on paper. An official claim of 14 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers puts it ahead of rivals such as the MG4 Excite 51 (14.5kWh/100km), but it can't match that low figure in the real world.
Granted, most of my time was spent driving on the motorway (which tends to weaken an EV's driving range) but our car returned a rating of 16.4kWh/100km. When I used the car, I saw a driving range of closer to 360km compared to the claimed 420km.
The Ora's charging capabilities are good, but not great. In addition to the 11kW AC charging speed, the car will receive up to 80kW on a DC fast charger. However, I could only get a maximum of 60kW out of the car when connected to a 180kW fast charger.
How is the experience of driving the GWM Ora?
Overall, the GWM Ora range gets a 126kW/250Nm motor that sends power to the front wheels only. This enthusiasm is more than enough for the small body to move quickly and increase speed without any hassle.
It won't provide the rocket ship-like experience you'd expect from other electric vehicles, but the instantaneous acceleration is useful when you're pulling away from a stoplight or accelerating to merge into traffic.
The wheels can slip when wet if you press the accelerator too hard. Body control in corners is well managed and feels engaged when changing direction. It's not Fiat 500 level entertaining driving, but it has the ability to put a smile on your face as you go through a series of consecutive corners.
Ride quality is on the firmer side. This isn't a bad thing, although the tight suspension does make the body wobble. Sharper impacts such as road joints or potholes are handled in a mature manner and don't disturb the cabin ambiance.
Overall, maneuvering around the city is also a simple matter. Despite the lack of front sensors, the short body is easy to navigate into parking spaces and the high-quality camera helps position the car. I sometimes had trouble determining where the wheels were when approaching the edge of the road, although I'm sure with familiarity that wouldn't be a problem.
The steering is easy to turn and doesn't provide much feedback, but it feels perfectly suited to the car's purpose: suburban roads where ease of control and maneuverability are key.
On the highway, you can hear more road noise filtering into the cabin, especially on rough surfaces. But the way the adaptive cruise control is set up deserves praise as it is reactive to changes in the speed of the car in front, and will even queue up behind traffic.
Overall, the car feels perfectly suited to its intended environment – a comfortable, competent small car with good ride comfort and a powerful electric powertrain.
Important details 202 4 GWM Or Extended Coverage
Single electric motor engine
Power 126kW
Torque 250Nm
Drive type Front wheel drive
Single Speed Transmission
Power to weight ratio 79.7kW/t
Weight (curb) 1580kg
Spare tire type Tire repair package
Turning a circle 11.2m
We've waited a long time for electric vehicle prices to drop to affordable levels, and the wait has been well worth it.
The level of driving proficiency, standard equipment and affordable running costs are simply outstanding. There are some minor gripes regarding the fit and finish of the interior, but when you consider the price tag attached to the GWM Ora, it's an understandable trade-off.
Its unique styling and badge on the left side may not be to everyone's taste, but beyond the looks, this is a perfectly suited electric vehicle for its intended buyers.
How to buy GWM Ora – next steps?
We've spent time behind the wheel of the GWM Oras Standard and Extended Driving Range and recommend the entry-level Standard Range model as the best choice. The price difference between the two ($6000) is too great for ~100km of additional range, especially considering there's no additional equipment to sweeten the deal.
But for those who appreciate the extra distance between charges, Extended Range remains the right choice. Next year we hope to test the Ora GT variant with a GT3-style body kit.
The GWM website doesn't let you find stock near you. You can browse GWM vehicles available for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale .
We highly recommend taking a test drive at the dealer before committing, and going through as many infotainment screens and settings as possible to make sure you're happy with the experience the Ora has to offer.
