2024 GWM Ora Review: Australia's Most Affordable EV Worth It?

The GWM Ora is a small electric hatchback and one of the most affordable electric cars in Australia. At the time of the review (May 2024), the 2024 GWM Ora Standard Range started from from $35,990 driveaway. The GWM Ora line-up has since received an update, with a larger battery and a bunch of improvements.

The Ora’s closest rivals are the MG4 (from $38,990) and BYD Dolphin (from $38,890). The Ora is made by Great Wall Motors (GWM), the same company behind the GWM Ute, Haval SUVs and Tank 300.

Today, you could easily pick up a used GWM Ora Standard Range for $25,000.

GWM Ora pricing (as at May 2024):
- Ora Standard Range: $35,990 driveaway
- Ora Extended Range: $40,990 driveaway
- Ora Ultra Extended Range: $43,990 driveaway
- Ora GT Extended Range: $46,990 driveaway

Exterior

The Ora has a quirky, retro-inspired look. It attracted plenty of attention during our time with it. For such an affordable car, it turned an unusual amount of heads. It is easy to see why it was originally called the Funky Cat in some markets.

The body is 4235mm long, which puts it between a Toyota Yaris and Corolla in size. All variants ride on 18-inch alloy wheels. Base and mid variants have a black painted roof that looks similar to the panoramic sunroof on the top-spec GT. The GT also adds red accents and a unique wheel design.

Boot space is a weak point. At 228L with the seats up, it is smaller than the MG4 (350-363L) and BYD Dolphin (345L). Folding the rear seats adds another 630L, bringing the total to 858L. There is no frunk. The underfloor area fits charging cables and a tyre repair kit.

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Inside

The interior is one of the Ora's strongest points. Blue-stitched faux leather seats, matching door liners and a soft Alcantara-like dash material give it a premium feel. The curved dash and door panels blend into one smooth line near the A-pillar.

Hard plastics appear on the centre tunnel and lower dash areas. Build quality is solid though, with no squeaks or rattles. The gear selector is a knurled rotary dial that looks good but spins freely without stopping once in Drive or Reverse.

Two 10.25-inch screens span the dash. The driver display shows a live lane-keeping animation, digital speedo and trip data. The centre touchscreen handles media, climate and vehicle settings. It can be slow to respond and requires multiple presses at times.

Apple CarPlay is supported wirelessly. Android Auto is not available yet but is reportedly coming via an update. There is no built-in navigation. The six-speaker audio system supports AM/FM, Bluetooth and USB. A nice touch: the blinker sound plays from the left or right speaker depending on which way you are turning. The Ora’s infotainment system is definitely it’s weak point. The UI is basic, the options are basic and isn’t particularly smooth.

Storage up front is limited. Door bins are smaller than average and could not fit a 600ml insulated bottle. There are two wireless phone charging pads, one USB-A port and two cupholders under the centre armrest. A 12V outlet is also included.

Rear space is generous for a car this size. Adults fit comfortably thanks to the dedicated EV platform. Rear passengers get one USB-A port, map pockets, door bins and a fold-down armrest with two cupholders. There are no rear air vents, but the rear windows go all the way down.

On the Road

The Ora is easy to drive. There is no start/stop button. Press the brake, spin the rotary gear selector and you are away. At 4.3m long with a tight turning circle, it is easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

The 126kW/250Nm front-wheel-drive motor delivers strong torque off the line. Push too hard and the front wheels will spin, especially in wet conditions. At highway speeds it feels less confident during overtaking and is noisier than some rivals.

Ride comfort is generally good. The soft suspension handles speed bumps well but lets in sharp impacts from potholes and expansion joints. There is some body roll in corners, but it stays controlled. At 1540kg it is light for an EV and feels agile around town.

Five driving modes are available. The differences between them are subtle. Normal mode works well for most situations. Regenerative braking has three levels plus a single-pedal mode, but even at maximum strength it is weak. The single-pedal mode does not fully stop the car and needs to be re-enabled every time you start the vehicle, which requires three screen taps.

The lane-keeping assist is intrusive and can make the car look like it is drifting from behind. The driver monitoring camera on the A-pillar can also become too active. Adjusting regen levels requires a dig through the touchscreen menus.

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Battery, Range and Charging

The Standard Range uses a 48kWh LFP battery. GWM claims 310km of WLTP range. In real-world testing, mixed driving returned around 260km and highway driving at 110km/h dropped this to around 230km. That is fine for daily commuting but may feel tight on longer trips.

The Extended Range, Ultra and GT variants use a larger 63kWh NMC battery with a claimed range of 400-420km depending on the variant.

DC fast charging peaks at around 64kW for the Standard Range and 67kW for the Extended Range. These are among the lowest speeds available on a new EV today. A 10-80% charge takes around 41 minutes on the Standard Range and 50 minutes on the Extended Range. AC charging supports up to 11kW on three-phase, or around 7kW on a typical home single-phase setup, taking about 6 hours.

Warranty and Running Costs

GWM backs the Ora with a 7-year vehicle warranty and an 8-year battery warranty, both with unlimited kilometres. That is better than many rivals that cap battery warranties at 160,000km. Roadside assist is included for 5 years.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km. The first five services are capped at $99 each. That is very affordable compared to most EVs on the market.

Charging costs vary. Filling the 48kWh battery from near flat at 30 cents per kWh costs around $14 at home. At a public DC fast charger expect to pay roughly double. Charging off-peak, on an EV plan or from home solar brings the cost down significantly.

Recommendation

The GWM Ora is a genuinely good value EV. The design stands out, the interior is well finished for the price, and the warranty and service costs are hard to beat. Rear passenger space is surprisingly generous.

The weak points are real. The boot is small, DC charging is slow, Android Auto is missing, and the driver assist and infotainment systems need refinement. These issues make the Ora better suited to city driving and short trips rather than long highway runs.

If you are after a stylish, affordable EV for daily commuting and the design appeals to you, the Ora is worth a test drive. If boot space or fast charging are priorities, the MG4 or BYD Dolphin may suit you better.