GWM Ora 5 2026 Review
The original GWM Ora never really found its footing in Australia. It had the aura, but not the audience. Cute, quirky and an electric hatchback pioneer, buyers largely overlooked it in favour of more conventional electric options. Rather than doubling down on its retro hatchback formula, GWM has taken the hint. The new Ora SUV is bigger, more practical and aimed at the fastest-growing corner of the EV market. It's better equipped, more mature and still represents strong value, but some frustrating driving characteristics stop it from becoming the segment benchmark.
How much does the GWM Ora 5 cost?
The GWM Ora SUV range opens at $33,990 drive-away for the Lux, while the flagship Ultra is priced from $36,990 drive-away.
That makes the Ora SUV one of the more competitively priced electric SUVs on the market, lining it up against rivals such as the BYD Atto 2 and GAC Aion UT.
And while most manufacturers seem obsessed with greyscale paint palettes, GWM clearly got the memo that cars are allowed to be fun. Buyers can choose from six colours, including Flamingo Pink and Cute Cyan, with premium paint costing $595 and some finishes reserved for the Ultra.
As for specifications, standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry, dual 10.25-inch and 14.6-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 362-litre boot and – refreshingly – a space-saver spare tyre. Honestly, every manufacturer should bring those back.
Stepping up to the Ultra is largely about comfort rather than necessity. It adds an electric tailgate, panoramic glass roof with an electric sunshade, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, powered front seats with driver memory, a wireless phone charger, heated power-folding mirrors and a nine-speaker premium audio system.
Power comes from a 150kW/260Nm front-mounted electric motor paired with a 58.3kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery, delivering a claimed 435km of WLTP driving range.
DC fast charging peaks at 120kW, allowing a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in around 30 minutes, while vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality lets owners use the Ora's battery to power everything from camping gear to a coffee pod machine.
The safety equipment list is also long with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and a surround-view camera all fitted as standard. The Ora 5 is currently undergoing ANCAP assessment, with GWM expecting a five-star rating when results are announced later this year.
Ownership costs are also on the simpler side. Servicing is capped at $195 per visit for the first seven years, while buyers are covered by a seven-year vehicle warranty, an eight-year battery warranty and seven years of roadside assistance.
What’s good about the GWM Ora 5?
The biggest compliment I can pay the Ora 5 is that it feels like GWM has actually listened to consumer feedback.
The original Ora hatchback stood out because it was unapologetically different. That earned plenty of attention but not necessarily plenty of buyers. This replacement still has personality, but it's been toned down just enough to broaden its appeal.
There are still plenty of rounded surfaces, playful proportions and bold colour choices, but the SUV body gives it a more planted and contemporary appearance. In fact, I'd argue it looks like a baby Porsche Macan – particularly in profile – which is no bad thing.
Inside, the cabin continues the playful theme. The bronze detailing adds some warmth without feeling gimmicky, while the overall fit and finish is better than you might expect at this price point.
The front seats are supportive over long periods behind the wheel, and the heated seats become properly warm within minutes on a cold Melbourne morning. Rear seat accommodation is perfectly acceptable for adults, while luggage space measures a useful 362 litres.
Australian buyers also benefit from local suspension tuning led by chassis engineer Rob Trubiani, and the effort shows. Whatever changes he and the local engineering team have made have worked, with the Ora settling into an easy rhythm around town and on smoother country roads. Road and wind noise are well suppressed, making it a surprisingly relaxed cruiser for an affordable EV.
For comfortably under $40,000 drive-away, you're getting respectable range, plenty of standard equipment, competitive ownership costs and one of the more distinctive designs in the segment. That's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore as more buyers make the switch to electric.
What’s not so good about the GWM Ora 5?
Unfortunately, the entire driving experience doesn't always match the promise of the specification sheet.
On paper, 150kW should make the Ora feel reasonably lively around town. In reality, pulling away from a standstill often feels hesitant before the power suddenly arrives all at once.
It wasn't a one-off either. During our drive, the front wheels spun on several occasions when trying to accelerate away from intersections and roundabouts, simply because the standard drive mode felt too lethargic to confidently take a gap in traffic. Rather than delivering the smooth, effortless surge most EVs are known for, the Ora's power delivery can feel oddly inconsistent.
Selecting Sport mode certainly helps sharpen the response, but it also raises the question of why the default calibration isn't more polished in the first place.
Once you're already moving, overtaking performance is perfectly adequate. It's those first few metres from traffic lights that leave you waiting.
Credit where it's due, though, GWM has clearly spent time refining the Ora's chassis. The Australian suspension tune strikes a comfortable balance for everyday driving, and around town or on smoother country roads it's composed and confidence inspiring. It's only when the pace picks up that the softer setup begins to show its limits, with noticeable body roll through quicker corners. It never feels unsafe, but it doesn't encourage enthusiastic driving either.
Back inside the cabin to tech, the twin-screen layout looks modern enough, but some simple functions remain buried inside menus. Adjusting certain settings can even interrupt Apple CarPlay, making what should be a quick change unnecessarily distracting. Something as simple as dedicated controls for the panoramic roof would make everyday use much easier.
During our drive, the steering also developed an unusual notch around the straight-ahead position after driving through standing water. Whether that's unique to our early production vehicle or something more widespread remains to be seen, but it was difficult to ignore.
Should I buy a GWM Ora 5?
It’s worth keeping in mind that the Ora SUV isn't replacing the hatchback entirely. GWM has confirmed that a smaller, lower and cheaper hatchback will join the line-up in the future, giving buyers the choice between practicality and affordability.
While the SUV is likely to account for around 70 per cent of sales, the hatch should ensure the quirky personality that helped put Ora on the map doesn't disappear altogether.
As for the SUV itself, it's a much more complete package than the car it kind-of replaces. It offers excellent value, plenty of standard equipment and enough personality to stand out without feeling overly niche. It isn't perfect, with low-speed performance and some technology frustrations stopping it from being class-leading, but it's a significant step forward for the Ora nameplate.
If you're shopping for an affordable electric SUV and want something that's easy to spot in a crowded car park, the Ora 5 deserves a test drive. If you'd rather something smaller and a little kinder on the wallet, it might be worth waiting to see what the next-generation hatch brings.
2026 GWM Ora 5 at a glance:
Price: $33,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/260Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 58.3kWh lithium-iron
Range: 435km WLTP
Energy consumption: 15.5kWh/100km WLTP
Safety rating: Not tested
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- Looks more expensive than you’d expect
- Comfy seats, quiet cabin make it easy to live with
- Loads of gear, decent range and cheap servicing make the numbers stack up
- Off-the-line acceleration is weirdly hesitant for an EV
- Too much body roll when you start driving with a bit of enthusiasm
- Some basic functions are buried in the touchscreen menus
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