The GWM ORA 5 SUV is built to make every drive a little more fun

There are two kinds of drivers. The ones who see the car as a way to get errands done, and the ones who see an open road on a Friday afternoon and feel something stir. If you are the second kind, the new GWM ORA 5 SUV was built with you in mind.

This is GWM’s first fully electric SUV in Australia, and it arrives with a clear sense of mischief. Curvy, characterful styling. Instant electric pep. And a knack for turning the ordinary trip into an excuse to take the long way, chase the coast, or just say yes to the spontaneous detour. The everyday loop of commutes and shopping runs does not have to be dreary, and the ORA 5 SUV is proof.

The thing that holds most people back from an EV is the nagging question of how far it will go. The ORA 5 SUV puts that to rest with up to 435km of driving range, which is plenty for a fortnight of city life between charges, or for pointing the nose somewhere greener the moment the weekend opens up.

When you do plug in, fast-charging is quick enough that a top-up is barely an interruption: roughly the time it takes to grab a coffee and stretch the legs gets you most of the way back to full. The road keeps calling, and the ORA 5 SUV keeps answering.

Here is the trick that sets the ORA 5 SUV apart. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology lets the car act as a giant battery on wheels, sending up to 6kW of power straight from the car to whatever you plug in.

Picture a proper coffee at the top of a sunrise hike. A fridge keeping the drinks cold at a campsite that has never seen a powerpoint. Music for a beach gathering that was not planned five minutes ago. The e-bikes charged and ready for round two. With the ORA 5 SUV, the fun does not stop when the powerpoints run out, because you brought your own.

Electric cars have a happy habit of feeling lively, and the ORA 5 SUV makes the most of it. Its electric motor delivers its full punch the instant you ask, so there is no waiting around, no hunting for gears, just smooth, eager response whether you are slipping through traffic or stretching the legs on the open road.

It is brisk enough to put a grin on your face and easy enough to make the dull bits of driving quietly enjoyable. This is a car that makes you look forward to getting in, not just getting there.

The playful spirit carries into the cabin. A big 14.6-inch central touchscreen keeps everything within easy reach, and the layout feels modern and uncluttered rather than fussy.

There is real room here, too. Five seats and a generous boot mean a weekend’s worth of gear fits without a battle, and the curvy shape hides a cabin that feels more spacious than its compact footprint lets on. Whatever the spur-of-the-moment plan turns out to be, the ORA 5 SUV is ready for it. And the personality is yours to choose, with six exterior colours on offer: Cute Cyan, Flamingo Pink, Emerald Green, Mystic Grey, Pepper White and Crystal Black.

Spontaneity is only fun when you feel safe being spontaneous. The ORA 5 SUV comes with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance technology, from autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring to a 360-degree camera, all quietly watching your back. It is the kind of safety net that does not ask for your attention, it just lets you relax and enjoy the drive.

Best of all, none of this asks for a fortune. The ORA 5 SUV range opens at $33,990 drive-away, with the better-equipped Ultra at $36,990 drive-away. For a fully electric SUV with this much character, that is a remarkably easy yes, and it leaves plenty in the tank for the adventures themselves.

The GWM ORA 5 SUV is a reminder that an electric SUV does not have to be sensible to a fault. With the range to roam, the power to keep the good times rolling wherever you land and a price that makes it all attainable, it is built for drivers who would rather Live a Little mORA, than just make it home.

Ready to swap the routine for something better? Book a test drive in the GWM ORA 5 SUV.