GWM Ora 5 (2026) Launch Review

The new GWM Ora 5 shakes off its hatchback roots and has grown into a crossover, with not 1 but 3 distinctly different powertrains to choose from. We hit the road at its local launch in the Western Cape.

Remember the GWM Ora 3 hatchback? Offered as an EV hatchback, we thought it had quite a lot going for it, evidenced by nominating it as a finalist in the electric car category of the 2023/2024 Cars Awards. It never lit up the sales charts, however. Blame went to its pricing, which at the time didn’t quite seem like good value, plus the car market wasn’t as receptive to affordable electric cars as it is now.

Fast forward and it’s clear Great Wall Motors’ new-energy brand, Ora, has learnt a few lessons, albeit painful ones. Powertrain diversity is now a thing, and so is the crossover/small-SUV body style. It’s these 2 pillars which form the backbone of the new GWM Ora 5 .

What’s on offer?

The Ora 5 may visually resemble the Ora 3, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. The new-generation model adopts a fresh modular platform, sits higher like a crossover, and is offered with a choice of 3 distinct powertrains. Visually, some clever design tweaks like roof rails and raised ground clearance see the Ora 5 transform from tall hatchback to crossover.

Read more: GWM Ora 5 Price & Specs

It may look compact in pictures, but with a wheelbase of more than 2 700 mm, the Ora 5 is bigger than you think. In fact, this tall author could very comfortably sit behind his driving position.

The engine line-up covers all the bases, starting with a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol making 105 kW and 210 Nm. It’s front-wheel driven and features a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

If you want more punch and performance, but without heavy fuel consumption, there’s a 1.5 HEV which blends the 1.5-litre petrol to a closed hybrid system with a small electric motor and battery. Combined outputs are 164 kW and 476 Nm, and the vehicle has a direct hybrid transmission, which is a fancy way of saying “hybrid”.

Finally, and staying true to its origins, the Ora 5 is also offered with a battery-electric powertrain. There’s 150 kW and 260 Nm from a single electric motor fed by a 58.3 kWh battery pack. The range claim of 500 km is impressive.

Each powertrain option is available with 2 trim levels: Super Luxury and Ultra Luxury. The latter adds niceties like a panoramic roof, wireless phone charging, heated/ventilated front seats, and a comprehensive advanced driver assistance system suite (things like adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and so on).

Materials in the cabin look and feel plush, and we liked the gentle rose-gold accents dotted around. The dashboard is dominated by a large infotainment screen with excellent graphics and clarity as well as response time. This system is powered by the brand’s Coffee OS.

What’s the Ora 5 like to drive?

Cars.co.za was afforded an opportunity to drive both the HEV and BEV ahead of the local debut, so this author made a beeline for the conventionally-powered Ora 5 1.5T Ultra Luxury. Finished in possibly one of the most vibrant shades of turquoise blue, it certainly stood out. You’re not losing that in the parking lot anytime soon!

Two of the biggest criticisms of the compact 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines from newcomer brands is erratic throttle mapping and overly heavy fuel consumption. With that in mind, we set off on the N2 towards Hermanus, completing the loop from Grabouw, round the Theewaterskloof Dam and down to Benguela Cove, then back along the coastal road via Betty’s Bay to the starting point.

We’re happy to report that throttle calibration is well resolved, while the fuel consumption stayed under 8.0 L/100 km (we weren’t exactly shy with the accelerator pedal). At one stage, we saw 7.1 L/100 km… The rest of the drive was uneventful, which is exactly what you’d hope for in a stylish compact crossover.

The engine delivers adequate performance, with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission shunting the cogs up and down with minimum intrusion. However, the steering setup is a tad too light and vague for our liking, even in the sport setting. Still, such easy steering means tight parking antics will be way less stressful.

How much does the new GWM Ora 5 cost in South Africa?

The Ora 5 is sold with a 7-year/200 000 km warranty (with an 8-year/150 000 km warranty for the battery pack on BEV derivatives) and a 7-year/75 000 km service plan.

Final thoughts

Perhaps the Ora 3’s EV powertrain and high price were its undoing, but the Ora 5 rights these wrongs. With an aggressive price point, we predict the majority of sales will come from the standard petrol 1.5T DCT. The value there is undeniable.

We do hope there’ll be some interest in the self-charging hybrid, as its efficiency and straight-line performance are impressive. No HEV needs to go that quickly, but it’s entertaining nevertheless! And, if the financial numbers work in your favour and you have solar facilities, we’d certainly recommend that you take the EV for a test drive.

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