First came the Nissan Leaf. Then the MG ZS EV and BYD Atto 3. Now GWM’s Ora has taken the crown for being Australia’s cheapest EV. This bright, bug-eyed zippy hatchback is about to make a real splash on the affordable EV market. With plenty of personality and funky features, the Ora makes a great about-town run-around.

Overview

Variants: Standard Range and Extended Range

Range: SR 310 km and ER 420 km

Charging time and ports: The Standard Range Ora can charge from just 10% battery capacity to 80% in 41 minutes.

Battery: SR 48 kWh and ER 64 kWh

Power: 126kW

Efficiency: SR 146 Wh/km and ER 141 Wh/km

Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 8.5s

Top Speed: 152 km/h

Torque: 250 Nm

Weight: 1,540 kg

Dimensions: L 4,200 mm, W 1,800 mm, H 1,600 mm

Design & look

The GWM Ora marries the cuteness of a MINI with the compactness of the Fiat 500e. Its round, pronounced LED headlights evoke a cartoon bug, while its distinctive bonnet gives it tonnes of personality. Overseas it’s named the Funky Cat, so you can see how GWM are trying to position it as a fun car for a young, urban market.

Designed for city living, the Ora is undeniably adorable. It’s also available in various vibrant colours if you want to make a statement when cruising around town.

Features and interior

Inside, the Ora is all retro-cool. Two-tone leatherette (cream and the colour of your paintwork) adorns the steering wheel, seating, door panels and dashboard. It is a budget EV however, so don’t expect luxurious finishes, some of the Ora’s interior elements can feel a bit plastic-y.

To support its tech-savvy target market’s needs, the Ora comes with plenty of features. A 10.25” full-colour touchscreen Infotainment System is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s even a handy ‘Hello ORA’ voice assistant to answer your every whim as you drive. Other desirable features include a keyless entry system and automatic LED headlights.

Given its compact size, the GWM Ora could be a squeeze for taller drivers, with only a moderate amount of head and leg room. That said, it doesn’t feel too cramped in the front or rear. Don’t expect to squish all your camping gear for weekends away in the rather small boot, however.

Performance

The GWM Ora has two variants, the Standard Range and Extended Range. An Ora GT version may be coming to market too, although this was not confirmed at the time of reviewing.

The Standard Range has a 48 kWH lithium-ion battery and a range of 310km and the Extended Range’s 64 kWH battery brings the driving range to 420km. Both offer the same tech and features so the only difference is the range capabilities. If you’re eyeing up the Ora for a nippy city run-around, the Standard Range will more than suffice, although if you enjoy the occasional longer journey, you may want to opt for the Extended Range.

With a top speed of 152 km/h and capable of 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds, you’re not getting next-level power and speed, but who needs that when you’re zipping around Braddon for your morning flat white?

In terms of charging, GWM has stated the Standard Range Ora can charge from just 10% battery capacity to 80% in just 41 minutes.

Safety and warranty

With a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, you can be assured that the Ora is very safe while navigating busy city traffic. Expect a whole pile of safety alerts and features as well, like a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane centre assist & keeping, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

The GWM Ora is backed by a seven-year unlimited km warranty.

Summary

In terms of prices, Ora is in-line with the MG ZS EV, currently the cheapest EV on the Australian market. It’s also more affordable than its nearest hatchback competitors the Cupra Born, MINI Electric and Fiat 500e.

For the price, you’re getting an incredibly reliable and safe EV with lots of kit. It has plenty of trendy retro stylings to turn heads, but it lacks a bit of oomph behind the wheel and range for those longer journeys. If you’re looking for a smart, nimble EV to execute your daily duties, the Ora will certainly fit the bill.

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