Electrical automotive gross sales are rising quickly in Australia, and China is the driving power.

The Tesla Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y are made in Shanghai, the BYD Atto 3 is made in Changzhou, the MG ZS EV is made in Zhengzhou, whereas the Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40/C40 are manufactured in Chengdu – and that’s just the start.

Not content material letting its rivals have all of the enjoyable, Chinese language model GWM is able to unleash its electrical assault on Australia.

The face of that assault, at the very least to start out with, is the Ora hatchback. Sure, we all know it has a humorous identify abroad, however that is the one time we’ll write the phrases Good Cat… perhaps.

Look previous its distinctive design, which is equal components retro and futuristic, and also you’ll discover a metropolis hatch with a aggressive vary declare, a contemporary inside, and a value sharp sufficient to make it one of many nation’s most inexpensive electrical automobiles.

Given the power of its competitors, the 2023 GWM Ora can’t simply be inexpensive – it must drive with polish as effectively.

For essentially the most half, it does.

How a lot does the GWM Ora Commonplace Vary value?

You’re taking a look at one in every of only a few automobiles to be hit with a value reduce in 2023. The sharply priced MG 4 and BYD Dolphin have compelled GWM to rethink Ora pricing for Australia, and the result’s a beginning value under $40,000 earlier than on-roads.

2023 GWM Ora pricing:

• GWM Ora Commonplace Vary: $39,990 (-$4000)
• GWM Ora Prolonged Vary: $45,990 (-$2000)
• GWM Ora Prolonged Vary Extremely: $48,990 (NEW)
• GWM Ora Prolonged Vary GT: $51,990 (-$2000)

Costs exclude on-road prices

Drive-away pricing can be out there for the Ora. It varies from state-to-state, as a result of vary of incentives on provide – for the total checklist, take a look at our value and spec story.

The MG 4 is conceptually just like the Ora. It’s a small electrical hatchback, and kicks off at $38,990 earlier than on-road prices – making it the second least expensive electrical automotive in Australia proper now, behind the BYD Dolphin at $38,890 earlier than on-roads.

What’s the GWM Ora Commonplace Vary like on the within?

Loads of inexpensive electrical automobiles really feel as if all the event cash was spent on the battery, with the cabins an afterthought. That isn’t the case within the Ora, which packs loads of showroom enchantment.

With black leather-based (or leather-like, at the very least) trim on the seats, blue distinction stitching, metal-effect toggle switches on the sprint, and a dual-screen infotainment setup, there’s a premium aura (not sorry) concerning the inside.

It’s not good, although. The Ora suffers the identical seating issues as different GWM automobiles, with the seat cushion canted too far ahead to supply any under-thigh help, and the choice to place an “ON/OFF” change on the dashboard for the air-conditioning proper the place you’d put a begin button is complicated.

Seems you simply get within the Ora and choose drive to maneuver off, however anybody unfamiliar will attempt in useless to show the automotive on (or off) utilizing the facility change for the local weather management.

Regardless of its diminutive exterior, the Ora provides a good quantity of house up entrance. The massive steering wheel adjusts for attain and tilt, and the extensive centre console means you aren’t sitting on prime of your passenger.

There’s loads of storage for cups and telephones – together with two wi-fi chargers – and in all places relaxation your elbow is properly padded.

Infotainment expertise stays a blended bag. The system within the Ora nonetheless depends too closely on small icons which are robust to press on the transfer.

You need to use the toggles on the dashboard to leap on to the local weather controls, however settings for the regenerative braking are buried in a sub-menu that takes too many presses to achieve. It’s good GWM included a bodily button on your drive modes, however it’s far much less helpful than a shortcut to one-pedal driving.

Wi-fi Apple CarPlay labored effectively throughout our time behind the wheel, connecting rapidly and sustaining a strong connection. Android Auto wasn’t engaged on the automotive we filmed at Lang Lang.

Not like the Polestar 2 or Tesla Mannequin 3, that are immediately turned on whenever you put your bum on the driving force’s seat, the system within the Ora takes a beat to get began.

Though you possibly can flick to Drive and transfer off whereas the screens are nonetheless black, it isn’t significantly confidence inspiring to be driving earlier than the instrument binnacle has turned on.

Rear seat house is surprisingly good, given the Ora’s measurement. Not solely is there first rate headroom, there’s sufficient legroom to accommodate adults behind adults.

It’s simple sufficient to get into because of wide-opening doorways, and the inclusion of a fold-down central armrest is welcome.

Though it appears to be like fairly small on the skin, the Ora feels barely greater than a Volkswagen Golf within the second row.

Rear air vents would enhance on its usability as a small household automotive, although. They’re one thing we anticipate from small SUVs at this value level.

The trade-off for that rear seat house? Claimed boot house is 228 litres, increasing to 858L with the rear seats folded.

With a big loading lip and slim opening it’ll deal with the weekly store, however will battle with greater than a few in a single day baggage – and undoubtedly gained’t swallow a set of golf golf equipment.

What’s below the bonnet?

Energy within the Ora comes from a front-mounted electrical motor making 126kW of energy and 250Nm of torque.

Two battery packs are provided. The Commonplace Vary will get a 48kWh lithium-ion unit, whereas the Prolonged Vary ups capability to 63kWh.

The GWM Ora Commonplace Vary has a claimed vary of 320km on the more durable WLTP check cycle. Choosing the Prolonged Vary ups that to 420km on the identical check.

We noticed a claimed 15kWh per 100km throughout our time behind the wheel, which equates to a spread across the 320km mark in the actual world from the Commonplace Vary.

How does the GWM Ora Commonplace Vary drive?

Our huge takeaway from a fast drive of the Ora on personal roads earlier this yr was that it felt properly tied down, virtually like a heat hatch. That’s the way it performs out in the actual world, too.

Though it has comparable outputs to a Golf, the shove from the electrical motor at low pace makes it really feel punchier.

It doesn’t have the neck-snapping shove of extra highly effective EVs off the mark, however there’s sufficient punch on faucet to squeal the tyres for those who really feel racy away from the site visitors lights.

The Ora accelerates easily, and essentially the most aggressive regenerative braking setting is wise at metropolis speeds. It’s a disgrace one-pedal mode is buried in a sub-menu, and must be reactivated each time you flip the automotive on.

One-pedal driving is a key differentiator for electrical automobiles, permitting drivers to make use of regenerative braking to gradual the automobile with out urgent the brake pedal, and it needs to be simpler to entry.

There’s a firm-ish really feel to the suspension, and the steering is faster than within the GWM Ute or Haval merchandise we’ve skilled. It’s nonetheless fairly imprecise round centre, however you gained’t be doing as a lot arm-twirling to fit into tight parking areas right here as in different GWM merchandise.

Regardless of its taut journey, the Ora doesn’t crash and bash over pace bumps or potholes. It does a strong job maintaining the skin world at bay, and hides its 1540kg kerb weight higher than you’d anticipate.

GWM has additionally made progress on the energetic driver help entrance, though there’s nonetheless work to be finished. The driving force monitoring is nowhere close to as hyperactive as earlier than, however the emergency lane-keeping remains to be far too eager to become involved, and the pre-collision brake alert is susceptible to crying wolf.

All of the assists will be turned off, however as soon as once more they’re buried in sub-menus within the touchscreen. GWM is much from alone; one widespread denominator between the Chinese language automobiles on sale in Australia is their busy driver assists.

Get dialled into how the electrical assists function and the Ora is a comparatively snug cruiser – however they’re exhausting to look previous, as a result of they’re so decided to become involved.

Wind noise and roar from the tyres is effectively suppressed, which isn’t all the time the case in inexpensive electrical automobiles. You don’t really feel such as you’re competing with background static when having a dialog with a passenger at excessive speeds, even on rougher Australian nation highways.

What do you get?

Ora Commonplace Vary + Prolonged Vary highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Wi-fi cellphone charger
• Leatherette seats
• 6-way energy driver’s seat
• 4-way energy passenger seat
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Encompass-view digicam
• Adaptive cruise management
• Rear parking sensors

Ora Extremely provides:

• Electrical tailgate
• Panoramic sunroof
• Heated steering wheel
• Driver seat reminiscence operate
• Heated, ventilated, massaging entrance seats

Ora GT provides:

• Distinctive 18-inch alloy wheels
• Distinctive bumpers and grille
• Powered hands-free tailgate
• Panoramic sunroof
• Purple brake calipers
• Heated steering wheel
• Computerized parking

Is the GWM Ora Commonplace Vary protected?

GWM’s electrical hatchback acquired a five-star ANCAP security score, based mostly on Euro NCAP testing performed in 2022.

The GWM Ora acquired an grownup occupant safety score of 92 per cent, a baby occupant safety score of 84 per cent, a weak highway person safety score of 74 per cent, and a security help score of 93 per cent.

Commonplace security tools consists of:

• 7 SRS airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
  • Crossing automobile detection
• Blind-spot help
• Lane departure warning
• Lane maintain help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reverse collision warning
• Visitors signal recognition
• Digital camera-based driver monitoring

How a lot does the GWM Ora Commonplace Vary value to run?

The GWM Ora is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee like the broader vary. The battery is roofed for eight years.

5 years of roadside help and 5 years of capped-price servicing are additionally provided.

The primary 5 providers for the GWM Ora are capped at $99. Logbook servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

CarExpert’s Tackle the GWM Ora Commonplace Vary

There’s some weirdness concerning the Ora, however it’s greater than only a curiosity.

It’s properly outfitted for the value, and there’s enchantment to the warm-hatch-ish method it drives. It’s essentially the most resolved GWM product we’ve pushed, from the journey and dealing with to the (nonetheless overzealous, however much less overzealous) security techniques.

There’s nonetheless a level of polish missing although, that might elevate the Ora from aggressive to compelling. Extra polished inside expertise, an even bigger boot, and a extra accommodating seating place up entrance would go a protracted solution to making the Ora simpler to advocate.

The gulf between Chinese language automobiles and their Korean, Japanese, and European opponents is narrowing within the internal-combustion house, and it feels tighter once more within the electrical automotive market.

The actual fact it appears able to matching its claimed vary in the actual world can be a tick, though we’ll should put it side-by-side with the MG 4 to see which can go additional in real-world situations.

Click on the pictures for the total gallery

MORE: Every part GWM Ora