GWM has relaunched the Ora brand in South Africa with the Ora 5 compact SUV. It runs on the GWM One flexible platform with various powertrain offerings, such as petrol, hybrid and electric.
Previously, with the introduction of the Ora 3, a compact hatch that was once the cheapest EV in SA at launch, Ora was an EV-only brand. Now it covers ICE, HEV, and EV.
Floyd Ramabulana, head of Marketing at GWM South Africa says that by offering three powertrains at launch, they are giving South African motorists genuine choice within a highly competitive compact SUV segment.
“The Ora 5 combines modern design, advanced technology and everyday practicality in a package that we believe will resonate strongly with local customers,” says Ramabulana.
New design and colours
The company said it took customer feedback from the Ora 3 seriously, which was addressed on the Ora 5. It is now a compact SUV that’s 4,471mm in length with a 2,720mm wheelbase and a larger 362L boot.
The cabin space inside is notably larger than the Ora 3 but features the same signature round LED headlights and design. The vehicle has roof rails and a spare wheel as standard.
Apart from a standard black, white, silver, matte and shiny grey, it comes in three additional popping shades: emerald green, lake blue and pink, with green being its launch colour that can be seen at GWM dealerships.
Tech and safety
When it comes to technologies, the Ora 5 offers great value throughout the range, with standard features like 360-degree parking cameras, tyre pressure monitoring system, reverse radar parking sensors, voice controls, 6 speakers and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.
There’s also a 14.6-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, USB-A and C slots in the front and another USB-C in the back. The infotainment system is powered by 7nm chip with 16GB of RAM and 128GB of memory and runs on GWM’s latest Coffee OS 3 operating system.
The system supports customisable widgets, a fixed dock for quick access vehicle controls, day and night display modes, and a quick settings page for most used controls.
Safety features include, but not limited to, six airbags (dual front, side curtain, front side), ABS, hill hold control, speed-sensing door locks, automatic unlock after collision, tyre pressure monitoring system and intelligent braking force distribution.
ICE, HEV and EV
The base ICE model 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine delivers 105kW and 210Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed DCT transmission, while the HEV is a 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a combined output of 164kW and 476Nm of torque.
It is the most powerful in the line-up; the system automatically switches between electric, hybrid, engine and regenerative braking for maximum efficiency.
The BEV offering has an electric motor with an output of 150kW and 260Nm of torque. It has a 58.3kWh lithium-ion battery with 520km of range (NEDC figures). It has an intelligent battery management system to regulate temperature, charging and cell performance for maximum efficiency.
EV Charging and Speeds
The Ora 5 EV variant supports 6.6kW AC charging speeds on single phase power, and 11kW AC on three phase power. DC charging speeds reach a maximum of 120kW.
It also has vehicle-to-load (V2L) support of 6.6.kW to power home appliances and gadgets. Most EVs we’ve seen to date support a maximum of 3.3kW.
Super Luxury vs Ultra Luxury
All 3 models come with two trim levels, which are denoted in the Super Luxury and Ultra Luxury pricing. They are as follows:
What GWM has done is structured so that customers who buy the base petrol model can still get the luxury benefits instead of choosing a top of the range EV, considering most customers are not ready to make the switch. Every model has a base price, while an additional R50 000 will get you the extras.
@nafisaakabor @GWM South Africa is back with the Ora 5, now in petrol, hybrid and EV. Price starts at R365 000 (petrol), R425 000 (hybrid) and R550 000 (EV). Available in 8 colours, even pink! What’s your pick? Powered by @Naked Insurance #SouthAfrica #ORA5EV ♬ original sound – Nafisa | Tech & Travel
Pricing and Warranty
The Ora 5 is currently available at select GWM dealerships nationwide and comes with a 7 year/200 000km warranty, 8 year/150 000km high-voltage battery warranty and a 7 year/75 000km service plan.
Service intervals are at 12 months or 15 000km while roadside assistance is a standard 7 years.
For more information, visit the GWM South Africa website.
Ora 5 EV vs. competitors
The GWM Ora 5 EV is priced between the R500 000 – R600 000 bracket, which means it goes head to head with other Chinese EVs, such as the iCaur V23 with 100kW of power and 360km of range, which starts R520 000 for the 2WD model, and the Dongfeng 06 E3 with 120kW of power and 470km of range, which will sell for R579 000.
Lastly is the BYD Dolphin with 70kW of power and 310km of range, which sells for around R540 000. The Ora 5 BEV is more powerful at 150kW and a claimed 520km of range, starting at R549 900.
Recharged is an independent site that focuses on technology, electric vehicles, and the digital life by Nafisa Akabor. Drawing from her 19-year tech journalism career, expect news, reviews, how-tos, comparisons, and practical uses of tech that are easy to digest. Nafisa is a traveller at heart, having been to 46 countries and counting. Find her edutainment videos covering tech, EVs and travel on TikTok.
