WeeklySA_AdminORA 5: With its flowing curves and bold LED lighting, every detail seems to have been crafted to create a compact SUV that’s difficult to ignore…
By Ali Mphaki
When it comes to the all-new Ora 5, what you see is what you get! Try as it may, the newcomer from GWM makes no pretensions – its designed to be noticed.
With a bold, contemporary design and cutting-edge innovation at its core, the Ora 5 combines striking style, intelligent technology, and performance in one seamless driving experience.
From its flowing curves and bold LED lighting to its expansive panoramic glass roof, every detail seems to have been crafted to create a compact SUV that’s impossible to ignore.
No doubt the new Ora 5 brings some colour to the city with every journey in this compact SUV most decidedly a moment to stand out. Of the different hues on offer, take Brilliant Rose for instance.
This eye-catching pastel pink hue is usually paired with a contrasting black roof and pairs quirky, Porsche-esque curves with modern, tech focused utility. There is also the eye-catching emerald green to choose from,
Of the models on offer, buyers have a choice of three distinct powertrains; a 1.5L turbo-petrol, a self-charging hybrid (HEV and a fully electric (BEV) version.
The 105kW petrol engine produces 210 Nm of torque, and the 164kW hybrid powertrain delivers 476 Nm (making it one of the most powerful self-charging hybrids on the market), while the 150 kW fully electric powertrain with a 58.3 kWh battery generates 260 Nm, giving you a range of up to 520 km. from a dynamic 105 kW petrol engine producing 210 Nm of torque, an impressive 164 kW hybrid powertrain delivering 476 Nm, or a powerful 150 kW fully electric powertrain generating 260 Nm, giving you a range of up to 520 km.
Lest we forget, the Ora 5 is an evolution of the brand’s compact SUV lineup, sitting slightly larger than the Haval Jolion. It’s also bigger than the electric Ora 3, measuring 4,471mm long, 1,833mm wide and 1,641mm tall.
Inside you get immersed into a minimalistic and upscale cabin featuring a massive 14.6-inch central touchscreen boasting a design with a distinct retro/futuristic cues and clever storage. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included and standard niceties on higher trims include heated and ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera.
Notably the Ora 5 is more spacious than the Ora 3 for with plenty of legroom for adults.
The range comes with six airbags as standard and an extensive suite of active and passive driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, ABS, and traction control, amongst others.
While the Ora 5 is comfortable, it does have a few drawbacks, especially when it comes to boot space which is relatively small for its class offering 362 litres of luggage space.
Is the Ora 5 worth buying?
According to Top Gear for most buyers,yes, particularly in HEV guise.
The original Ora 3 always felt like a car that was a good idea, which was ahead of its time for the South African market. While it was the most affordable EV when it launched, asking buyers to jump straight into a fully electric car proved to be a tough sell. With the Ora 5, GWM seems to have finally read the room by offering it in different powertrain options.
With what the Ora 5 brings to the table, it’s a very credible alternative to the established players in SA’s compact crossover segment.
The GWM Ora 5 is sold across six distinct variants in South Africa, all backed by a 7-year/200,000 km warranty and a 7-year/75,000 km service plan:
· 1.5T Super Luxury DCT: R364,900
· 1.5T Ultra Luxury DCT: R409,900
· 1.5T HEV Super Luxury DHT: R424,900
· 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury DHT: R474,900
· Super Luxury BEV: R549,900
