Great Wall Motors has officially introduced the all-new Ora 5 to the South African market, a compact crossover SUV that arrives with a choice of three distinct powertrain configurations. The model, which replaces the battery-electric Ora 3, is now available in petrol, hybrid, and fully electric derivatives, marking a shift in strategy for the brand as it seeks to offer greater flexibility to local buyers.
The quite distinctive design prompted a passer-by to stop where I was taking some pictures on the launch drive and enquire if it was a new Porsche – and then stayed to closely examine the Ora, remarking: “Wow, I like this.”
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The Ora 5 has been engineered on GWM’s ONE platform, an architecture designed to accommodate multiple propulsion technologies while maintaining the refinement and practicality expected from a modern compact SUV.
The vehicle is also the first production model to win the Automotive Product Design category at the 2025 London Design Awards.
The interior is equipped with GWM’s latest Coffee OS infotainment system, featuring a 14,6-inch touchscreen display and a 10,25-inch digital instrument cluster, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity offered as standard. Safety specifications include six crash bags and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems.
The range begins with the petrol-powered variants, which use a 1,5-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder engine producing 105 kW and 210 Nm of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The hybrid electric models combine the same engine with an electric motor to produce a combined system output of 164 kW and 476 Nm, featuring a dedicated hybrid transmission.
At the top of the range, the battery electric vehicle variant is powered by a front-mounted electric motor generating 150 kW and 260 Nm, with a 58,3-kWh lithium-ion battery providing a claimed NEDC range of 520 kilometres on a single charge.
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GWM South Africa head of marketing, Floyd Ramabulana, emphasised that the multi-powertrain lineup was designed to give customers genuine choice in a competitive segment.
“By offering three powertrains at launch, we 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.”
On the launch I had the opportunity to drive the petrol and hybrid versions and, based on performance specification, the hybrid is certainly the pick of the bunch – but that choice depends entirely on personal need.
On the road the petrol derivative performs well enough for everyday needs and will more than happily transport the family to any holiday destination. If I was to be a bit picky, the gearing is a little bit long and it tends to hold the chosen gear well into the upper end of the rev range.
The hybrid obviously has that that delicious instant power and torque from take-off or for overtaking acceleration along with genuine fuel-saving and its road performance returned a good sense of sportiness combine with the practicality.
The interior of all the models is tasteful, neat and the accommodations more than comfortable enough for long-haul travel. The touchscreen is easy to navigate and comes with a minimise ‘button’ that brings up the main menu along the bottom so you do not have to exit the screen you are in to make a change.
Equally good news is functions such as lane change assist, if turned off, stay that way even after the vehicle is switched off.
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Below the screen is a row of buttons that operate the air-conditioning and are ‘borrowed’ from the Spotlight tie-up between GWM and BMW that sees the Chinese company manufacturing MINI electric models in China – so yes, they are MINI switches.
Whatever the power choice, ride, handling and overall comfort were excellent.
Pricing for the new GWM Ora 5 range starts at R364 900 for the 1.5T Super Luxury DCT and rises to R409 900 for the Ultra Luxury DCT. The HEV variants are priced from R424 900 to R474 900, while the fully electric models are offered from R549 900 for the Super Luxury BEV to R599 900 for the Ultra Luxury BEV. The vehicles are sold with a seven-year or 200 000 km warranty, an eight-year or 150 000 km battery warranty for the BEV models, and a seven-year or 75 000 km service plan.
While not revealing any details, Ramabulana did say the Ora 5 was just the beginning of a major product onslaught by GWM with a number of new products scheduled for launch next year.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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