The GWM Ora 03 is the exact type of electric vehicle (EV) South Africa needs to kickstart widespread adoption of the eco-friendly technology.
It presents the perfect use case for EVs, being compact, noiseless, fun-to-drive city cars rather than continental cruisers or bundu bashers.
It’s also not ridiculously expensive, as it held the accolade of the country’s most affordable EV since November 2023 with a price range of R686,950 to R835,950, which it only recently lost to another newcomer from the East, putting it in line with other premium hatches like the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
While there is certainly still space for burly V6s and snarling V10s and will be for a long time, I can see a world where an electric equivalent like the Ora 03 replaces most commuter cars.
The start of something big
The design of the Ora is one of the most enjoyable aspects of it. I got comments that it looks like a Mini, a VW Beetle, and even a Porsche, with none of these comparisons being particularly outlandish.
You see, GWM contracted Porsche designer Emanuel Derta to pen the Ora 03, so it’s no coincidence it has streaks of two of the VW Group’s most regonisable vehicles running through it.
This range-topping GT model we had on test is a particularly fetching package with its aggressive front bumper, diffuser-style rear bumper, sporty wing, exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, faux carbon fibre accents, and splashes of red all over.
Forward motion in the Ora range is facilitated by a single e-motor between the front wheels pumping out 126kW and 250Nm.
A red light racer it is not but it has an enjoyable nippiness around town. You can have your fun with it and not be majorly concerned about breaking the law, especially in Sport mode where the torque delivery and steering is a smidge more responsive.
The GT model is also the only Ora with launch control which is available when stability control is switched off, but it is actually the slowest of them all at a 0-100km/h time of 8.5 seconds versus its standard siblings’ 8.4 seconds.
This could be an unintended consequence of the more flamboyant GT styling causing extra drag.
I just so happened to drive past one of the country’s most powerful charging stations on my tenure with the GWM and swung by for a top-up and a coffee.
The battery went from 25 to 100% charge in a smidge over one and a half hours – one hour and 32 minutes to be exact – hitting a peak load of 55.5kW. Theoretically, it should be able to support up to 67kW of incoming current, but this is only obtainable under perfect conditions.
Over 12 days and 893km of travels my average energy consumption came out to 18.7kWh/100km, which equates to a maximum driving range of 337km on the 63kWh battery pack – around 16% lower than the 400km GWM claims the GT model can do.
The interior of the Ora is a winner, offering a blend of retro styling and modern chic just like the outer shell.
It features a snazzy two-tone microfibre dashboard, a floating centre console with a stylish rotary gear selector and striped finish, GT-brandedicrofibre seats with flashy red seatbelts, and a row of aeroplane-style switches below the central display for vital functions.
Atop the dash sits a wide-screen display consisting of two 10.25-inch screens for all your driving data and infotainment needs, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included, and on the centre console is a wireless smartphone charger.
The flagship model also provides seat ventilation and very unexpectedly but highly welcome at this price point, massaging seats. While you don’t use them that often, they are enjoyable on the way back home after a long day at the office or a tiring gym session.
You don’t sit as deep in the Ora as with other hatchbacks owing to the big battery between the seat and the tarmac, but there is plenty of room and an abundance of storage pockets for all your wares.
Boot space comes in at a not-amazing 228 litres, but the seats fold down to allow a maximum of 858 litres of storage.
This GWM doesn’t feel hastily put together. The doors are weighty, the handles and buttons are firm, the materials are premium to the touch, and the cabin is decently insulated from the racket of the outside world despite having no engine noises to drown it out.
A standout feature I enjoyed was the power cutoff switch located next to the driver’s right knee.
Plenty of EVs do not have physical on/off switches since they power up or down when you press the lock button on the key, so there’s always that gnawing thought in the back of your head that they are still drawing power when you’re gone.
The cutoff switch in the GWM alleviates those fears completely.
As with most modern EVs, though, the Ora is not perfect.
The central display can be uncooperative at times and the small buttons are hard to press while you’re driving.
You also have to retune your driver assistance preferences with every trip as they all reset to factory settings once the car is locked and turned off, no matter how long it lies dormant.
Most of these things can be addressed through a quick over-the-air software update, so hopefully GWM will tend to them sooner rather than later.
GWM Ora 03 400 GT Ultra Luxury
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