2024 GWM Ora 03 500 EV

The Daily Meow

Of the many Chinese car brands that are currently in the market, I have to say GWM has one of the most interesting vehicle lineups out there.

You may have read about it in my review of the Haval Jolion and Haval H6 crossovers. I’ve had quite positive impressions with their hybrids, particularly in terms of the refinement of the system and how the cars drive. But this time I’ve been handed the keys to their fully electric offering: the Ora 03.

It's called the Good Cat in Thailand and Haomao in China. Will this electric feline also make a good impression?

There was quite a big gap from the time we first saw the Ora 03 until it was launched at MIAS 2024. During that period, other brands have already launched their own EVs in the same price bracket and I was able to try most of them out. So by the time I had the Ora 03, I already knew what to look for and expect from this EV from GWM.

Let's not mince words: the Mini/Porsche inspired design is a refreshing sight, as you see most EVs and other new vehicles are designed with sharp angles and aggressive lines to make for an intimidating look. GWM, on the other hand, and its ex-Porsche designer Emanuel Derta was having none of that with the Ora 03. And I have to say after trying out one crossover after another, it was nice to finally get to review a hatchback like the Ora 03. 

The soft curves, the round headlamps, and the hatchback body make the car look friendly; even my feline-loving girlfriend found the car cute with the unit’s two-tone cream and white combo. That's really what she said.

Personally, I like the way they did the taillight configuration since it clearly stands out on the road. Even though the Ora 03's just as long as my Yaris, it's actually nice they fit in 18-inch wheels on this small hatchback which adds to its flair.

GWM has two variants of the Ora 03. One is the standard 400 version, while this is the top-of-the-line 500 with extra range and a longer list of features. Apart from the two-tone paint job outside, the most visible difference has to be the interior color combination. The standard 400 version is black, but the top-spec is cream and brown.

I prefer the black interior for easier maintenance but I believe the cream and brown with the quilted stitching is a nice matchy-matchy for those with designer bags. But other than that, I still see some references to the Mini with the two-spoke steering wheel and the chrome-plated toggle switches at the center of the dashboard.

As with the Haval H6 and Jolion, the Ora 03 has crisp graphics on its dual-screen display. Smartphone connectivity is nice with the wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, while the speakers provide good sound quality. Given that it’s the top-of-the-line model, you get a panoramic sunroof, automatic parking which I did not bother to try, and interestingly, massage seats in front with heating and ventilation functions.

UX seems to not be too intimidating as well for an EV. Similar to its hybrids, GWM uses a rotary knob for a gear selector. The only thing I wish they did was to place the temperature control on the toggle switches instead of cycling them through the screen’s submenus.

It’s apparent that GWM prioritized space for occupants over cargo space with the Ora 03. There’s ample head and legroom for both front and rear occupants, and I think up to five can sit comfortably since the car is quite wide.

However, space constraints from a 4.2-meter long hatchback leave you with a cargo area that measures around 16 inches long, 38 inches wide, and 30 inches tall with the tonneau cover removed. Fold the rear seats and the cargo length increases to about 53 inches.

The GWM Ora 03 has a 63 kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery. In simpler terms, it has a Lithium ternary battery that powers an electric motor that gives 171 PS and 250 Nm on the front axle. There are three driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) but power delivery is more than enough for everyday driving when you’re just using Normal.

With that much power for an EV hatchback, the Ora 03 can light up its front tires pretty quickly when you stomp the throttle. While I have that at the back of my mind, what really stands out to me is the quality of the ride.

Far too often, EVs have stiff suspension to cope with large battery packs and the Ora 03 does exhibit a bit of firmness in its suspension, but it generally remains relatively plush. Stability over all road surfaces is a major plus, especially for a hatchback. However, there’s quite a bit of body roll when you hustle it through the corners but that’s probably because of the heavy battery affecting the weight transfer. That's why batteries are mounted low to minimize the effect on the center of gravity. At highway speeds, you can notice a bit of tire noise and there’s wind noise coming from the large side mirrors but it’s still very much in tolerable levels. 

Energy consumption in mixed driving conditions gave me about 6.6 km per kWh at 19 km/h average speed. I’ve read the usable battery capacity is around 59.3 kWh, so that would give you around 380 km of range before needing to charge.

Speaking of charging, the Ora 03 comes with its own charger upon purchase but do make sure you have a three-prong plug in your garage or one that’s similar to the plug you use for your home A/C units. We've learned the home charger won't work if you use a socket adaptor and with that, I was not able to check charging times at home. On a 7kW Wallbox AC charger, however, the Ora 03’s batteries charge at a rate of 10% per hour.

As nice as EVs like the Ora 03 are, that’s the reality so far when it comes to owning an electric vehicle in the Philippines. Since there are still very few charging stations around, you really have to consider things such as your location and your garage having a nearby plug for a smooth experience.

When you have to dedicate a day to go to the mall and charge, that’s when things start to get a bit too hassle or complicated. If you're always on the go and you don't have the luxury of installing a wallbox charger at home, then you'd be dreading the times you can't use an EV because it's still charging.

If we simply look at the vehicle itself without factoring in actual ownership, you'll see the GWM Ora 03 has got some nice things going for it. The EV drives well, offers a decent range, and comes well-appointed in terms of features. The retro-modern styling won’t be for everyone, but so are other EVs with conventional designs.

However, for PHP 1,778,000, it’s a bit of a stretch for a hatchback, considering many EV crossovers can already be bought at this price point offering better space, versatility, and added ground clearance that many buyers really like. In my opinion, the standard version with a bit fewer features and a shorter range offers better value at just a little over PHP 1.2 million.

So indeed, the Ora 03 is a good EV in many ways. But with a few more adjustments here and there, it could have been great.