GWM Ora 5 BEV, from R549 900
One body, three powertrains. GWM's new Ora 5 is available as petrol, hybrid, or fully electric — we're focused purely on the BEV. Strong WLTP range, fast charging, and a full spec breakdown below.
The GWM Ora 5 BEV — one platform, shared with petrol and hybrid siblings.
One design, three drivetrains
The GWM Ora 5 arrived in South Africa in July 2026, and it takes a different approach from GWM's earlier Ora 03. Rather than a dedicated EV-only model, the Ora 5 is built on GWM's flexible "ONE" platform — the exact same body, cabin, and dimensions available as a turbopetrol, a hybrid, or a fully electric BEV. Six derivatives make up the full range, starting at R364 900 for the entry petrol model. This post focuses purely on the two electric BEV grades: Super Luxury and Ultra Luxury.
Super Luxury vs Ultra Luxury BEV
For reference, the full range also includes 1.5T petrol models from R364 900 and hybrid (HEV) models from R424 900 — all sharing the same body and cabin as the BEV.
A genuinely strong WLTP figure
Both BEV grades share the same 58.33 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, built by SVOLT — GWM's own in-house battery division. GWM claims 520 km on the NEDC cycle, but the more useful number for real-world planning is the WLTP figure GWM has also published: 440 km. That's a genuinely strong result in this segment — even with some real-world discount for winter driving, load, and highway speeds, this is a car that can realistically handle provincial road trips without range being the main concern.
150 kW, front-wheel drive only
A single front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor produces 150 kW and 260 Nm across both BEV grades. That's a healthy step up over most budget EVs in the South African market — more power than the Geely E2, BYD Dolphin Surf, and the entry iCaur V23. There's no all-wheel-drive option on the BEV range; power goes to the front wheels only.
Faster than most of the segment
This is where the Ora 5 BEV genuinely stands out. AC charging runs at 6.6 kW on single-phase power, or up to 11 kW on three-phase — most budget EV rivals cap out at 6.6 kW flat. DC fast charging peaks at 120 kW, well ahead of the 60–85 kW typical of this price bracket. There's also a standout V2L (vehicle-to-load) rating of 6.6 kW — double the 3.3 kW most competitors offer, meaning higher-draw appliances and tools can run comfortably straight off the battery.
What both grades offer, and what Ultra Luxury adds
Both grades (standard)
Shared equipment- 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- Automatic climate control, 2nd row vents
- Synthetic leather seats, heated fronts
- Panoramic glass roof
- 50W wireless phone charging
- Hands-free electric tailgate
- 360-degree panoramic camera
- Adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring
- 6 airbags
Ultra Luxury adds
+R50 000 over Super Luxury- Ventilated front seats (in addition to heating)
- Multi-colour rhythmic ambient lighting
- Heat pump air conditioning — more efficient, protects real-world range in winter
- Additional premium interior touches per GWM's spec sheet
GWM Ora 5 BEV spec sheet
Powertrain & battery
| Motor layout | Single motor, front-wheel drive |
| Motor type | Permanent magnet synchronous |
| Power | 150 kW |
| Torque | 260 Nm |
| Battery | 58.33 kWh LFP (SVOLT) |
| Claimed range (NEDC) | 520 km |
| Claimed range (WLTP) | 440 km |
Charging
| AC charging (single-phase) | 6.6 kW |
| AC charging (three-phase) | 11 kW |
| DC fast charging (max) | 120 kW |
| Vehicle-to-load (V2L) | 6.6 kW |
Dimensions
| Length | 4 471 mm |
| Width | 1 833 mm |
| Height | 1 641 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2 720 mm |
| Tyre size | 225/60 R18 |
| Boot space | Up to ~1 060 litres, seats folded (confirm exact BEV-trim figure with dealer) |
Interior & tech
| Touchscreen | 14.6-inch, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| Instrument cluster | 10.25-inch digital |
| Audio | 6-speaker system |
| Wireless charging | 50 W |
| Seats | Synthetic leather, heated (both grades); ventilated (Ultra Luxury) |
Safety
| Airbags | 6 (dual front, front-side, curtain) |
| ADAS | Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, forward collision warning & AEB |
| Camera | 360-degree panoramic view, reverse radar parking sensors |
| Stability | ESC, traction control, hill hold control |
| Child seats | ISOFIX anchors |
Warranty & ownership
| Vehicle warranty | 7 years / 200 000 km |
| High-voltage battery warranty | 8 years / 150 000 km |
| Roadside assistance | 7 years / unlimited km |
| Service plan | 7 years / 75 000 km |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 15 000 km |
What stands out, and what to watch for
Strengths
- Strong WLTP range — 440 km is genuinely competitive
- Fast charging across the board: 11kW AC, 120kW DC
- Powerful 6.6kW V2L output, double most rivals
- Strong, well-rounded 7-year warranty package
- Shared platform with petrol/hybrid siblings — familiar servicing
Drawbacks
- No AWD option across the BEV range
- Pricier than the budget-EV segment — a step up, not a direct rival to the cheapest EVs
- Boot capacity not clearly broken out per BEV trim locally
- No frunk — shared platform with combustion models
Full walkaround & review
↑ Watch the full GWM Ora 5 BEV review on the ChargeGoEV YouTube channel.
Common questions
Watch the full review
We put the GWM Ora 5 BEV through its paces on the ChargeGoEV channel — price, specs, real-world range, and everything in between.
