Thirty four grand for an electric SUV, driveaway. That is the bit that matters. GWM has unveiled the new ORA 5 at the Melbourne Motor Show and, while there is plenty of PR fluff about strategy and momentum, buyers will cut straight to the price list. Lux is $33,990 driveaway, Ultra is $36,990, and that lands like a chair through a showroom window in a market where too many brands still behave as though affordability is an optional extra. We loved ORA, read about it here and see our video review.
According to GWM, the ORA 5 is the next phase of its local electric push. Fine. More important is that this small SUV arrives in June with 150kW, 260Nm, a 58.3kWh LFP battery, up to 430km WLTC range, 120kW DC charging, and enough standard kit to make some established rivals look frightfully complacent. It is larger than the outgoing ORA hatch, more useful, and pitched at ordinary buyers rather than the sort of early adopter who likes talking about charging curves over brunch.
This is also where the Chinese brands keep making life awkward for everyone else. GWM is not trying to sell a halo car or a science project. She is turning up with a cheerful little electric SUV, a decent range claim, a long equipment list, and a price that undercuts the nonsense. If the software is tickety boo and the local cars drive properly, the ORA 5 could be one of the more important EV launches of the year simply because it attacks the one thing buyers still care most about, cost.
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ABOVE: The new GWM ORA 5 in turquoise, plus rear badging, rear seating, front cabin, dashboard, and a rear three quarter exterior view.
What you get
Power comes from a front mounted electric motor with 150kW and 260Nm, which should be ample for city work, suburban schlepping, and the occasional open road dart when somebody in a dual cab decides courtesy is for lesser beings. The 58.3kWh battery claims 430km on WLTC and supports 120kW DC charging, with GWM saying 30 to 80% takes about 20 minutes in ideal conditions. There is also vehicle to load capability up to 6kW, which is plenty for camping gear, a coffee machine, or whatever absurd accessory the lifestyle people insist is essential.
The Lux grade gets a 14.6 inch touchscreen with Coffee OS, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.25 inch instrument cluster, adaptive cruise, a 360 degree camera, seven airbags, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with brake, and a decent slab of active safety gear. Step up to Ultra and you add the glitter, panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, wireless charging, powered tailgate, ambient lighting, and a 9 speaker audio system. That is an awful lot of cuteness for very little dosh.
Why the ORA 5 matters
The ORA 5 matters because it treats affordability as the headline, not an apology. GWM says the new SUV is priced in line with the outgoing ORA hatch despite being larger, more practical, and better equipped. Buyers understand that instantly. Bigger car, same sort of money, more kit, done. Meanwhile, some rivals are still asking luxury money for middling EVs with a tragic options list and enough hard plastic to line a wheelie bin.
Inside, the bigger 2,720mm wheelbase and 362 litre boot should give the ORA 5 a more useful everyday shape than the hatch, while the rounded styling, black roof, and playful detailing keep some personality intact. That matters. People like cars that look chosen, not assigned by committee after a lengthy afternoon of budgetary despair.
The fight ahead
This is not a one off curiosity. GWM says more ORA models are on the way through this year and into 2027, and with the brand already pushing hard in hybrid and plug in hybrid territory, the ORA 5 feels more like a warning shot than a novelty act. If the real world range is decent, if Coffee OS is not as laggy as a damp sponge, and if local buyers take to the cheerful styling, the small EV SUV field is about to get rather awkward for a few very comfortable incumbents.
| Specification | Lux Grade | Ultra Grade |
| Drive-away Price | $33,990 | $36,990 |
| Battery Capacity | 58.3kWh (LFP) | 58.3kWh (LFP) |
| Motor Output | 150kW / 260Nm | 150kW / 260Nm |
| Range (WLTC) | 430km | 430km |
| DC Fast Charge (Max) | 120kW (30-80% in 20m) | 120kW (30-80% in 20m) |
| Length / Wheelbase | 4,471mm / 2,720mm | 4,471mm / 2,720mm |
| Ground Clearance | 175mm | 175mm |
| Kerb Weight | 1,685kg | 1,685kg |
| Boot Capacity | 362L (Rear seats up) | 362L (Rear seats up) |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg (Braked/Unbraked) | 750kg (Braked/Unbraked) |
| Infotainment Screen | 14.6-inch Touchscreen | 14.6-inch Touchscreen |
| Driver Display | 10.25-inch Digital | 10.25-inch Digital |
| Audio System | 6-Speaker Audio | 9-Speaker Audio |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Tailgate | Included | Included |
| Seating | Power Driver (6-way) | Heated/Ventilated (Memory) |
| Climate Control | Single-zone | Dual-zone |
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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