GWM Ora 5 Plus EV to take on Tesla, BYD in 2027

GWM Australia has confirmed a second electric mid-size SUV for early next year, as the Chinese brand continues its product onslaught.

Due in the first quarter of 2027, the GWM Ora 5 Plus EV will sit alongside the also-confirmed GWM Haval Jolion Max, which will be sold with PHEV and EV powertrains.

While not officially revealed in Australian-spec just yet, the Ora 5 Plus sold in Thailand appears to be an export version of the Ora 5 Touring revealed in Chinese government filings back in August.

In Thailand the Ora 5 Plus is available with electric (EV) and petrol-electric hybrid (HEV) powertrains like the smaller Ora 5 SUV, though in Australia it appears both Ora models will be EV-only at least for the time being.

Measuring 4758mm long, 1833mm wide and 1630mm tall riding on a 2720mm wheelbase, the GWM Ora 5 Plus is almost 300mm longer in overall length than the existing Ora 5, but retains the same width and wheelbase.

It appears all of the Ora 5 Plus's extra size is in the extended rear overhang, which opens up 495L of cargo capacity according to Thai specifications, compared to the Australian-market Ora 5's 362L boot.

Under the skin of the EV version is a 150kW/260Nm electric motor on the front axle, fed by a 58.3kWh battery with up to 520km of NEDC driving range that's described as "lithium-ion" on the Thai spec sheet, though the Australian-market Ora 5 EV has a 58.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

For reference, it's also the same powertrain specification confirmed for the GWM Haval Jolion Max EV, though WLTP range points to somewhere closer to 400-450km rather than over 500km.

While pricing and specifications for the Australian-market Ora 5 Plus EV will be confirmed closer to its first-quarter (January-March) local release, the standard Ora 5 EV starts from $33,990 drive-away for the base Lux, and $36,990 drive-away for the top-spec Ultra.

Even if the Ora 5 Plus commands a premium of a few grand over its smaller sibling, GWM's sharp pricing strategy of late points to a sub-$40,000 D/A starting point for the Ora 5 Plus EV, which would make it one of, if not the most affordable mid-size electric SUVs on sale in Australia.

As for the Thai-market 'Hi2' hybrid or the Chinese-market plug-in hybrid, it's understood the non-EV versions of Ora's products are not on the immediate radar for Australia at this point in time.

GWM currently has no direct competitor to the likes of the top-selling Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7 electric SUVs, let alone the more budget-focused Geely EX5 and Leapmotor C10.

MORE: Explore the GWM Ora 5 showroom