GWM Ora 5 small SUV locked in for Australia, electric and hybrid powertrains on the cards

The GWM Ora 5 SUV has been confirmed for an Australian launch mid-this year, and could be the first hybrid under the expanding Ora sub-brand.

While the current Ora (badged as Ora 03 overseas) introduced here in 2023 has been sold only with a battery-electric powertrain, the Ora 5 has been launched overseas with electric and hybrid options.

The five-seat Ora 5 will sit above the Ora electric hatch with the same exterior design language draped over a bigger SUV body offering 175mm of ground clearance and more cabin space.

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Sitting on a 2720mm wheelbase, the Ora 5 is 4471mm long, 1833mm wide and 1641mm tall, making it similar in size to the MG S5 EV SUV and marginally bigger than the BYD Atto 2 electric SUV.

The Ora 5 uses the GWM ONE platform, which the automaker has said will underpin more than 50 upcoming models and can handle battery-electric, hybrid and internal combustion powertrains.

While the Ora 5 is confirmed for local showrooms, GWM Australia hasn’t confirmed what the local powertrain lineup will be like. The company is investigating the possibility of offering both electric and hybrid powertrains in local showrooms.

In Thailand, where both EV and hybrid versions of the Ora 5 have been launched, introductory prices see the EV start at ฿629,000 ($27,638) while the hybrid kicks off at ฿729,000 ($32,032).

This puts it around the same price as the Jaecoo J5 in Thailand, which is currently one of Australia’s cheapest EVs with a base price of $35,888 before on-road costs. The BYD Atto 2 starts at $31,990 before on-roads in Australia.

The Ora 5 EV uses a 150kW/260Nm front-mounted electric motor with a 58.3kWh lithium-ion battery and claimed 520km (NEDC) range.

DC fast-charging is offered at a rate of up to 120kW, while the Ora 5 EV also has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.

The hybrid Ora 5 runs a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) with a front-axle motor for a combined 164kW/476Nm.

With its 1.09kWh lithium-ion battery, the Thai-market hybrid’s fuel efficiency is a claimed 23.3km/L, which equates to 4.29L/100km.

The Ora 5 has four-wheel disc brakes and multi-link independent rear suspension.

Standard equipment on Thai-market models includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and keyless entry.

Inside, there are power-adjustable front seats, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch centre touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a surround-view camera, as well as a ‘cooling box’ and an emergency call function.

Available features include ventilated front seats with memory, ambient lighting, and a wireless phone charger.

Adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and lane centring are standard in Thai-market models, with blind-spot monitoring and front- and rear cross-traffic assist optional.

While GWM switched to Thai sourcing for the Ora hatch in 2025, it’s expected the Ora 5 SUV will be sourced from China.

Earlier this year, GWM said the current Ora electric hatch will be joined by “at least” two other Ora-branded models – part of a broader new model onslaught – and confirmed it’s potentially introducing hybrid technology to the Ora range.

The second Ora-badged model could be the Ora Sport electric sedan, with a China-market example exhibited to Australian media in 2024 and a wagon version having been added to the Chinese lineup since.

Ora was established in China as an EV-only brand, and the Ora 5 is its first vehicle to offer a non-electric powertrain.

After phenomenal growth in Australia, GWM is targeting 75,000 sales a year as it aims to become a top five automaker here, having sold 52,809 in 2025.

After the first two months of 2026, GWM currently sits seventh overall with 9,198 sales – up 28 per cent year-on-year – in a close battle with BYD (10,324) as the best-selling Chinese brand.

MORE: Explore the GWM Ora showroom