GWM Ora 03 review

Is the GWM Ora 03 a good car?

The GWM Ora 03 (formally known as the Ora Funky Cat) is a small electric car aimed to challenge the likes of the BYD Dolphin and MG4. It’s pricier than the MG, but it’s being marketed as a more luxurious EV loaded with safety and convenience features.

Like the popular MG4, interior quality could be better, and while it does come in five-door form, the practicality of the 03 is hampered by a small boot. The 03 isn’t all that much fun to drive, with a fidgety ride and uninvolving steering. It is very safe according to Euro NCAP, though, so it should be a reassuring place to put your children. And they’ll probably like its cute looks.

Ora 03: model range, specs and rivals

Making any new car stand out against more established competition is hard, especially when launched by a new-to-market brand trying to secure a foothold in the industry. But it’s fair to say that the GWM Ora Funky Cat caught its fair share of attention just from its name alone. Well, you might have said that, but its rather odd name has now been consigned to the bin, with the tamer title of 03 now being applied to the smallest GWM Ora model. But without an attention-grabbing moniker, what’s left to make you take notice of the 03 over the popular MG4?

To most UK buyers, the car manufacturer GWM Ora will seem unfamiliar. It is, in fact, a sub-brand of Great Wall Motors (hence the GWM part of GWM Ora), the company that brought us the Great Wall Steed pick-up truck back in 2013. Since then, it has diversified from simply being a leading manufacturer of pick-up trucks and SUVs in China to include Ora, a specialist in making fully electric cars. GWM will also introduce the Haval brand to the UK with the hybrid-powered Haval Jolion Pro mid-size SUV.

But back to the electric 03, which has a battery capacity that ranges from 48kWh (45.4kWh useable) for the Pure to 63kWh (59.3kWh useable) for the Pro and GT models. The entry-level model has a range of 193 miles, while the Pro gets up to 260 miles. The top-of-the-range GT cuts this down to 248 miles. Unfortunately, these driving range figures are below what an equivalent MG4 can achieve.

At least you get plenty of standard equipment for your money, because even the base 03 Pure comes with 18-inch alloys, electric front seats, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, rear parking sensors, and wireless phone charging. Stepping up to Pro adds heated front seats, front parking sensors, plus an auto park system and an electric tailgate.

The sporty-looking GT variant adds a unique set of diamond-cut 18-inch alloy wheels, sportier exterior styling treatment, ventilated front seats, a panoramic glass roof, and an all-important heat pump that gives more efficient interior heating in colder weather by utilising waste heat from the electric drive motor.

How much does the Ora 03 cost?

Along with a change of name and a broader range of trim levels, the 03 has had a price cut. The entry-level Pure starts at just under £25,000, while the bigger battery 63kWh Pro trim starts at just under £29,000. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-range GT trim with a heat pump and panoramic glass roof comes in at around £32,000.

Our network of trusted dealers is currently offering discounts on the recommended retail price of a new Ora 03 via our Find a Car service. Alternatively, you can lease an Ora 03 or buy a used Ora 03 (or a used Ora Funky Cat – as it was formally known), all on Auto Express.

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Sadly, the Ora 03 doesn’t match better handling small EV rivals like the MG4 or Renault 5 due to a fidgety low-speed ride and vague steering. The electric motor with 169bhp is nippy enough with a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds in entry-level Pure trim, while the regen brakes offer a single pedal drive mode for maximum efficiency in town. Lots of tyre noise at higher speed spoils its ability to hack long-distance driving. Read more about the Ora 03’s electric motors, performance and drive…

Whether you go for the 193-mile base Pure with a 48kWh battery, or the 260-mile Pro trim with a 63kWh, the Ora 03 comes up short against the MG4. What’s more, insurance costs, when compared with the cheaper to buy Renault 5, are likely to be expensive thanks to the 03 starting in group 26, whereas the R5 is in group 18. Charging times aren’t the best either, which isn’t ideal when you have to go on longer trips. A heat pump only comes as standard on the most expensive GT trim.  Read more about the Ora 03’s range, charging and running costs…

The retro theme of the Ora 03 is evident by the choice of bright two-tone colour options, both inside and out. The dashboard has toggle switches just like a MINI, but it doesn’t have the premium feel of the MINI due to some flimsy-feeling controls and plenty of hard plastic. The infotainment system is hampered in the useability stakes by its small font that’s hard to read at a glance while driving. Read more about the Ora 03’s interior, design and technology…

Priority in terms of the available space inside the Ora 03 has gone to the passengers rather than the boot, because while you can fit adults in both the front and rear seats (albeit with slightly compromised head room for those in the back thanks to the curved roofline of the 03), the 228-litre luggage space of the 03 is more on par with the smaller MINI Cooper than either the MG4 and VW ID.3 that the Ora is closer in size to. You’ll also have to put with a high loading lip that makes putting heavier items inside more awkward than it ought to be.  Read more about the Ora 03 boot space, comfort and practicality…

We don’t yet have enough data to include the brand GWM Ora or the Ora 03 in our annual Driver Power customer satisfaction survey rankings, so we can’t comment on what the ownership experience will be like or how dependable the cars will be. However, the 03 does come with a long five-year, unlimited mileage warranty and five years’ worth of AA breakdown cover to offer peace of mind. Safety experts Euro NCAP have deemed it to be a very safe car, and it comes with all the latest safety assistance technology – although some of its warnings are rather irritating. Read more about the Ora 03’s reliability and safety…

Ora 03 alternatives

The 03 (also known as the Ora Good Cat in other markets) was GWM Ora’s debut model in the UK. It’s a five-door, five-seat small electric car that looks set to challenge the likes of the BYD Dolphin, MG4, MINI Cooper, and Renault 5

The biggest rivals the 03 has to overcome are the established MG4 and incoming Renault 5. The MG is more efficient than the 03 and has a greater range of battery size options, which is important for anyone looking for a car with some long-distance ability. The Renault 5 offers a similar range despite having a smaller battery, and along with more affordable insurance costs, it should be cheaper to run than the 03. It can also be had for less money than a 03, with a starting price of just £23,000.