Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

GWM Ora 03 - Electric motor, drive and performance

The GWM Ora 03 is nippy enough, but doesn’t shine on the road with a choppy ride and lazy handling

Electric motor, drive and performance rating

3.0

How we review cars
RRP
£24,395 £32,395
Find your Ora 03
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Both the 48kWh (45.4kWh useable) Pure and 63kWh (59.3kWh) Pro and GT Ora 03 models use exactly the same 169bhp electric motor. All 03 models, like the BYD Dolphin, have front-wheel drive, while its MG4 rival has rear-wheel drive.

Model Power0-62mphTop speed
03 Pure 169bhp8.3 seconds99mph
03 Pro169bhp8.2 seconds99mph
03 GT169bhp8.2 seconds99mph

What is the Ora 03 like to drive? 

In town

From its cute looks and small size, you’d expect the 03 to be a good town car. However, the suspension fidgets a noticeable amount when driving at low speeds, compromising comfort around town. At higher speeds, that feeling persists, although the overall set-up itself doesn’t feel unduly harsh or firm; it’s certainly no worse than in some electric rivals like the MINI Cooper or Renault 5.

Advertisement - Article continues below

A single-pedal driving mode is available, and three further energy recovery modes are selectable via a sub-menu on the touchscreen, while there’s a smooth transition between regeneration and mechanical braking.

On A- and B-roads

There isn’t much compensation for the 03’s firm ride in terms of driving fun beyond the city limits. Look beyond the lack of body lean, and the 03 feels a little lazy and lumpen through the turns and isn’t helped by steering, which offers little to no feedback. It will be fine for most buyers, but ‘fine’ isn’t good enough compared to the MG4 or MINI Cooper. The Pro and GT versions get variable power steering, although we found it to be as light and vague as the standard car’s setup. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

Traction isn’t an 03 strong suit because it is all too easy to light up the front tyres, even on a dry road. That also means you’ll find the available front end grip subsides quickly if you try to push on, which is particularly disappointing in the case of the supposedly sporty GT version, because it isn’t any better to drive than the much cheaper Pure or Pro trims.

On the motorway

Thanks to its electric powertrain, very little noise comes from under the bonnet. Unfortunately, this highlights a fairly pronounced level of tyre roar at higher speeds, which is more audible than in the MG4. 

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

At 8.3 seconds, the 0-62mph time for the 03 48kWh Pure is 0.4 seconds behind the Standard Range MG4. That’ll be barely noticeable in the real world, because electric cars tend to feel sprightly enough around town anyway, thanks to instant power from the electric motor, while the throttle has enough progression in Normal mode to feel easy to modulate. At speeds above 50mph, the acceleration tails off more than in its rival.

The 63kWh Pro and GT models are a little bit quicker at 8.2 seconds despite having no more power compared with the Pure, and a 40kg weight penalty due to additional equipment and a larger capacity 63kWh battery pack. That’s a little bit quicker than the 9.0 seconds it takes an Urban Range Renault 5 to get from 0-62mph, but slightly slower than the more powerful Comfort Range R5, which takes 7.9 seconds to do the same acceleration sprint.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £8,094 off RRP*Used from £13,199
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,649
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

Ford Capri review
Ford Capri - main image

Ford Capri review

In-depth reviews
30 Apr 2025
Skoda Enyaq Coupe review
Skoda Enyaq Coupe - front

Skoda Enyaq Coupe review

In-depth reviews
30 Apr 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025