GWM Ora 03 Review 2026

Several Chinese brands have taken the opportunity to launch their wares in the UK largely on the back of increasing numbers of consumers switching to electric cars. While some — BYD and Jaecoo, in particular — have rapidly fostered a loyal following, others have so far proven less successful at vying for buyers' attention, including GWM. Can its fortunes be turned around with rename and lower prices for its smallest model? Find out with our full GWM Ora 03 review.

Should the snappily titled book 'How to successfully launch a new car brand to British consumers' ever be published, the chances are that there won't be a chapter devoted to the GWM Ora 03. Unless it includes a case study about how not to do it...

That's a pity because the Ora 03 is fundamentally decent and exactly the kind of small, inexpensive EV that many consumers want. While it has a couple of notable drawbacks we'll explore later, the GWM's potential has so far been scuppered by the most senior levels of management's decisions.

It was launched as the GWM Ora Funky Cat — a kooky choice, certainly, but unusual names have long been a marketing ploy of new players on the automotive scene, as witnessed by dozens of models including the Dacia Denem, the Datsun Cherry and the Hyundai Pony, among various others.

Given the cutesy MINI Cooper Electric-meets-Porsche 911 styling — with a dash of the Mk2 Renault Megane's tail-end sassiness at the back — the Funky Cat tag felt appropriate. Yet the firm's marketeers decided it was off-putting for some would-be consumers, switching to the santisised GWM Ora 03 label after a year. It's hardly shot up the sales charts since.

More of a fundamental issue was its initially high pricing, which screamed 'premium product' without any effort made to generate brand equity in consumers' minds that enabled them to see the Ora 03 and automatically think 'upmarket small hatchback'. BMW worked on that for years with MINI — GWM found out there's no shortcut the hard way.

Cost concerns about the GWM Ora 03 have largely been redressed thanks to heavy, Electric Car Grant (ECG)-aping discounting rather than permanently realigned prices. How long they will remain available is unclear, yet while they exist it means the cheaper models are comparable with the Citroen e-C3 and the sought-after Renault 5 E-Tech.

It's also usefully less expensive than both the BYD Dolphin — another Chinese brand, but one which is very much still playing the unusual name game — and the MG 4 EV. Size-wise, those cars are fairer comparisons for the Ora 03 as it's larger than its looks suggest, being closer to the Volkswagen ID.3 than it is the smaller VW ID.Polo.

Once inside the GWM Ora 03 two factors immediately become apparent — its generous passenger space front and rear, plus the generally high standard of finish, with good quality materials used for most surfaces where your hands come into contact.

While the interior roominess is welcome, it comes at the expense of boot space. Its seats-up capacity of just 228 litres is pitiful for a car the Ora 03's size and will likely prove audience-limiting.

Its twin-screen dashboard arrangement follows current trends for driver's display and infotainment access, with a handful of physical switches and buttons dotted around — frustratingly not for altering the climate control's temperature, though. 

As per today's norms, the multimedia interface is also where you can tailor the Ora 03's various electronic driver aids. GWM has evidently made them less intrusive than they were on the earliest Funky Cats, yet you will experience more bings, bongs and verbalised messages here than in almost any other car on sale. It soon becomes tiresome.

Regardless of which version of the GWM Ora 03 you choose, all have the same front-mounted 171PS electric motor, delivering near identical performance — including for the sportier-looking GT version. Unless you crave that muscular aesthetic, the less expensive Pure and Pro are models are wiser choices, with the appeal of the former limited due to its smaller battery. 

Undemanding best sums-up the GWM Ora 03 driving experience is undemanding, with decent ride comfort across a variety of road surfaces, but precious little in the way of driver engagement. It's unlikely to be a satisfying choice for enthusiastic drivers.

That won't matter to most potential buyers, of course — the GWM Ora 03's good driving range figures, high levels of equipment and finish for the money, plus its eccentric styling, will be of greater importance. In those regards it's a pleasing choice.

The more immediate issue is that most of those potential buyers likely have no idea that the GWM Ora 03 exists.

GWM Ora 03: Range and charging times

According to the official WLTP Combined cycle tests, the GWM Ora 03 with the greatest driving range potential is the Pro model. It, like the Ora 03 GT benefits from having a 63kWh battery, although the sportier-looking version's additional equipment and less aerodynamic exterior modifications count against it, reducing the maximum to 248 miles.

In real-world driving conditions you can typically expect around 200-220 miles, assuming a mixture of speeds for times of the year where temperatures remain comfortably above freezing point.

Fitted solely to the entry-level Ora 03 Pure is a smaller 48kWh battery pack, providing an official range claim of 193 miles. If your driving mainly consists of urban-speed runs, you'll likely get close to, if not exceed that figure, but over a mixture of road types at higher speeds, 150-160 miles is closer to reality.

Using a typical, dedicated AC wallbox charger the Ora 03 with the 48kWh battery should take around 5 hours and 24 minutes to recharge from 15-80%. That caveat also applies to the larger 63kWh alternative which is quoted at 7 hours and 12 minutes.

Continuing with the same state-of-charge estimations, rapid DC charging is limited to a modest rate of 64kW, despite GWM's website making confusing reference to being plugged-in to a 100kW public charger. When its necessary to use such a device, the smaller battery will take about 42 minutes (and 30 seconds!), the larger one being slightly longer at 48 minutes.

In keeping with the GWM Ora 03’s friendly looks, the driving experience is geared towards comfort and safety, rather than entertainment.

Its suspension springing errs to the softer side of being balanced, meaning the majority of road surface imperfections are dealt with easily, limiting disturbance in the cabin. The car is equally happy in town driving or out on the open road, comfort-wise.

The downside of this approach is that the Ora 03 displays a fair amount of body lean when cornering at speed, similarly feeling floaty over undulating sections of road.

There's no real sense of connection between the front wheels and your hands through the steering, but its lightness makes it a doddle to twiddle around city streets — it's a shame the turning circle isn't tighter than 11.25m to make the most of it. That lack of feedback isn't disconcerting on a windier B-road as you quickly develop faith in the GWM's behaviour, it just lacks qualities to sate enthusiastic drivers. 

For the most part, the Ora 03's budget-priced Giti tyres deliver acceptable levels of traction, but they can come unstuck — literally — on wet surfaces when accelerating hard away from a standing start, with wheelspin aplenty. 

Three levels of regenerative braking modes are provided, as well as a one-pedal driving mode, which makes it easy to tailor the operation of the system for personal taste. 

Although the electric drive system is fairly quiet, wind and tyre noise become more prominent above urban speeds, preventing the Ora 03 from matching better rivals for overall refinement.

All versions of the GWM Ora 03 deliver the same outputs, with 171PS and 250Nm of torque coming from a single electric motor propelling the front wheels. There's no extra power for the GT version.

Drive is selected by a single-speed transmission which is essentially used in the same way as you would a conventional automatic.

All versions of the Ora 03 have the same electronically capped top speed of 99mph. Pure models achieve the 0-62mph benchmark in 8.3 seconds with both the Pro and GT reaching the same benchmark a tenth of a second faster.

The generous torque figure means the GWM accelerates with relative ease, particularly from lower speeds, although a determined prod of the accelerator will cause the traction control to activate and it does so quite abruptly, which can be rather irritating.

While the Ora 03 is also more leisurely at higher speeds, not feeling remotely out of its depth on motorways, acceleration notably tails off above 50mph.

Euro NCAP crash-tested the GWM Ora 03 in 2022 and awarded it a full five stars, with a 92% rating for adult occupant protection, 83% for child occupant protection, 74% for vulnerable road user mitigation and 93% for safety assist.

All versions of the Ora 03 have a comprehensive suite of safety systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and departure warning, automatic emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alert.

Several of the GWM Ora 03’s driver assistance systems are particularly annoying, not least the driver attention monitor, the sensor for which is mounted on the inner windscreen pillar. Even a brief glance away to adjust the climate control temperature triggers a verbal warning to pay attention.

Even more grating are the repeated verbal confirmations each and every time the adaptive cruise control is activated or paused, accompanied by a large on-screen reminder. If the driver's wits are such that they cannot remember turning the system on or off microseconds beforehand, perhaps driving isn't a good idea for them full stop. 

These kind of quirks can easily be rectified by over-the-air software updates. While several of the driver aids behave more naturally and progressively now than when the Funky Cat first went on sale, that constant vocal reminders are still a thing is baffling.

One of the most appealing elements of the GWM Ora 03 is that it offers a bigger body compared to many of its similarly-priced rivals, which could make it an attractive choice for buyers looking to maximise interior space on a budget.

Front-seat occupants have plenty of room to spare with excellent headroom and legroom, while shoulder room is more than ample. Its large glazed area and low-set dashboard further bolster the sense of space. 

Attaining a comfortable driving position is a doddle thanks to the Ora 03's standard-fit electrically adjustable seats, although you need at least the Pro model for them to also feature a memory function which includes the door mirrors. Tallking of which, their large glass area ensures sound rearward visibility.

While the GWM's steering wheel position can also be altered, none of them ensures an uninterupted view of the display screens.

In the rear, there is also good space for a couple of passengers, with impressive legroom that allows a six-foot-tall occupant to sit behind someone of the same height without their kneecaps grinding into the front seatback.

Less satisfying is the elevated height of the floor, which features a shallow hump in the middle. Taller folk with the feet flat upon it will find that their knees are raised more than is ideal, causing their thighs to be unsupported by the seat cushion.

There's little shape and scalloping to the rear bench, which could be advantageous to whoever draws the short straw and sits in the middle position. Its cushion is a little higher than the outer positions, meaning whoever's sat there is even more acutely aware of how much the roofline drops away at the back, impinging on headroom.

Nevertheless, the Ora 03 is a relatively compact car, so it's inevitably going to feel a squeeze with three abreast, especially if child seats are affixed to the Isofix points hidden behind a vanity flap of upholstery on the outer positions.

Behind those lurks one of the GWM Ora 03's most significant drawbacks — its tiny 228-litre boot capacity when loaded to parcel shelf height. Not only is it small, it's frustingly impractical because of the bulging shape of the rear-end styling, meaning even if you remove the tiny luggage cover, carrying taller items with the rear seats in place is nigh-on impossible.

Its loading sill is also high, with nothing to protect the bumper's paintwork when struggling with heavier cargo. There's then a drop again inside as the Ora 03's boot floor height can't be varied. Beneath it is a moulded infill containing the puncture repair kit and other sundries, but no dedicated space for your charging cables — they have to reside in a bag within the boot as there's no under-bonnet frunk, either.

Lowering the 60/40-split rear seatback expands the volume potential to a still-modest 858 litres when loaded to ceiling height, although in this configuration other grumbles surface. Not only don't the GWM's folded seats lie horizontally, they're also on a different plane to the boot floor.

Sliding longer, weightier items into it is a faff to say the least. Assuming they fit through the small tailgate opening in the first place.

Compared with rivals, the Ora 03 is found wanting. BYD's Dolphin provides 364 litres of space with the rear seats up and 1329 litres with them folded, while the dinkier Citroen e-C3 serves-up 310 litres and 1188 litres respectively.

Even the Renault 5 E-Tech's boot is more capacious than the GWM's. Depending on the specification, the seats-up volume is 285-326 litres, expanding to 1065-1106 litres when folded.

Storage for odds and ends in the Ora 03's passenger compartment is okay, but nothing to write home about. There are front seatback pockets, cupholders within the rear armrest of Pro and GT models, modest door bins plus an open tray with two cupholders at the join of the dashboard and centre console.

That elevated central module contains a wireless phone charging pad and an under-armrest cubby, yet given its substantial size you would be fogiven for wondering how that space could have been better utilised.

Similar to the Renault 5, the GWM's charging point is located behind on the passenger side front wing, just behind the wheel. It's not an ideal location, especially when using heavy rapid charging cables at a public facility, made more awkward at night thanks to a lack of internal illumination.

More positively, there are few complaints about the overall quality of the materials used for the GWM Ora 03's interior. Yes, you will find harder, less pleasing plastics in the lower reaches of the cabin, but cost savings invariably have to be made somewhere in less expensive cars and the trade-off with the plusher aspects is well-judged.

A soft, nubuck leather-immitating material covers the upper dashboard, with similar pleated and quilted applications of it on the seats and doors to varying degrees depending on the trim level. Flashes of metal-effect trim don't feel overwrought and the almost complete absence of glossy black plastic trim is praiseworthy.

It's also worth noting that unlike in many cars you're not totally restricted to an all-black palette for the Ora 03's interior. GT models have red elements on the dash, doors, seats and wheel, while Pure and Pro versions with Aurora Green paintwork are treated to a fetching green and ivory cabin. Sadly, the red and ivory look is no longer available.

One element which feels curiously substandard compared with much of the Ora 03's interior is the rotary dial for selecting Drive, Neutral, Reverse and Park. Not only does it feel naff, as does the striped panel surrounding it, when you twist it you can feel clicks to indicate movement yet there are no end points to confirm which setting you're in. Instead you need to look at the driver's screen for visual confirmation.

As standard, all versions of the GWM Ora 03 are fitted with two 10.25-inch screens housed behind a single, free-standing pane sunk into the upper dashboard element. Immediately ahead of the driver is the instrumentation display, with the multimedia touchscreen sat to its left. 

All versions feature integrated navigation, internet-sourced radio and Bluetooth connectivity. Earlier Funky Cats and 03s lacked Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity — this was addressed from late-spring 2024, and is far preferable to use than GWM's native set-up, especially for mapping.

While both displays are crisp and colourful, the font sizes and graphics are too small, with lots of empty space around them, evidencing how better the screens could be better utlised. It makes everything unnecessarily trickier to read at a glances or operate on anything but the smoothest of surfaces, the touchscreen being further hampered by its inconsistent responsiveness.

Frustratingly, while some climate control functionality has physical buttons for their operation, adjusting the temperature isn't one of them, requiring surgeon-like dexterity to tickle the on-screen slide up or down.

GWM has included an all-too-willing to help voice assistant should you prefer. Not only will it adjust the cabin temperature while you maintain your forward vision — more on that, shortly — its additional capabilities include being able to lower and raise the electric windows. Ironic, given the switches for all four are easily reached on the driver's door without looking. 

As a reflection of how far prices of the GWM Ora 03 have shifted to a more sensible level, make a note that when it switched its name from Funky Cat, the Pure+ version cost £31,995 while the Pro+ was priced at £34,995.

Two years on and the slightly rejigged line-up kicks off with the GWM Ora 03 Pure at £24,995. However, since summer 2025, GWM's offered a further £3750 discount across the range, reducing the price down to £21,245 — a near-£11k drop.

Now priced at £28,995, the Ora 03 Pro is reduced to £25,245 with GWM's discount, while the range-topping GT is listed at £32,995 but will really cost £29,245.

How do the Ora 03's numbers compare with rivals? Citroen's e-C3 ranges from £18,495 to £22,295, although its prices are inclusive of a £1500 discount by it being eligible for the government's Electric Car Grant (ECG).

There's no such money off for the larger BYD Dolphin priced at £30,230 to £31,730, but Renault's 5 E-Tech does benefit from the ECG at the more substantial rate of £3750, resulting in price tags of £21,495 to £26,945.

As for used examples, there are a limited number of GWM Ora Funky Cats and 03s on the market, with many priced less than £10,000 and relatively low mileages, making them an appealing second-hand option.

As with the majority of electric cars, recharging costs for the GWM Ora 03 will be lowest if you have access to a wallbox charger at home. Such a device could enable you to switch to an EV-friendly low-cost tariff, with unit rates as low as 7p/kWh. 

Running an EV purely using public charge points can be ruinously expensive, with the cost being more than 10 times as expensive as that. Use them only when necessary and for as brief a time as possible — if you only need a 20-mile top up to get home and plug in again, don't needlessly top the battery to a significantly higher level.

As of April 2025, electric cars face the same VED car tax levy as combustion-engined models. At today's rates that's £195 per annum from the start of the second year of ownership. All Ora 03s are substantially below the £50,000 threshold for invoking the additional cost of the Expensive Car Supplement, so no wallet-wincing issues on that score.

Whether many company car drivers would even have the option of choosing a GWM Ora 03 is a moot point, but should it be a possibility the Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) taxation rate is just 3%.

All Ora 03s are backed by GWM's five-year/unlimited mileage warranty package, with the high-voltage drive battery being separately covered to the tune of eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Three trim levels are available for the GWM Ora 03 line-up — Pure, Pro and GT.

Generous levels of standard equipment for the GWM Ora 03 Pure include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED head, daytime-running and tail lights
• Automatic main beam
• Keyless unlocking/locking
• Rear parking sensors
• 360-degree parking camera system
• 10.25-inch driver's display screen
• 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen
• FM, DAB and internet radio
• Integrated navigation system
• Bluetooth device connectivity
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity
• Six-speaker audio system
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Facial recognition system
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Climate control air conditioning
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
• Adaptive cruise control

 Additional features found on the GWM Ora 03 Pro comprise:

• Electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors
• Dark-tinted rear privacy glass
• Electrically operated tailgate with gesture control
• Heated and electrically adjustable front seats
• Leatherette seat upholstery
• Rear centre armrest with two cupholders
• Automatic self-parking function

Extra kit setting the GWM Ora 03 GT apart includes:

• 18-inch GT diamond-turned alloy wheels
• GT-specific body kit
• Panoramic sunroof
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Heated and ventilated electrically adjustable front seats with massage function
• GT-specifc interior finish and upholstery
• Heat pump
• Launch control