GWM Ora 03 Review 2024

As the shift towards electric cars continues, there has been an array of new entrants to the European market, one of which is GWM, a Chinese firm that has been around for some 40 years. The GWM Ora 03 – previously known as the Funky Cat – is a compact hatchback designed to compete with the MG 4, although it is closer in size to the Volkswagen Golf, while its pricing puts it up against smaller EVs like the Peugeot e-208. Read on for our full GWM Ora 03 review.

At present, there are two model options. The GWM Ora 03 Pure+ is the entry-level variant and is fitted with a 48kWh battery, offering a WLTP range of 193 miles, with a 171PS electric motor driving the front wheels.

The GWM Ora 03 Pro+, meanwhile, has a larger 63kWh battery, with a claimed WLTP range of 260 miles, and offers the same 171PS output.

One of the most distinctive elements of the GWM Ora 03 is its design. The exterior presents a deliberately friendly face with retro-inspired curves.

It might not suit all tastes, but it is eye-catching, and arguably shows inspiration from the MINI and – at a stretch – the Porsche 911. The design also gives the illusion that this is a small car, but in truth it is closer in its exterior dimensions to models from the class above.

Inside, the GWM Ora 03 is a little more conventional, but still has some appealing aspects. The layout follows the current trend of being relatively minimalistic, with a large digital display ahead of the driver and few physical buttons elsewhere around the cabin.

There is also a somewhat premium feel to the interior, with a suede-effect finish to the dashboard and quilted door cappings, although there are some cheap-feeling plastics dotted around.

To drive, the GWM Ora 03 is either on a par with – or at least reasonably close to – the best cars in the class. The performance on offer from the 171PS electric motor is usefully brisk, and a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds should be more than enough for most buyers.

The driving experience is undemanding, with decent ride comfort on a variety of road surfaces. There is little feedback through the steering, however, which means it is unlikely to be a good choice for enthusiastic drivers.

In summary, the GWM Ora 03 impresses in many areas, particularly for a manufacturer that is new to the UK. It is decent value, well specified and feels like a good-quality product. It is also more spacious than many similarly-priced rivals, which will appeal to many buyers.

On the downside, its range is not as impressive as that offered by some rivals, and there are one or two elements, such as the infotainment system and driver assistance systems, which lack the polish of more established contenders.

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

The suspension is relatively soft, which means the majority of road imperfections are dealt with easily, limiting disturbance in the cabin. The car is equally happy in town driving or out on the open road, in terms of ride comfort at least.

The downside of this approach is that there is a fair amount of body roll when cornering at speed.

Similarly, the steering lacks any real feel and is very light. While this makes it well suited to urban journeys, on quicker B-roads the lack of feedback can leave the driver feeling disconnected from the road.

The GWM Ora 03’s driver assistance systems are also frustrating. Although the car is hardly brimming with performance, the traction control system can be easily triggered by use of the accelerator, while the lane keeping assistance can sometimes intervene too early, which is distracting on longer journeys.

These kind of faults can easily be rectified by software updates which may well be rolled out in the future, but for now they are small flaws which detract from the overall appeal of the car.

Both versions of the GWM Ora 03 offer the same output, with 171PS and 250Nm of torque coming from a single electric motor driving the front wheels.

The GWM Ora 03 Pure+ has a 48kWh battery, with the more expensive GWM Ora 03 Pro+ model coming with a larger 63kWh battery.

Both versions have the same top speed of 99mph, with the Pure+ achieving 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds and the Pro+ reaching the same benchmark a tenth of a second faster.

Each car has the same maximum charge rate of 64kW, which means a 15%-80% charge takes 42 minutes for the Pure+ and 48 minutes for the Pro+ on a rapid charging system.

The generous torque figures means the GWM Ora 03 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.

The GWM Ora 03 is also more leisurely at higher speeds, and although it does not feel out of its depth on the motorway, acceleration notably tails off above 50mph.

The driver also has a choice of three regenerative braking modes, as well as a one-pedal driving mode, which makes it easy to tailor the operation of the system. 

Although the electric drivetrain is fairly quiet, wind and road noise becomes more prominent above urban speeds, and prevent the GWM Ora 03 from matching the better cars in the class for comfort and refinement.

Euro NCAP 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.

These are strong scores for a relatively new manufacturer in Europe.

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

There are no towing capacities quoted for the GWM Ora 03.

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 room to spare, with excellent headroom and legroom, while shoulder room is more than sufficient. The large glazed area and minimalist dashboard help the feeling of space, too.

In the rear, there is also good space for passengers, with impressive legroom, although headroom is not quite as generous as in the front due to the curved roof, and the floor is higher than you might expect because of the battery pack.

Where the GWM Ora 03 falls down somewhat is boot space, with 228 litres on offer. This is less than the MG 4 and Volkswagen ID.3, and only fractionally more than the MINI Electric.

First impressions of the GWM Ora 03 are good, and live up to the premium aspirations.

The suede-effect covering to the dashboard is a nice touch, and helps to boost the feeling of quality, and the flashes of metal-effect trim and quilted finish to the upper door trims are welcome.

The seats are finished in a man-made leather effect trim, which looks good and feels of reasonable quality, too.

Delve a little deeper, however, and it’s not hard to find much cheaper plastics that spoil the overall impression.

Many of the plastics used lower down the cabin feel insubstantial, while some of the controls, such as the rotary drive selector and the indicator stalk, fail to offer enough resistance, making them less pleasant to use.

The inconsistency of finish in the cabin is a shame, as a little more effort in some areas would help a great deal.

As standard, all versions of the GWM Ora 03 are fitted with a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, both of which are behind the same piece of glass mounted within the dashboard.

Both the GWM Ora 03 Pure+ and GWM Ora 03 Pro+ specification come with satellite navigation, DAB radio and Bluetooth, and while early versions of the car were not fitted with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, this has since been addressed on newer Pro+ models.

The display is sharp with bold colours, but the text is smaller than ideal and the response of the screen is inconsistent, sometimes requiring an extended push to register.

The layout of the menus can also occasionally be confusing, with some functions for the climate control system operated by physical buttons, and others via the touchscreen, when ideally they would all be controlled by one or the other.

Ultimately, it does not feel as slick as the systems available in rival offerings, and while familiarity will lessen the problem, it can be a frustrating experience to perform simple actions.

With just two models in the range, pricing is simple, with the basic GWM Ora 03 Pure+ model costing £31,995 and the top-spec GWM Ora 03 Pro+ priced at £34,995.

That compares well with the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, which starts at £32,445 in Design trim, and the MINI Electric, which is expected to cost over £30,000 in its most basic form.

As for used examples, there are a limited number of GWM Ora Funky Cat models available on the market, with many priced around £20,000 and relatively low mileages, making them an appealing option.

As with the majority of electric cars, recharging costs should be low if you have access to a home charger. But it is important to note that because of its modest battery size, recharging will be required more often than with some rivals.

The GWM Ora 03 Pure+ has a 48kWh battery giving a WLTP range of 193 miles, while the GWM Ora 03 Pro+ has a 63kWh battery, giving a WLTP range of 260 miles.

For comparison, the basic MG 4 has a WLTP range of 218 miles, but the MG 4 Long Range version pushes this to 281 miles.

Another issue is that the GWM Ora 03 offers a maximum charging rate of 64kW in Pure+ versions and 67kW in the Pro+, compared to 90kW for the standard battery MG 4.

Insurance costs for the GWM Ora 03 are also relatively high, with the Pure+ in group 27 and the Pro+ in group 30, despite the long list of standard safety equipment.

The GWM Ora 03 Pure+ comes with sat-nav, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane keep assist, reversing camera, a 360-degree camera, high beam assist, driver alert, keyless entry and start, climate control, LED headlights, wireless phone charging, electric front seats and rear parking sensors.

The GWM Ora 03 Pro+ adds heated and ventilated front seats, auto reversing, auto park assist and front and rear parking sensors.