Australia's next most affordable EV SUV? 2026 Ora 5 crossover launches overseas as key rival to BYD Atto 3, Smart #1, and Kia EV3

GWM has shared official images and specifications of its first fully electric SUV, the Ora 5, ahead of its Chinese launch.

The retro-styled crossover joins the brand’s line-up of EVs above the current Ora hatchback with a pumped-up crossover design but familiar curvy lines.

According to GWM, the design is “inspired by nature” with continuous curves across the body, and embraces what the brand said is the “golden ratio” going so far as to compare its wheel-to-axle ratio to that of the Porsche Macan.

Inside, the cabin features many aesthetic features of the updated Ora hatch which is also yet to go on sale in Australia, with some notable differences, including a bridge-style console, rather than the disconnected floating console style of the new hatchback, a fabric inlay panel with ambient lighting across the dash, an overall different dash-topper shape, and seats which more closely resemble those in the brand’s Haval SUV range, rather than the retro-inspired seats of the hatchback.

It uses the brand’s new two-spoke steering wheel and features the same larger touchscreen and digital dash, complete with the brand’s latest operating system as also seen in the new Haval H6 mid-size SUV. In China, at least, it will also have over-the-air features, DeepSeek-based voice assist, and even an autonomous cruise control function.

Some variants will feature a 1.65 square meter panoramic sunroof with a heavy tint to block “99 per cent of UV rays” as well as fully reclining seats with a leg rest, and even some unusual cabin storage options, like a centre console-mounted drawer for rear passengers.

As already seen when the car was filed with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ora 5 will be equipped with a 150kW electric motor and an LFP battery pack which according to Chinese media will be provided by GWM’s own battery maker, Svolt. Official capacities and range figures are yet to be revealed, but currently other models in the range are equipped with either a 63.87kWh battery or a 83.49kWh battery for ranges between 555km and 705km according to the more lenient CLTC cycle respectively.

While the new model is yet to be locked in for sale in Australia, a GWM representative suggested to CarsGuide that it was the “obvious direction” for the brand to move in next, as it currently doesn’t have a competitor to the likes of the BYD Atto 3, Kia EV3, or Geely EX5.

In an interesting twist for our market, there’s also a good chance the new SUV will be built in right-hand drive alongside the updated Ora hatchback at GWM’s Rayong plant in Thailand - a former Holden site which used to build the Colorado for Australia.

This would fulfil the promise GWM made back in 2020 that the Thai plant would one day produce vehicles for the Australian market again.

In the meantime, the Thai-built Ora hatchback update is due in Australia imminently, with the brand telling CarsGuide it was due before year’s end.

The outgoing Ora hatch remains one of the most affordable new electric cars in Australia, with a starting price of just $35,990 before on-roads

The new SUV could form an important part of GWM’s strategy in dealing with Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standard (NVES) which tightens the vice on fleet C02 outputs every year until 2030.

GWM told CarsGuide while it was currently in a good position compared to many of its rivals with its range of hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, before long it would need more EVs and PHEVs as plugless hybrids wouldn’t be enough to stay ahead of targets in the long term.

Stay tuned for more on GWM’s new model roll-out plan before the end of the year.