Reservations Are Open: The Ora 5 EV Is GWM’s Next Philippine Launch
GWM Philippines has quietly opened reservation inquiries for its next electric vehicle. The Ora 5 EV now sits on the brand’s official website with preliminary specifications listed, and while the automaker hasn’t revealed pricing or a release date yet, interested buyers can already file a “reservation inquiry.”
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because the Ora nameplate has been around in other markets as the cute Good Cat hatchback. The Ora 5 is different — it’s a compact crossover, roughly the same size class as the Toyota Corolla Cross and the BYD Atto 3, and it’s the model GWM previewed at this year’s Manila International Auto Show alongside the Haval H7 and the Tank 700.
Here’s everything we know about the GWM Ora 5 EV coming to the Philippines, what reviewers abroad are saying, and how it might fit the way we drive.
GWM Ora 5 EV: Quick Specs
Based on what GWM Philippines has published, the local Ora 5 will arrive in a single fully electric variant packing a 58.3 kWh battery. The headline figure is 580 km of range on the NEDC cycle — that’s the optimistic standard, so expect closer to 435 km in real-world WLTP terms, which is what the Australian-spec car claims.
| Spec | GWM Ora 5 EV (PH listing) |
|---|---|
| Motor | Single front-mounted electric motor |
| Power | 201 PS (~198 hp) |
| Torque | 260 Nm |
| Battery | 58.3 kWh lithium iron phosphate (sVolt) |
| Range | 580 km (NEDC) / 435 km (WLTP) |
| Charging | DC up to 120 kW (10–80% in ~30 min); AC 11 kW |
| Transmission | Single-speed reduction gear, FWD |
| Dimensions | 4,471 × 1,833 × 1,641 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,720 mm |
| Ground clearance | 175 mm (international figure) |
| Cargo | 362 L (1,060 L with seats folded) |
| Kerb weight | ~1,685 kg |
| Displays | 14.6-inch touchscreen + 10.25-inch instrument cluster |
| Driver assist | GWM Coffee Pilot Ultra w/ LiDAR + AI |
| Wheels | 18-inch two-tone alloys |
Charging figures and ground clearance come from international spec sheets since GWM PH hasn’t published them yet — worth keeping in mind, but these are the numbers the same vehicle carries in Australia and South Africa.
What Others Are Saying
International reviewers have had a few months with the Ora 5, and the verdict is mostly positive with honest caveats.
WhichCar (Australia) gave it 7.5/10. Rob Margeit praised the “pleasant driving experience” and “good real world energy use” — his test recorded 15.0 kWh/100km, slightly better than GWM’s own 15.35 kWh/100km claim. He also loved the space-saver spare wheel, something almost no compact EV offers these days. The complaints: safety tech that “could use some finessing” (it operates on a hair trigger), a jittery ride over rougher surfaces, and a quirky design that won’t win everyone over.
CarExpert’s quick drive called it a “competitively priced EV with commendable specs,” highlighting the spare wheel, the low cost to buy and maintain, and a “composed ride compared to Chinese rivals.” On the flip side: the ride is too firm, power delivery is a bit doughy, and there’s a lot of screen — the cabin leans hard into touchscreen control.
Drive.com.au framed it as “a refined Aussie-tuned ride and handling package, a stack of equipment and no little appeal for a bargain price.” The 2026 Australian drive found the ride biased toward comfort, with well-judged handling for the segment. One quibble: the budget Prinx tyres don’t do the car any favors.
The common thread: the Ora 5 is a well-equipped, good-value compact EV that undercuts rivals like the BYD Atto 2 in its home market while packing a bigger battery and longer range.
GWM Ora 5 EV Price in the Philippines
GWM hasn’t announced local pricing yet, so treat the numbers below as an estimate. The Australian model starts at A$33,990 drive-away (~$22,300) for the Lux and A$36,990 for the Ultra. In the Philippines, the Haval H7 — GWM’s other electrified launch this year — starts at ₱1,298,888, which gives us a solid anchor for where the Ora 5 might land.
| Currency | Estimated price |
|---|---|
| Philippine Peso (PHP) | ~₱1,350,000 – ₱1,550,000 (est.) |
| US Dollar (USD) | ~$22,200 – $25,500 (est.) |
| Indian Rupee (INR) | ~₹21 – 24 lakh (est.) |
Conversions use ~60.8 PHP/USD and ~95.3 INR/USD. If GWM prices it aggressively to match the Haval H7’s value positioning, the Ora 5 EV would land squarely in the same neighborhood as the BYD Atto 2 and undercut the MG S5 EV and BYD Atto 3.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
| Model | Type | Price (PHP) | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| GWM Ora 5 EV | Compact EV crossover | ₱1.35–1.55M (est.) | 580 km NEDC / 435 km WLTP |
| BYD Atto 2 EV | Sub-compact EV crossover | ₱1,338,000 | 380 km NEDC |
| MG S5 EV | Sub-compact EV SUV | ~₱1.3M (est.) | 415 km NEDC |
| BYD Atto 3 | Compact EV crossover | ₱1,598,000 | 480 km NEDC |
| Jaecoo J5 EV | Sub-compact EV SUV | ₱1,399,000 | 461 km NEDC |
| Chevrolet Captiva EV | Compact EV crossover | ₱1,999,000 | 415 km NEDC |
The Ora 5’s edge on paper is range per peso: a bigger 58.3 kWh pack than most of its direct rivals at a comparable price. The Kia EV3 offers a similar story in a slightly different segment, but it’s expected to cost more when it lands.
Is the Ora 5 Right for Philippine Driving?
City driving
This is where the Ora 5 shines on paper. A 435 km WLTP range is overkill for daily EDSA commutes — even a week of stop-and-go driving between Makati, BGC, and Quezon City would rarely need more than a couple of charging sessions. The compact footprint (4,471 mm long) makes parking in tight mall garages manageable, and the instant torque of an electric motor is genuinely nice for weaving through traffic. Expect roughly a 9-second 0-100 time, brisk but not hot-hatch fast.
Long-distance travel
The Manila–Baguio run is about 250 km one way. A full-charge Ora 5 handles that with room to spare, though you’ll want a charging stop before heading back — NLEX and SCTEX have CCS2 chargers at several stops now. With 120 kW DC fast charging, a 10-to-80 percent top-up takes around 30 minutes, which is about the time you’d want for a coffee and a stretch anyway. The 362 L boot is modest but workable for weekend luggage, and the space-saver spare is a rare and welcome safety net for provincial roads.
Flooded situations
This is the big caveat for Filipino buyers. The Ora 5’s 175 mm ground clearance is low for our streets — lower than the BYD Atto 3 and most compact SUVs. Metro Manila’s flood-prone areas, from España to the usual EDSA underpasses, demand caution in any low-riding car, and EVs add battery-pack worries on top of that. GWM says its batteries undergo a 48-hour submersion test, which is reassuring, but the practical advice stays the same as for any sedan or low crossover: don’t drive through water you can’t see the road under. If flooding is a weekly reality in your area, a taller vehicle is the safer pick.
High temperature conditions
The Ora 5 uses a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from GWM’s sVolt division. LFP chemistry is inherently more thermally stable than NMC in hot climates, which matters when the afternoon sun pushes cabin and battery temps past 38°C. The tradeoff is slightly lower energy density, which is why the pack is bigger to hit the same range. The ventilated front seats on the higher trim and a panoramic roof with sunshade help keep the cabin livable in Philippine summers, though the glass roof can soak up heat if it’s left in direct sun.
Bottom Line
The GWM Ora 5 EV is shaping up to be one of the more interesting compact EV launches of the year. It brings the segment’s biggest battery at a projected mid-market price, a rare spare wheel, and GWM’s LiDAR-assisted driver assist suite as standard. The main question marks are the low ground clearance and GWM’s still-growing local dealer and service network.
If you’re choosing between this and the Chevrolet Captiva EV, the Ora 5’s range-per-peso math is hard to argue with. For anyone curious about how battery tech is changing what we can expect from budget EVs, it’s a good reminder that batteries are quietly becoming the story in transportation and beyond.
Watch GWM Philippines’ website for the official price reveal — reservation inquiries are open now, and if history is any guide, the local launch should follow within a few months.