GWM has launched HEV and ICE trims of its previously-EV Ora 5 crossover. Source: GWM
At the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, GWM sub-brand Ora launched new powertrain trims for its crossover, the Ora 5. Previously available as a pure EV, the Ora 5 is now available as a self-charging hybrid (HEV) or a turbocharged combustion vehicle. These new trims make it one of the most affordable models in GWM and Ora’s lineup, with retail pricing ranging from 69,800 to 89,800 yuan (10,200 to 13,100 USD).
The new powertrain trims do not introduce major changes in interior or exterior styling, and the Ora 5’s “cute” styling touches remain. This gives it a consistent look among siblings like the Funky Cat, also known as the Good Cat, or simply the 3.
The combustion trims of the Ora 5 feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which GWM highlights as being equipped with a variable geometry turbo (VGT). It cranks out 135 kW (181 hp) through the front wheels and is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The top speed is rated at 190 km/h, and GWM claims it completes the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 8.9 seconds. WLTC consumption is rated at 6.4 L/100km.
The HEV trims also use a 1.5-liter turbo engine, but with reduced engine power of 115 kW (154 hp). A 140 kW (188 hp) motor at the front joins it. Both power the front wheels through a 2-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). GWM rates combined output at 166 kW (223 hp). The 0-100 time is 7.7 seconds, and top speed is 185 km/h. WLTC consumption is rated at 4.5 L/100km.
As a self-charging hybrid, the Ora 5 HEV will not have a charge port like its GWM NEV brethren. It gets a ternary NMC lithium pack from Svolt, GWM’s very own battery maker. Battery capacity has not been announced, though it is expected to be in the low single-digit kWh range, in line with existing HEV models.
The Ora 5 HEV is noteworthy as being GWM’s first production HEV model, with all other Tank, Wey, and Ora models offered as EVs or PHEVs. GWM is joining 2026’s great Chinese HEV push alongside rivals like Changan and Geely, and plans to offer more HEVs down the line. The firm’s flagship SUV, the Wey V9X, is poised to receive a HEV powertrain later this year.
The Ora 5 will be GWM’s first vehicle to come equipped with Coffee Pilot 3 OS, the firm’s latest L2 assisted driving system, now capable of navigation on autopilot (NOA), with GWM boasting that the Ora 5 will be capable of navigating up to 3 km in a multi-story car park. The firm also claims that the Ora 5 will be the Chinese market’s cheapest LiDAR-equipped vehicle, even with the LiDAR unit being an optional extra.
For reference, the Ora 5 measures 4471 mm in length, 1833 mm in width, 1641 mm in height, and has a 2720 mm wheelbase. Curb weight is rated between 1440 and 1665 kg, depending on trim and powertrain. Chassis-wise, McPherson struts are used on the front, and multi-link suspension is seen at the rear.
More on Ora
The pricing of the new trims meshes seamlessly with the Ora 5’s EV trims, which retail at 89,800 – 123,800 yuan (13,100 – 18,100 USD). This gives Ora and GWM a versatile crossover with a unique flexibility in powertrains, and giving them access to a wide range of price-sensitive consumers.
GWM previously offered a wider range of small EVs under the Ora umbrella, including the White Cat and the Black Cat. Together with the Good Cat (Funky Cat / 3), they are a reference to former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s comments on planned and market economies, who stated, “it doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, if it catches mice it’s a good cat”, prioritizing financial prosperity over ideology.
Despite consistent monthly sales of around 20,000 units combined, the White and Black Cats ended up being axed in 2022. GWM claims the firm lost 10,000 yuan (1,400 USD) on every car, and switched its focus to SUVs and off-roaders under the Wey and Tank brands.
With EV sales plateauing both in and outside China, Chinese automakers are tweaking their lineups to cater to domestic EV skeptics, who usually consist of people living in sparsely populated regions with harsh winters. Worried about cold temperatures, battery longevity, and access to charging, domestic automakers are betting that these holdouts can be courted by combining the tech-heavy EV infotainment experience with the relative convenience of a combustion car.
According to China EV DataTracker, the Ora brand delivered 1785 units domestically in March 2026. With an aging EV lineup that is being rapidly overshadowed by rivals, Ora experienced a brief peak in the final months of 2025 before the partial-phase out of NEV subsidies. Its performance has slumped significantly in 2026, and the Ora brand is on the verge of irrelevance in China’s bloodthirsty auto market.
But with minor successes in foreign markets, especially with the Funky Cat in RHD markets like the UK or Hong Kong, it’s unlikely GWM will pull the plug on Ora in the near future. It remains to be seen whether the new HEV and combustion trims of the Ora 5 will help it find homes among traditional buyers, who tend to gravitate towards joint-venture HEV makers like Honda or Toyota.
