15 hours ago
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GWM will undercut BYD in all bar one Australian territory to sell a budget-priced electric SUV, planned to turn the departing Ora hatch into an EV sub-brand.
Electric Cars
The BYD Atto 2 has been dethroned as the cheapest electric SUV in all regions of Australia bar the Northern Territory by the 2026 GWM Ora 5, due in showrooms in June.
The Ora 5 – a small SUV rated with a 430km WLTP driving range – is priced from $33,990 drive-away nationwide in Lux trim, or $36,990 drive-away in top-of-the-range Ultra guise.
It undercuts the BYD Atto 2 in all states and territories of Australia except the Northern Territory, where the entry-level Dynamic grade is an indicated $33,760 drive-away.
In the rest of the country, Atto 2 drive-away price range from $34,514 to $35,370, according to the BYD website, while a Jaecoo J5 is still $36,990 drive-away.
The GWM Ora 5 starts from the same $33,990 price as the current GWM Ora city hatchback, production of which has ended for the Australian market, and will go on hiatus for an indefinite period.
GWM says the Ora 5 "sets the tone for [the] price positioning of future Ora models," which it says are due in local showrooms "throughout this year and into 2027", with electric power.
The Ora 5 is sized similarly to a J5, BYD Atto 3 or hybrid Toyota Corolla Cross, and will be sold in Australia only as an electric vehicle, skipping the hybrid version offered overseas.
It is powered by a single 150kW/260Nm front electric motor and 58.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, rated to enable a 430km driving range in European WLTP testing.
DC fast charging at up to 120kW is offered, for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in 30 minutes, while vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology can supply up to 6kW for powering external electrical devices from the car's battery.
The Ora 5 draws from the styling cues of the Ora hatch, with similar circular headlights, 'hidden' LED tail-lights built into the tailgate, and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard.
Standard fitment inside is a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen running GWM's latest Coffee OS software, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, Bluetooth, over-the-air updates, and support for a smartphone companion app.
Leather-look seat and steering wheel trim is standard, plus a power-adjustable driver's seat, single-zone climate control, 360-degree camera, and keyless entry and start.
White, green and blue exterior colour options are offered with a black interior, while black and pink exterior paint choices are linked with a cream interior.
The Ultra grade adds heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, a panoramic glass roof, power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and more.
The 2026 GWM Ora 5 is available to order now, ahead of Australian showroom arrivals due in June.
2026 GWM Ora 5 price in Australia
Note: All prices above are drive-away.
2026 GWM Ora 5 Lux standard features:
2026 GWM Ora 5 Ultra adds (over Lux):
Electric Cars Guide
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
