Opinion: Should GWM bring this quirky electric car to Australia?

GWM is considering bringing the 2025 Ora Sport to Australia and asked Drive what we think. Here’s our honest take…

It’s not uncommon for a manufacturer to ship a pre-production or left-hand drive variant of a new vehicle to Australia for what the industry calls ‘evaluation purposes’.

Exactly how far into the process of the vehicle actually going on sale is, at that point in the process, is often difficult to determine. However, it’s also a chance for Australian media to take a closer look at what you might be driving in 12 to 18 months time, ahead of it going on sale.

RELATED: GWM Ora Sport quick drive review

Over the years, plenty of pre-production models have never made it to our market, but some have gone on to be in our most popular segments. One of your most common questions is, ‘should I buy car X now or wait for car Y to arrive?’. An early assessment can help us better answer that question.

We had a look at the left-hand drive versions of the GWM Tank 500 PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha Sport PHEV at the same event, and we now know more about the plans for both those vehicles in our market. But, we also had the chance to drove a right-hand drive GWM Ora Sport which is yet to be confirmed for our market. It was a short drive, but it’s also worth looking back to a previous experience we had with the Ora Sport.

When Drive’s Susannah Guthrie tested the Ora Sport in February last year she wrote, “the GWM Ora Sport looks like the lovechild of a Porsche Panamera and a Volkswagen Beetle”. Comedy value aside, having seen it in person now, I reckon Susannah is spot on with that assessment. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Our sample drive is short, controlled, and conducted off public roads, so the result is less of an assessment of the Ora Sport’s driving behaviour, range and ability, and more a debate on whether it will work in our local market if it does go on sale.

Looking at the Ora Sport up close, like its tamer Ora sibling, it’s hard to argue with the cute styling and the way in which it would stand out from other cars on the road – electric or otherwise. We should rejoice in the appearance of any car that looks different, given how derivate automotive styling has become. Ever done that thing where you see a medium SUV and think it’s one brand, only to realise it’s another when it gets closer?

The model we sample in Queensland is the Ora Sport Dual Motor – the most performance focused version of the two-model range. With 300kW/680Nm and a 0-100km/h run in just 4.3 seconds the numbers on paper are impressive, and the NEDC-claimed 550km driving range is squarely in the expectation set for this type of electric vehicle. The claimed consumption of 15.5kWh/100km is acceptable, probably a little heavy for a small EV, but also not outrageous for one with a performance angle. Tipping the scales at 2115kg, it’s fair to say the Ora Sport might not feel scintillating.

We’ve written this multiple times at Drive though – pretty much all electric vehicles are fast. We get it. They are quick in a straight line. But the time has come for all manufacturers to focus on everything else a car needs to do for the owner once you’ve had your fun with a couple of launches from zero, just for a laugh. Cabin ergonomics, comfort, insulation, build quality, and above average driving dynamics trump party tricks in the real world. We’ll reserve our judgment on those until we’ve had a proper on-road drive in the Ora Sport, if it does indeed make it to our market.

However, the cabin design, execution, choice of materials, and quality all impressed. Visibility is good, the control centre of the Ora Sport is easy to decipher, the screen is clear, and it’s not festooned with silly buttons and controls just for the sake of it. If simplicity is the order of the electric vehicle day, the Ora Sport is doing things nicely.

It’s worth remembering what Susannah thought when she drove it back in 2023, though. “It’s very palatable to drive, and would likely perform well in stop-start traffic and on straightforward commutes. The one-pedal drive mode is similarly understated, slowing the car gradually rather than dramatically – perfect for people new to electric vehicles. The steering feels balanced and matched to the size of the car, with a relatively direct response. On our very short test loop, which consisted of smooth sealed roads, the Ora Sport maintained its composure and rode well.”

Another couple of laps around a driver training facility establishes that the Dual Motor is fast – duh – and capable. There’s plenty of grip, balance seems to be good, and there’s no funny business going on when you’re behind the wheel. Testing on the open road though, where the real buyer lives, will be key.

The question isn’t so much whether the 2025 GWM Ora Sport is a solid electric vehicle – it is. It’s another step forward for the manufacturer in Australia, and as we’ve seen with GWM’s releases in other segments, that step forward has come with improvements in design, driver engagement, and ergonomics.

With that in mind then, the question is whether Australia is ready to part with what would be the likely starting price for the GWM Ora Sport? While prices for electric vehicles have started to ease, they haven’t come down anywhere near as much or as quickly as the government, lobby groups and EV evangelists have been claiming they would. Remember when they all used to shout ‘price parity’ at us? Haven’t heard that one for a while.

Unsurprisingly though, Chinese challenger brands are leading the way with pricing. At the time of writing, the Ora you’re familiar with has benefitted from some sharp drive-away pricing. The Ora Standard Range can be had for $35,990 drive-away, the Ora Extended Range for $36,990 drive-away and the range-topping GT for $43,990 drive-away.

You would assume that the Ora Sport would have to sit some distance above the regular Ora on the pricing scale, if only to differentiate the two. Otherwise, why would you even consider the regular Ora if you can get more Ora for not much more money?

Let’s assume the Ora Sport has a price that starts beyond $50,000 before on-road costs. Will Aussies be keen to take a look at that price? You tell us.

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