One of the major issues plaguing EV usage in Australia – that is, the lack of reliable EV-charging infrastructure – is being addressed, with the Federal Government recently announcing that Australian EV charging company EVX Australia will install 250 kerbside chargers.
Helped by $2.4 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), this initiative will provide 500 charge plugs on existing power poles across towns and cities in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia over the next two and a half years.
Australia currently has over 1100 fast charging stations with more than 3500 plugs, and vehicle prices are becoming more reasonable as supply and competition ramp up.
The 2025 GWM Ora GT – a compact vehicle – is a recent addition to the increasingly busy EV market.
How much does the 2025 GWM Ora GT cost?
The GWM Ora GT is the top grade in the Ora line-up and has a drive-away price-tag of $46,990 (correct at time of writing).
It is an extended range model with a 63kWh battery which yields a claimed driving range of up to 420km (WLTP*), and has a claimed rapid charge time from 10%-80% in 50 minutes. (* World harmonised Light vehicle Testing Procedure: A strict globally accepted laboratory-based testing method of EV efficiency and driving range.)
What features do you get in the 2025 GWM Ora GT?
Standard features onboard the GWM Ora GT include 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay but no Android Auto functionality), wireless phone charger, massaging front seat with heating and ventilation, electrically adjustable synthetic leather seats front crossing traffic alert and braking, electric tailgate-handsfree, and a panoramic sunroof.
It also has a variety of specialised ‘GT’ design features including 18-inch alloy sports wheels, red callipers, and GT front and rear bumpers.
Exterior paint choices for the GT include Chalk Grey, Sun Black, Mars Red, Hamilton White or Glacier Blue exterior paint; our test vehicle has Mars Red exterior paint.
The Ora’s exterior styling is not everyone’s cup of tea. It has a polarising goggle-eyed look – concerning only if you choose a car based on its looks.
Every GT has a black interior with red stitching and accents and those add to the Ora GT’s understated classiness.
Inside is all rather cosy, however, there is room enough upfront for driver and passenger, and the back seat can comfortably cope with two adults, or three kids, but three adults would be a real squeeze.
This is a functional space with the appropriate amount of storage, cupholders and charge points.
Cargo space is listed as 228 litres in the rear cargo area, but that increases to 858 litres if you fold the rear seats down and out of the way. The Ora GT does not have a frunk (a front trunk).
The 2025 GWM ORA GT has the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating as a result of testing in 2022. Its smart active and passive safety technology includes a 360-view camera, auto emergency braking, rear cross traffic assist with braking, lane departure warning and blind spot detection.
A seven-year/unlimited km warranty with five years of roadside assistance and five years of capped price servicing apply to the 2025 GWM Ora GT.
This vehicle has an eight-year/unlimited km battery warranty.
What is the 2025 GWM Ora GT like to drive?
The Ora has a single electric motor – producing 126kW of power and 250Nm of torque – and that’s mounted towards the front of the vehicle.
It has a 63kWh lithium-ion nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery and a claimed driving range on a full charge of 400km (WLTP).
This is a light (1580kg), front-wheel drive EV so it punches off the mark with plenty of gusto. Around town and in the suburbs the Ora GT is a zippy little car, great for driving along parked-in streets and nabbing those hard-to-get-into city parking spots.
Packing groceries into the boot is a big ask because there’s not a lot of space back there, but put the back seat down and you instantly free up a lot more space – however that’s not possible if you need that seat up for passengers.
The multimedia system is a mild confusion of menus and sub-menus so make sure you understand how to use it all before you set off because it’s not safe to be stabbing away at the screen with your finger when you should be concentrating on the road.
As for the Ora GT’s energy consumption, on a full charge, we used 26 percent on the drive from Sydney’s Marrickville to just south of Wollongong, a distance of 81km.
After a few days of mixed driving – suburban streets and the highway – we charged at one of the NRMA DC units in Wollongong’s Stewart Street East car park and managed to get from 9 percent to 85 percent in 48 minutes on a maximum 75kW charger. (The dash-indicated estimated time to charge from 9 percent to 80 percent was 33 minutes.)
The Ora GT’s WLTP range is 400km with an official combined energy consumption of 16.8kWh/100km. Our usage came out at 16.2kWh/100km after a mix of open-road and urban driving during the week of testing. It has a charged cable (in a bag in the boot) and it can be charged at home or at a public charging location.
Is the 2025 GWM Ora GT any good?
Overall, the Ora GT is a nifty little car and very well-suited to city and suburban life.
It's light-on in terms of rear cargo area space and its touchscreen unit is frustrating, at least initially, but the Ora GT’s positives outweigh its negatives.
If you’re in the market for a well-equipped, smooth-driving EV, consider this one.
