This here is a car I’ve wanted to drive since it first launched back in 2020 as the ‘Good Cat.’ Unfortunately, since it was only available in China, I’ve had to content myself with watching reviews on YouTube while waiting for the Ora brand to hit our shores. Now it’s here, finally.
But also, the local EV market has grown leaps and bounds in the intervening years. Where the Good Cat would have been a solo act if it launched back in 2020, the GWM Ora 03 has to duke it out with other compact EVs that have launched locally before it. With a heady price tag, can the Ora 03’s premium design and features elevate it above the common EV? Let’s find out.
Styling
The Ora 03 is, if nothing else, stunning to look at, even with beige paint that wouldn’t look out of place on an old refrigerator or a ’80s Hiace van. It feels like an odd blend of the Morris Mini, the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Porsche Speedster. Curvy bodywork with bulging front fenders and a pinched waist give it quite a bit of curb appeal. As do the extra-tight panel gaps.
The paint doesn’t quite match between the steel fenders and the plastic bumpers, but it’s such a slight difference that it’s only visible under certain kinds of light. Power bumps on the hood cheekily echo those seen on old twin-cam rear-wheel-drive sports cars, despite this model being front-wheel-drive with no cams whatsoever. A contrast-colored white roof gives a very Mini vibe, while the rear light strip mounted ‘inside’ the rear window gives off an unabashedly French vibe. Five-spoke wheels round out the package, giving the car some extra sporting cred. As well matched as Keds and Capri pants.
ALSO READ:
Watch the BYD Dolphin take on the dreaded moose test
The all-new JAC Ytterby electric vehicle starts at P1,195,000
Interior
Capri pants on the outside, bomber jacket on the inside. The cabin is slathered in dark brown and light beige leather, with lovely contrast stitching on the dashboard and the console. Tastefully subdued chrome bits embellish the dash and the doors—most notably around the Mini-inspired rocker switches underneath the A/C vents. There’s a deep pocket between the front seats leaving clear air for your knees, with a floor-level bin that’s good for tote bags.
The center island features a Drive dial, cupholders, and a wireless charging phone shelf tucked under the center armrest. This actually helps reduce the temptation to look at your phone while driving—nice touch. That armrest is perfectly placed, though it isn’t quite wide enough for two elbows. The seats themselves are generously wide and decently bolstered. While the leather is pliant, the foam could use a tiny bit more volume.
Out back, you have surprisingly good legroom given the car’s length—thanks to a wheelbase longer than that of the Corolla Cross. Which makes the lack of rear A/C a bit unfortunate. The square roofline gives good headroom, though the sudden chop of the roof leaves the rear window very close to your head.
Beneath a comically small tonneau cover, you find a 228-liter cargo compartment, the smallest in this small class of EVs. Adequate for regular shopping, but not so for weekend trips for a family of four. About two liters of that space is eaten up by a small fire extinguisher, as there’s scant free space in the organizer carrying the emergency charging cables, tools, and tire-inflation kit under the floor. You can drop the rear seats for more cargo space with a simple pull of a strap, but you’ll need to adjust the headrests to get them to lay flat. And even then, it’s still not an impressive amount of space.
Powertrain
There’s no frunk up front to boost cargo capacity, either. With front-wheel drive, the 03 has an inverter stacked on top of a motor taking up a lot of space, with hoses, coolant, and refrigerant bottles taking up the rest.
This 03 500 variant features a single-gear 166hp drive unit fed by a biggest-in-class 63kWh battery. Nil to 100kph is dispatched in a tested 7.7sec in Sport mode, with the front tires sometimes scrabbling for grip on rough surfaces. Power delivery is smooth and linear, with good pedal feel. Off-throttle behavior can be a little jumpy, though, and regenerative braking and one-pedal mode adjustments are buried deep in the menu system.
Left in Eco Mode, the Ora returns a healthy 6-7km/kWh in mixed driving, including some light pre-Christmas traffic. We saw highs in the 9-11km/kWh range on the highway, which was nice.
Driving impressions
The suspension on the 03 500 has been tuned extra stiff to cope with extra battery weight, and the expectation of more spirited driving given the big motor. Fortunately, the GitiComfort 226 tires are relatively pliant, and take some of the edge off of ruts and bumps. Unfortunately, they don’t add much to the driving experience. Even inflated to 36psi, they feel a bit squishy through the steering. The Ora still drives nicely. It feels agile and quick, but it could be so much better with better tires.
On the go, the Ora is relatively quiet, sans the buzz of motorcycle exhaust through the thin windows. There’s a Sport Mode that starts up with fake engine sounds and lets in more whine, but honestly, who’s going to commute that way? In-city, the big front glass and the sloping hood make the 03 ridiculously easy to maneuver and park, and the tires are just tall enough to alleviate concerns of curbing when parking at the mall. The 360-degree cameras help when tackling tight alleys and traffic.
Extra features
The Ora, of course, also comes with Level 2 driving assists, allowing for adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping, making for more relaxing expressway journeys. The system features a pretty comprehensive obstacle detection and identification system, with the on-board display showing cars, trucks, and motorcycles individually, and accurately identifying different types of road markings. It even displays cones and barriers correctly. Well, mostly correctly—it only picks up cones 80% of the time, so you still need to pay extra attention when driving through construction zones.
The rest of the loadout is well impressive. There’s automatic unlocking and even startup. You don’t need to press an ignition switch to start the vehicle: It boots up as you open the door and is ready to drive once you sit down. If you do need manual ignition, there’s a switch discreetly hidden on the left side of the dash. A comprehensive infotainment setup provides Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay tethering, with decent-sounding though not exceptional speaker output. Sadly, as with many modern cars, a lot of vehicle functions are only available through that touchscreen. While you have customizable function buttons on the wheel and dip switches for major HVAC controls, you still need to go into the menus to change the temperature. Not very convenient in a tropical country.
Of course, you also get an automated tailgate—not necessary with a hatch this light, but much appreciated—and a large sunroof with an automated shade. Power front seats round out the features list, and wildly, they have built-in massagers accessible through a hidden HVAC menu.
Finally, you also get a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a tire-inflation kit, and a portable charger with the three-prong UK plug. Like many of its type, it’s fickle when it comes to plug adapters. Thankfully, you do get a free home charger with the car, and can use commercial Level 3 chargers with the CCS 2 port.
Verdict
The Ora 03 is a great little EV, though a bit hamstrung by a high price compared with the likes of the BYD Dolphin and the JAC Ytterby. It’s arguably more premium-feeling than either, with a wicked sense of style and a more powerful motor, but it’s a tight market, and for the P1,778,000 price of the 03 500, you can already get in a bigger crossover.
That said, while the Ora isn’t quite Euro-level in refinement, it does feel a cut above the common Chinese hatchback. Along with a biggest-in-class battery and much more power than its competitors, this makes it an intriguing proposition for buyers looking for a daily driver with a sense of style and excitement. And with the high level of automation, this Good Cat is also a really ‘good boi,’ making the driving experience as painless as possible.
SPECS: GWM Ora 03 2025
Price: P1,778,000
Engine: permanent synchronous motor with 63kWh battery capacity
Power: 167hp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: single-speed direct drive
Drive layout: AWD
Seating: 5
Score: 8/10
More photos of the GWM Ora 03 2025:
