GWM Ora 03 review (UK): the retro EV with 5-star Green NCAP — and a chip-gate history 中国

The GWM Ora 03 (欧拉好猫 in China) is a retro-styled city EV from £24,995 with 193–261 mi WLTP. Green NCAP awarded it a record 5★ 97% and the highest charging efficiency ever tested (93.2%). But Great Wall Motors has a chip-gate scandal in its past (1,500+ complaints), the UK markup is 2.7×, and the 5-year warranty is shorter than the segment's 7-year norm.

Kai Zhang · Editor-in-Chief · Updated 7 Jul 2026

Who actually makes it?

GWM (Great Wall Motors) — China's largest SUV/pickup maker, listed on Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges. The Ora brand is GWM's dedicated EV marque. UK distribution through GWM Ora UK. Parent survival risk: Low. GWM is a major established Chinese automaker with global operations.

Parent: Great Wall Motors (长城汽车) — China's largest SUV/pickup makeren.wikipedia.orgVerified

Parent survival risk: Low — established, listed, globally diversifieden.wikipedia.orgSecondary

Chip-gate scandal: 2021: 1,500+ complaints over false CPU claims (Qualcomm Snapdragon promised, Intel delivered)carnewschina.comVerified

What the 欧拉好猫 actually is in China

欧拉好猫 2025 facelift: ¥83,800–¥103,800 guide, dealer actual ¥79,800–¥99,800. Autohome 4.59/5.0 (152 ratings, #2 in small car segment). Praise: exterior design, city agility, quiet at low speed. Complaints: winter range (real 150–180 km vs 401 km CLTC), small boot, dim headlights, depreciation. 车质网 2.9/5.0 satisfaction, complaint ratio 80.2/10,000 — moderate. Dongchedi: mixed sentiment.

Chinese name: 欧拉好猫 (ORA Good Cat)www.oraev.comVerified

China price: ¥83,800–¥103,800 guide (dealer ¥79,800–¥99,800)www.autohome.com.cnVerified

Autohome rating: 4.59/5.0 (152 ratings), #2 in small car segmentk.autohome.com.cnVerified

车质网 satisfaction: 2.9/5.0, 80.2/10,000 complaint ratiowww.12365auto.comVerified

China vs UK — premium positioning, but what's missing?

UK gets the more powerful 126 kW motor (China base: 105 kW) and a larger battery option (63 kWh NMC vs China's 45.9 kWh LFP only). UK loses V2L, 14.6-inch screen (UK: 10.25-inch), and remote parking. UK price ~2.7× China. UK warranty is 5yr/unlimited — China is 3yr/100,000 km, so UK is actually better on duration but shorter than segment's 7yr norm.

UK motor vs China: UK: 126 kW. China base: 105 kW — UK gets the stronger motorwww.gwmora.co.ukVerified

UK price markup: ~2.7× Chinese pricewww.gwmora.co.ukSecondary

Missing UK features: V2L, 14.6-inch screen, remote parking — all omitted from UK specwww.gwmora.co.ukSecondary

The UK essentials

Three trims: Pure £24,995 (48 kWh LFP, 193 mi WLTP), Pro £29,995 (63 kWh NMC, 261 mi WLTP), GT £32,995 (63 kWh NMC, 261 mi WLTP, sport styling). 0-62 in 7.9s. DC: 85 kW. Euro NCAP 5★ (2022): 92/83/74/93%. Green NCAP 5★: 97% score, 93.2% charging efficiency (record). Warranty: 5yr/unlimited mileage + 8yr/100k mi battery. Heat pump on Pro/GT only.

UK price: £24,995 (Pure) / £29,995 (Pro) / £32,995 (GT)www.gwmora.co.ukVerified

WLTP range: 193 mi (48 kWh LFP) / 261 mi (63 kWh NMC)www.gwmora.co.ukVerified

Green NCAP: 5★ 97% — record score; 93.2% charging efficiency (highest ever tested)www.greenncap.comVerified

Euro NCAP: 5★ (2022) — 92/83/74/93%www.euroncap.comVerified

Warranty: 5yr/unlimited + 8yr/100k mi battery — shorter vehicle warranty than 7yr segment normwww.gwmora.co.ukVerified

Honest pros & cons

Pros: Genuine design appeal (ex-Porsche design lead), Green NCAP 5★ 97% (cleanest EV tested), strong safety scores, decent 261 mi WLTP on Pro/GT, unlimited-mileage warranty. Cons: 5-year warranty is 2 years shorter than MG/Omoda/Kia, chip-gate history damages trust, Pure trim's 193 mi range is inadequate for motorway use, small boot (228L), What Car? rated it 2/5, UK price 2.7× China undermines value proposition.

What Car? rating: 2/5 — significant reviewer scepticismwww.whatcar.comVerified

Boot capacity: 228L — very small. MG4: 363Lwww.gwmora.co.ukVerified

5yr warranty: Shorter than MG (7yr), Omoda (7yr), Kia (7yr)www.gwmora.co.ukVerified

Sources, confidence & corrections

www.gwmora.co.ukk.autohome.com.cnwww.12365auto.comwww.greenncap.comwww.euroncap.comwww.whatcar.comcarnewschina.comUpdated 7 Jul 2026

Kai Zhang

Editor-in-Chief · signed off this page · spotted an error? corrections@cathayev.com

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How we verify:AI-assisted research gathers Chinese owner reviews & pricing → a person checks high-stakes facts (UK price, range, warranty, safety) → Kai Zhang signs off before publish. Anything still unchecked is labelled.

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