Hands-On with the Ora 5: GWM's Electric SUV Contender Lands in Colombia

GWM, the Chinese automaker founded in 1984 and distributed in Colombia by Inchcape, has brought its Ora 5 electric SUV to market in two trims, MID and TOP, priced from roughly COP 74.9 million and COP 89.9 million respectively. It arrives in a sub-COP 90 million electric SUV segment where Chinese brands now shape most of the conversation.

Power comes from a single 201-hp motor with 260 Nm of torque, fed by a 58.33-kWh LFP battery built around GWM's Short Blade packaging system. Official range is quoted at up to 520 km on the NEDC cycle and 435 km on WLTP, though the reviewer found that spirited use of the performance noticeably eats into that figure. Both trims share the same drivetrain and drive modes, and each includes a Type 2 port, a home wallbox and a portable charging cable — relevant because Colombia's public charging network, with sparse fast chargers, slow garage points and buggy apps, still has obvious gaps.

Styling follows a nature-inspired theme with nine paint options, a 0.26 drag coefficient, teardrop-shaped LED headlights and a full-width rear light bar on a 4,471 mm body with a 2,720 mm wheelbase. Inside sit a 10.25-inch digital cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen running GWM's Coffee OS with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alongside a 360-degree camera, 64-color ambient lighting, voice control via "Hey GWM", and heated, ventilated front seats.

On safety, the Ora 5 carries six airbags, a body made of 74% high-strength steel and round-the-clock battery monitoring, with the TOP trim adding 19 driver-assistance functions. The review frames the launch within Colombia's wider EV surge: 4,395 electric vehicles were registered in June 2026, up 235.5% year on year, lifting first-half volume to 24,477 units, or 15.5% of the market.