While the European market continues to debate the pace of the electric transition, yet another Chinese manufacturer is landing in Italy with an offer designed to target the most crowded segment of the market: compact SUVs, which alone account for more than half of all new registrations in the country. The new crossover from Great Wall Motor (GWM) is called the Ora 5, and one of its defining features is undoubtedly affordability: the price list starts at €26,950 for the petrol version, rises to €28,600 for the Hi2 hybrid, and reaches €36,000 for the electric Origin EV variant.

But first, given that in the first six months of 2026 — according to Unrae data — 129,597 cars from Chinese brands were registered in Italy (to put the "phenomenon" into perspective: the figure was 63,033 for the same period in 2025, and today one in every seven cars sold is Chinese, among the already established brands MG, BYD, Leapmotor, Omoda&Jaecoo, Geely), let us take a closer look at who GWM is: "A global company operating in the intelligent mobility sector, committed to offering accessible, high-value driving experiences through technology and innovation," reads its website. In more detail, GWM was founded in 1990 in Baoding, China, has been present globally since 1998, and today operates in more than 170 countries — including Italy as of June: the group has just announced the arrival of ten new models in Europe by 2030.

GWM Ora 5, one model, three powertrains

The Ora 5 is designed to offer a range of options: on the same platform, it comes in a petrol version, a full hybrid (interesting, though with a battery of just 1.09 kWh the electric-only range risks being very limited in practice), and an electric version — a technology-neutral approach with the stated aim of capturing 85 per cent of demand in the segment. We are talking about a fairly compact car (the Ora 5 is 4.47 metres long), Chinese through and through, yet with one feature that brings it closer to European tastes: part of the final tuning was carried out in EU countries, with the aim of adapting the car's road behaviour — specifically the suspension and steering — to European driving preferences (a goal that was achieved, as we verified during a brief test drive).

What the electric EV version offers: range, charging and consumption

The heart of the range will in all likelihood be the hybrid version. Yet for those looking at the sustainability of mobility, the most interesting variant remains, without question, the electric Ora 5 — let us take a quick look at it: a 150 kW (204 hp) motor powered by an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery of 58.3 kWh, for a declared range of up to 435 kilometres on the combined cycle, rising to over 600 kilometres on the urban cycle, which has always been the electric car's natural habitat.

DC fast charging takes the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes; on AC at 11 kW, charging times rise to approximately 6.6 hours for a full charge, while the V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) function allows the car to power external devices. As mentioned, alongside the electric version, the full hybrid Hi2 variant remains available, promising a total range of over 1,000 kilometres.

GWM Ora 5, the Chinese electric car with a touch of European DNA

For our test drive we chose to try the electric version of the Ora 5, a car that did indeed display a "solid" road presence, with a very reassuring and stable setup on mixed routes, and an overall pleasantness that confirms GWM's commitment to giving the Ora 5 a European character — a sensibility that few Asian manufacturers have shown they possess. There are four driving modes (Eco, Sport, Normal, Snow) that allow the car's behaviour to be adapted to different routes. Looking more closely at real-world consumption, our test recorded an average of 14 kWh/100 km achieved on a mixed route between urban streets and fast extra-urban roads — a figure we would describe as good overall.

A practical, pet-friendly cabin

The idea of sustainability repeatedly emphasised in the documents that describe the Ora 5 does not end with the electric powertrain: the cabin uses recyclable, odourless and antibacterial materials that are resistant to moisture and mould (those who like to travel with their four-legged friends will know this is a real bonus), with low-VOC foams and formaldehyde levels among the lowest in the segment, in line with the strictest European standards. The interior — through its lighting colours and smooth, flowing forms — draws inspiration from the changes in natural light throughout the day (with no fewer than 64 colour choices for the ambient lighting); the central display is a clear 14.6-inch unit, while the instrument cluster is served by a second 10.25-inch digital display.

There are over 30 storage compartments; particularly handy (especially in the heat of these days) is the climate-controlled centre console drawer, and the wireless connection to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without a cable is a welcome convenience. The physical buttons for switching on the air conditioning are intuitive, even if the temperature itself is then adjusted via the central display. The electrically adjustable seats are comfortable, upholstered in eco-leather, and can optionally be heated or ventilated for summer. Interior space? Rear-passenger room is generous; the boot, however, is decidedly small — though things improve considerably when the rear seatback is folded down.

Twenty-three functions dedicated to active safety

On the ADAS front, the equipment includes 23 functions dedicated to active safety and driving assistance: among these are a 540-degree camera, intelligent adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping and centring, road sign recognition, door-opening alerts, blind-spot detection, and driver and occupant monitoring systems.

On board there are 7 airbags, including a central airbag positioned between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. To round out the package, GWM offers a warranty of 7 years or 150,000 km on the vehicle and 8 years or 160,000 km on the battery pack — a factor that, together with the competitive entry price, aims to reassure those approaching a Chinese brand and an electric car for the first time.