2023 GWM Ora earns five-star safety rating

The 2023 GWM Ora from China – the new title-holder as Australia’s cheapest electric-car – has been issued a five-star safety rating as it goes on sale locally today.

It is the first model in Australia from the Great Wall Motors (GWM) group's Ora electric-car division, arriving with a starting price of $44,490 drive-away.

The GWM Ora’s five-star safety rating – issued by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) – came courtesy of the electric-car scoring well for its safety technology and occupant protection.

GWM’s small electric city car achieved scores of 92 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 84 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 74 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and 93 per cent for its Safety Assist technology.

The GWM Ora scored 93 per cent in the Safety Assist category courtesy of no point penalties for its seat belt reminders, driver monitoring systems, lane support systems and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) junction assist functions. Its speed assistance and AEB car-to-car results were less than a point shy of full marks.

A 92 per cent Adult Occupant Protection rating was achieved thanks to perfect scores in the side, far-side impact, and rescue and extraction tests. The GWM came within two points of full marks across all other criteria.

The Child Occupant Protection result of 84 per cent was awarded through full marks in the side dynamic tests, as well as a 0.19-point penalty for its restraint installations.

ANCAP’s 74 per cent score for the GWM Ora’s Vulnerable Road User Protection came without full points in any of the six criteria, with weak and poor results recorded at the base of the windscreen, on the stiff windscreen pillars and the side of the bonnet surface.

The GWM Ora is on sale from today, priced from $44,490 drive-away – making it the cheapest electric-car in Australia.

ANCAP also revealed five-star safety ratings for the Citroen C5 X (which went on sale locally in February 2023) and the Alfa Romeo Tonale (which is due later this month).

The Citroen C5 X achieved scores of 82 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 88 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 69 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and 84 per cent for its Safety Assist technology.

ANCAP awarded scores of 83 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 87 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 67 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and 85 per cent for Safety Assist technology to the Alfa Romeo Tonale.