Having made its maiden Malaysian public debut at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS 2026) back in June, GWM Malaysia has once again previewed its upcoming hybrid-powered B-segment SUV crossover, the GWM Ora 5 HEV.
This cutesy hybrid crossover will be the first GWM Malaysia model to feature its new Hi2 intelligent hybrid technology and the first hybrid-powered Ora model in Malaysia, promising to deliver up to 1,100 km of travel range from a single full tank.
First Hybrid-Powered Ora Model in Malaysia
The Hi2 powertrain in question uses a 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbocharged petrol engine as its core, which is then mated to a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission with an integrated direct-drive electric motor.
Combined, the whole setup delivers 223 PS and 476 Nm, which GWM claims is enough to propel this B-SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.7 seconds.
On the battery half, the Hi2 setup uses a small 1.09 kWh battery that self-charges either via the aforementioned engine or its regenerative braking system. When combined with its 55-litre fuel tank, the Ora 5 HEV is capable of reaching fuel consumption as low as 4.4 litres per 100 km and a WLTP range of over 1,100 km.
To further prove this, GWM previously conducted a real-life challenge with the Ora 5 HEV, where it charted a new Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption by a production hybrid SUV across all directly administered municipalities in China, achieving 3.74 litres per 100 km.
Compact, Cutesy Urban Crossover SUV
At one glance, one can be forgiven for mistaking the Ora 5 HEV with its smaller hatch sibling, the GWM Ora Good Cat EV, as both models share the same design ethos featuring several curvy and rounded elements.
As a result, the Ora 5 HEV looks very identical to the Ora Good Cat, the only notable differences being the roof rails it comes equipped with, as well as its healthier ground clearance of 175 mm.
Speaking of which, the Ora 5 HEV is indeed a larger vehicle of the two, and with its overall dimensions of 4,471 mm long, 1,833 mm wide, 1,641 mm tall, and 2,720 mm wheelbase, it is also larger than many other popular B-SUVs on our market, including the Proton X50, Honda HR-V, and Chery Tiggo Cross.
Some other key highlights include rounded LED headlights, a clean front face with a wide lower air intake, full-width LED taillights with lower-mounted turn signals, 18-inch alloy wheels, a roof rail, and many more.
Improved Interior, But Still with Limited Practicality
And given its larger footprint, the Ora 5 HEV gets a more spacious and practical interior compared to its EV hatch twin, while also featuring a more simplistic cabin layout laced with new tech amenities.
Some key amenities present here include a large 14.6-inch central touchscreen powered by the Coffee OS 3.0 that now supports wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, a smaller 10.25-inch digital metre cluster, a 50-watt wireless charger, multiple USB charging ports, powered and ventilated front seats with memory function for the driver’s side, and a large panoramic sunroof with a built-in sunshade.
The rear passengers, however, only get one A/C vent and one USB-C charging port, so you better be sharing with the passenger next to you. While space is abundant here, the car’s high floor design in relation to the seat does translate to lesser thigh support, which can be less comfortable, especially for taller occupants.
Not to forget, cargo space is still not the Ora 5 HEV’s strongest suit, as its boot space only measures 272 litres with the rear seats up, but at least GWM still makes space for a space saver spare wheel located beneath the main boot compartment.
Rounding off the interior amenities are the standard driving assistance kit, which includes ADAS functions like adaptive cruise control with intelligent cornering (intelligent ACC), front collision warning, AEB, traffic sign recognition, speed limit warning, lane centring assist, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning, to name a few.
Launching Soon, No Pricing Details Yet
With the upcoming GWM Ora 5 HEV already making its second appearance in Malaysia, it is safe to assume that this compact hybrid crossover is getting close to its long-awaited Malaysian market debut.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Ora 5 HEV will be offered in more than one trim level, and both the final specifications and pricing details have also yet to be finalised—at least during the time of writing.
For reference, the Ora 5 HEV in Thailand retails at THB 709,000 (RM87,471) for the baseline Pro variant, while the top-spec Ultra comes at THB 799,000 (RM98,575). Can GWM Malaysia get the Ora 5 HEV’s price close to its Thai counterpart?
