GWM previews ORA 5 Touring, a bigger electric SUV bound for New Zealand

GWM has revealed plans for a larger version of its new ORA 5 electric SUV, with the ORA 5 Touring set to arrive in New Zealand in early 2027 to take on the country’s most competitive EV segment.

The Touring was previewed to media at the New Zealand launch of the ORA 5, which has just landed here priced from $36,990 plus on-road costs, making it the country’s most affordable SUV-based EV.

Where the ORA 5 sits in the small SUV segment, the Touring steps up a class. At 4758mm long, 1833mm wide and 1630mm tall, it is a near match for a Tesla Model Y in length, placing it in the medium electric SUV segment alongside the market’s biggest-selling EVs.

It also carries a larger 71.7kWh battery, up from the pack in the standard ORA 5, which offers a WLTC range of 435km. Range figures for the Touring are yet to be confirmed.

GWM head of go to market and product planning Samuel Mulkearns says the Touring is close to confirmed for local sale.

“It’s pretty much locked in. There’s a few T’s to cross and I’s to dot, but for the New Zealand market it’s an appropriate fit and it’s an appropriate expansion of the ORA range,” he says.

“It will sit in the medium SUV category, and similar to the ORA 5, it should have SUV ground clearance. It should be a bigger platform. I’m pretty excited for it.”

Mulkearns says the larger model will allow GWM to be much more competitive for battery electric sales, with the medium SUV class home to the bulk of New Zealand’s EV volume.

Asked about timing, he says the Touring is due “very, very early next year”.

While the ORA 5 is battery electric only, Mulkearns indicates the Touring could gain a second powertrain option, saying GWM is studying an additional electrified variant for the model.

GWM New Zealand country manager Cameron Thomas says the Touring is aimed at buyers who want more from the ORA package.

“Touring is giving just that little bit more space for people who want a little bit more boot room,” he says.

Thomas says GWM is being deliberate about which ORA models it brings here from a wide international line-up that includes plug-in hybrids, cars and wagons.

“We’re trying to make sure that we bet on where we think the opportunities are, rather than just trying to flood the market with everything,” he says.

The Touring will build on strong early demand for the ORA 5, with the first shipment of 100 cars already sold and around 90 per cent of a second 100-unit shipment arriving this month also allocated. GWM expects the model to settle at around 100 sales a month.

The Touring forms part of a wider electrified push for GWM, which is already New Zealand’s third biggest PHEV brand and fourth biggest for hybrids year to date. A battery electric version of the new Jolion Max mid-size SUV is also due later this year.

The ORA 5 is offered in two grades, the Lux at $36,990 and the Ultra at $39,990, both plus on-road costs, backed by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty and eight-year battery warranty.